One Step From Eden

One Step From Eden masterfully brings a mix of action RPG and deckbuilding that we haven't seen in a good while.

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In "One Step from Eden," players engage in a strategic deck-building experience combined with real-time action and rogue-like elements. With a variety of spells, items, and playable characters, each run through procedurally generated levels offers a unique challenge. Battle enemies, collect artifacts, and play solo or with a friend in local co-op or PvP, with full Steam Workshop support for further customization.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,532 reviews

gameplay306 positive mentions

story32 negative mentions

Fast-paced and engaging gameplay that combines deck-building with real-time action.
Great variety of characters and spells, allowing for diverse playstyles and strategies.
Nostalgic for fans of Mega Man Battle Network, with charming art and an excellent soundtrack.

Steep learning curve that can be overwhelming for new players, with a lack of clear tutorials.
Visual clutter during battles can make it difficult to track enemy attacks and manage spells.
Some spells and artifacts feel underwhelming or situational, leading to less strategic depth.

gameplay
852 mentions
36 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "One Step from Eden" is characterized by its fast-paced, real-time combat that combines elements from the Mega Man Battle Network series with roguelike deck-building mechanics. Players must navigate a grid-based battlefield while managing a variety of spells and abilities, leading to a steep learning curve that can be overwhelming for newcomers. Despite the lack of a comprehensive tutorial, the game offers a rewarding experience through its engaging mechanics, diverse character options, and high replayability, making it a must-try for fans of challenging action and strategic gameplay.
- “This game is a very fun and engaging roguelike with Mega Man Battle Network-inspired gameplay.”
- “The combination of strategic gameplay with fast-paced mechanical gameplay is very unique and compelling, especially for someone who is interested in both games.”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced yet strategic, and the music works as a mirror to that aspect.”
- “There is no tutorial to speak of, and the mechanics are not intuitive.”
- “The amount of information in a single screen is often overwhelming yet the game feels like it lacks depth - the gameplay loop barely changes between runs.”
- “The gameplay is an extremely fast-paced bullet hell which forces you to button smash since you have no time to micromanage all the gameplay mechanics it introduces.”
music
451 mentions
66 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in "One Step From Eden" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and engaging soundtrack that enhances the fast-paced gameplay. The compositions are described as catchy and fitting for the game's atmosphere, often evoking nostalgia for classic titles like Mega Man Battle Network. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and replayability.
- “The soundtrack is beautiful, the character designs are all outrageously charming, and it is rewarding!”
- “The music is engaging and fits the atmosphere this game gives.”
- “The music is fantastic, the art is really neat, the card ideas are wonderful, heroes are unique, and the gameplay itself seems cool.”
- “The music is serviceable but the art has plenty of charming, expressive pixel-art to enjoy along with the more traditional art of the non-battle moments.”
- “It's not a bad game by any means, well polished, the music is very well done, it just didn't hook me in, and if there was a story, it's very bare bones, and I am very much a story gamer.”
- “Sounds and music are kind of forgettable.”
graphics
200 mentions
52 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, vibrant animations, and overall aesthetic appeal, which many players find delightful and fitting for the gameplay. While some reviewers note that the visuals can become cluttered during intense moments, the smooth animations and clean UI contribute to a visually engaging experience. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics and an excellent soundtrack enhances the game's replayability and enjoyment.
- “The art style is really appealing.”
- “The graphics are great, the gameplay is a challenge at first but the game is addicting and I keep coming back to play more.”
- “The art style is delightful, and the soundtrack brings me right back to the joy I had playing the battle network games.”
- “However, I personally feel like it can be a bit tough to avoid some attacks because the visuals will blend together.”
- “The other issue is graphical overload and disjointed visuals.”
- “Some of the graphics can look a bit small and muddy at times, but for the most part you know what you're looking at, and it's quite nice.”
story
190 mentions
16 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The story in "One Step From Eden" is largely minimal and often feels secondary to the gameplay, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of depth and clarity in the narrative. While there are hints of lore and character backstories, these elements are not well-explained or integrated into the gameplay, leading to a sense of disconnection from the characters and their motivations. Overall, the game prioritizes fast-paced combat and deck-building mechanics over a compelling storyline, which may leave story-focused players wanting more.
