Netherworld Covenant

About

Netherworld Covenant is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by madgoatgamestudio and was released on June 18, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Netherworld Covenant is a dark fantasy 3D isometric roguelike focusing on precision combat and tactical depth. Players control a survivor wielding the Nether Lantern to forge pacts with soul companions, each offering unique abilities that shape diverse combat strategies. Explore procedurally generated labyrinths and face corrupted heroes and demonic lords in challenging encounters.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 141 reviews

gameplay17 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The combat is smooth, responsive, and satisfying, with a variety of mechanics that reward skillful play.
The game features a dark fantasy setting with engaging visuals and a mix of roguelike and souls-like elements that keep gameplay fresh.
There is potential for deep customization and build variety, with different weapons and character classes that can change playstyles.

The game suffers from repetitiveness, with many runs feeling similar and lacking significant variety in environments and enemy encounters.
There are performance issues, including bugs and input problems that can disrupt gameplay, making it frustrating at times.
The story and overall narrative feel shallow, lacking compelling hooks to motivate players to progress beyond the combat.

gameplay
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
The gameplay is generally praised for its fast-paced, responsive combat and engaging mechanics, particularly the parry system and the integration of ghost companions. While many players appreciate the blend of roguelike and ARPG elements, some criticize the lack of variety in upgrades and the overall dynamic feel, with certain mechanics feeling underwhelming or clunky. Despite some mixed feedback on visuals and audio, the game is considered fun and challenging, especially for fans of Hades-like titles.
- “It's a fast-paced, gameplay-oriented roguelike set in a dark fantasy setting.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are on point.”
- “Fluent, smooth, satisfying, fast-paced, and skill-based gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is okay, but the AI artwork sucks, horrible visuals, zero effort in art direction, ugly as hell.”
- “Upgrade selections have minimal effect on gameplay and are utterly boring.”
- “The game isn’t very dynamic for now — the gameplay stays the same from the first floor to the last.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
33%
28%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the art style and solid visuals, while others criticize the lack of variety and dated appearance reminiscent of older titles. Many note that the environments are visually appealing but feel repetitive, and there are complaints about the game's graphical fidelity, particularly in relation to its performance on PC. Overall, while some appreciate the aesthetics, others find the graphics lacking and in need of improvement.
- “Really solid roguelite with challenging, souls-like combat and nice graphics!”
- “The roguelike elements keep each run feeling fresh, and the visuals and effects are solid.”
- “Great game mechanics and love the art style.”
- “The gameplay is okay, but the AI artwork sucks, horrible visuals, zero effort in art direction, ugly as hell.”
- “Definitely lacks in terms of visuals; it's mostly the same few rooms that repeat over several floors but with different lighting.”
- “Overall, I like how the game looks, but the graphics are not good; they look like they date from 2010.”
story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding the game's story, with many players expressing disappointment over its lack of depth and engagement. While some appreciate the potential for a deeper narrative and innovative elements, others feel that the current storyline is shallow and underdeveloped, suggesting that future updates could enhance the experience. Overall, there is a consensus that the game would benefit from more immersive storytelling and content to keep players engaged.
- “This game is very special among many roguelike games out there because it has a quite deep spirit storyline and very innovative, passionately detailed monsters and bosses, along with a great souls-like fighting system that works absolutely fluid and is a lot of fun.”
- “A solid foundation—add more customization and a stronger story, and this could really shine.”
- “I loved the premise and I think they should expand on the story elements during early access.”
- “My biggest gripe is there doesn't seem to be a story hook.”
- “Wish to see some more content in the future and maybe even some story (there is practically none).”
- “Story elements and dialogue, there was some in the start but it quickly got quiet.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with some players praising the overall sound design while others criticize it as lacking depth and quality. Many reviewers note that the music feels like a placeholder and detracts from the immersive experience, suggesting that improvements are needed in future updates. Overall, while the gameplay mechanics are solid, the music currently falls short of expectations.
- “No bugs, nothing seems off; it runs like a very solid dungeon ARPG. For gameplay, mechanics, soundtracks, and graphics, I give it a 10/10!”
- “The music in the game really enhances the atmosphere and keeps you engaged throughout the gameplay.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic and perfectly complements the game's setting, making every moment feel epic.”
- “The game features almost no voice acting, and the NPCs, environments, sound, and music are just husks or placeholders.”
- “I initially gave this game a good review because it has good combat and decent boss fights despite middling to bad music, graphics, and sound.”
- “The storyline could use some cinematics or music design to help with immersiveness. I understand it's early access and it was probably not the main priority, but this is just a personal opinion.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has been criticized for significant performance issues and input responsiveness problems, indicating a need for improvement in these areas.
- “There are some very serious issues with performance and inputs.”
- “The game frequently lags and stutters, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “Optimization seems to be an afterthought, as the frame rates drop significantly in busy areas.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally acceptable, with users noting it is not as buggy as many other titles on Steam. However, recent updates have introduced some bugs, impacting the overall experience.
- “Fun game, but the new update has made it a bit of a buggy mess.”
- “At least it's not a buggy incomplete mess like half the games on Steam.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its rich dark fantasy elements, reminiscent of Diablo, combined with engaging art direction that immerses players. The blend of fast-paced combat and roguelike deckbuilding enhances the overall experience, creating a captivating environment that keeps players invested.
- “It nails everything: fast and dynamic combat, a rich dark fantasy atmosphere (gives me Diablo vibes), and an art direction that just pulls you in.”
- “A mixture of Diablo ARPG style combat, roguelike deckbuilding, and brilliant atmospheric environments with a Hades-style gameplay, this game has all the mechanics to keep you hooked.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that while the game is primarily skill-based, some players find certain aspects, like the first boss encounter, to be grindy and lacking in engagement. Overall, the grinding elements are seen as less significant compared to the emphasis on skill.
- “Just going through the first boss was grindy and uninteresting.”
- “So it is very much a skill-based game more than a grinding game.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the playful naming of characters, such as the inclusion of a character resembling Skull Knight from Berserk, humorously referred to as "black knight." This clever nod adds a layer of wit that resonates with players.
- “One thing I find funny is that they just added Skull Knight from Berserk but just called him 'Black Knight.'”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a desire for enhanced character development, including improvements in skills, items, and inventory, to ensure the game remains engaging even after reaching the endgame.
- “I really recommend this game and hope it will develop further in terms of character development, skills, items, and inventory so that it will be a game to play even after the endgame.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a solid core but is criticized for its lack of content, resulting in limited replayability, especially when compared to other roguelites at a similar price point.
- “It has a solid core but is barebones in terms of content and replayability, even for an early access game compared to other roguelites at this price.”