- “The gameplay is great, the strategy is fun, my main... not even really a complaint, I guess, with the game as a whole is that it feels like there's a pretty detailed and involved story/backstory that just doesn't ever get shown beyond the barest minimum of hints, and instead you mostly get (admittedly funny) memes, references, and jokes, which really clash with what story you do see.”
- “The story is next to nonexistent outside of multiple endings and character descriptions.”
- “The characters and story are good as well, there's a CrossCode cameo if you're a fan of that game too.”
- “However, the game doesn't really have a story, the deckbuilding aspect isn't too in-depth, some flavor texts use outdated humor (or just meh in general), and the learning curve can be steep if you're not used to fast-paced gameplay.”
- “There's practically no story to speak of, though.”
- “The game just offers virtually nothing from a story or world-building standpoint; it's just a vehicle for gameplay.”
replayability
161 mentions
55 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its diverse character options, unique deck-building mechanics, and roguelike elements that ensure each run feels distinct. Players appreciate the variety of strategies and synergies available, alongside the engaging gameplay loop, making it enjoyable for both short bursts and extended sessions. While some reviewers note that replayability may diminish as players master the mechanics, the overall consensus is that the game offers a wealth of content and replay value, especially with mod support enhancing the experience further.
- “The best thing about One Step From Eden is its replayability; every run is different.”
- “The replay value is incredible, thanks to the character choices and the variety of relics and card options.”
- “This game is incredibly replayable and ridiculously fun, with the characters' designs and loadouts being impressive.”
- “My only problem is the game is kinda short (I even did all 3 endings), and the replayability is not quite where I personally want it to be, one of the reasons being the builds have okay variety, but they don't play all that different.”
- “While the game is replayable, you can only fight against the exact same bosses so many times before they become relatively easy.”
- “If you're looking for the type of replayability a roguelite should offer, then this falls flat really hard once you know the game better.”
character development
33 mentions
70 % positive mentions
21 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its charming and unique character designs, which are often praised for their creativity and appeal. However, many players express disappointment with the limited depth of character interactions and lore, noting that while the designs are visually striking, the characters lack substantial development beyond basic banter. Overall, the game excels in aesthetics and gameplay, but could benefit from more engaging storytelling to enhance character depth.
- “The character designs are awesome, the bosses are challenging and all different but fair.”
- “Interesting character designs with unique attacks that can wildly shake up your playstyle; there's a spell that hits the tile you're currently standing on.”
- “Overall, while the game is a bit too punishing for new players, One Step From Eden is a fantastic addition to the roguelike genre, and one that is absolutely worth the time of anyone who loves roguelikes, unique gameplay experiences, and cool/cute character designs that really help give the world flavor.”
- “Character development is minimal and feels rushed, leaving little room for meaningful growth.”
- “The characters lack depth, making it hard to connect with them on any emotional level.”
- “While the character designs are appealing, the development feels superficial and fails to evolve throughout the game.”
grinding
23 mentions
4 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
87 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a mixed experience with grinding in the game, noting that while some players find it tedious and frustrating—especially when trying to build specific decks or facing repetitive boss patterns—others appreciate the balance it strikes by cutting out some of the more monotonous elements typical of the genre. Many agree that the grinding can feel rewarding at times, particularly in a roguelike context where learning from mistakes is part of the experience, but it can also lead to awkward pacing and poorly designed mechanics that detract from enjoyment. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a double-edged sword, offering both challenges and opportunities for growth.
- “No farming for chip codes for hours, no endless errands for poorly translated NPCs—just you, your deck, and the grid.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “As it stands, the game is too frustrating and grindy to continue.”
- “It's really grindy and tedious and poorly balanced, and battle after battle will have you standing around waiting on mana or cooldowns or whatever, which is just awkward and poorly designed.”
humor
22 mentions
95 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of pop culture references, memes, and humorous flavor texts that often elicit laughs, though some players find certain jokes outdated or unfunny. While the comedic elements enhance the overall experience, they can sometimes clash with the minimal story, leading to a disjointed narrative. Overall, the game is praised for its colorful presentation and funny delivery, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate its style and humor.
- “It's both colorful and comedic, full of references to other games that most gamers can recognize - even if you don't recognize the references, they are often still wrapped in a funny delivery.”
- “From cards having text flavor as 'ora ora ora' from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure to bosses dispatching you with a 'heh…nothing personal, kid,' this can be funny diversions that one can appreciate while playing and give you a good laugh.”
- “The pixel animation is top-notch, the music is bumping, and the humor and presentation of it all just feels really good.”
- “It certainly doesn't help when those junk cards exist purely to be unfunny memes and references.”
optimization
7 mentions
57 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its strong performance and polished controls, contributing to a smooth gameplay experience. However, some users report minor performance issues and bugs, particularly during specific encounters, indicating that further optimization is needed to enhance stability during intense battles.
- “The greatest part of this game is the optimizations to control.”
- “Incredible art, gameplay I've never seen or tried before, a skill ceiling that's utterly gob-smacking, amazing performance consistency, and musical compositions that genuinely struck chords of melancholy within my mind and heart within minutes of being graced by its looping garden of Eden.”
- “Good performance.”
- “Currently, the game has some minor performance issues when running specific archetypes (kunai in particular), but I expect those to be ironed out as we go.”
- “There are some negatives, such as a few bugs that need to be ironed out, as well as some optimization that needs to be done to prevent slowdown during battle.”
- “It is also extremely fast-paced and punishes poor performance like an angry stage mom at a pageant - virtually any non-basic encounter has the ability to sap half of your health with careless play.”
emotional
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting its touching narrative and the bittersweet realization of its potential conclusion following the last patch. The heartfelt appreciation for the game's unique emotional impact contrasts with frustration over negative reviews, underscoring the game's significance to its dedicated fans.
- “Thank you, developer, for your truly touching game.”
- “It looks like the last patch launched on 11-29-2021 is (if not saying the) one of the last ones, due to the devs saying that it was 'just a small final touch on the game' so it is heartbreaking for me to know.”
- “It's such an amazing feeling that I can't really say many other games have ever made me feel.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with users highlighting the engaging music, impressive sound effects, and top-notch art that collectively enhance the overall experience. The cohesive blend of these elements creates a captivating and immersive environment.
- “The music is engaging and fits the atmosphere this game provides.”
- “The setting, music, atmosphere, and sound effects are all top-notch.”
- “The art, music, sound effects, and general atmosphere are all great as well.”
stability
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game experiences some minor glitches and crashes, indicating it is still somewhat buggy despite being a finished product. While these stability issues are acknowledged, they do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. Players hope for future updates to address these problems.
- “Now don't get me wrong, there are plenty of problems with the game; it is still a bit buggy for a finished product. I'm not sure when there will be more updates, but let's hope soon.”
- “Exe, awesome bullet hell style, while mods are a bit buggy, that's to be expected from a game that just came out with it.”
- “I'm running this on Linux, and I've had a few minor glitches and crashes, but other than that, this game is excellent and is quickly becoming one of my favorites.”
monetization
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is viewed positively, with players appreciating that it doesn't feel like a cash grab. Many are willing to pay for microtransactions, such as costume packs, due to the game's quality and the developers' commitment to ongoing support and improvements.
- “The art and animation are appealing; I'd be happy to pay for microtransactions for costume packs due to the sheer value of the game.”
- “The monetization model is fair and offers a variety of options without feeling forced.”
- “I appreciate that the game provides plenty of free content while still offering reasonable paid options.”
- “The game is exactly what one would expect from advertisement.”
- “It's not a cash grab like some other games that have been sold on here.”
- “Lots of love was put into this game and it wasn't a cash grab, the devs are also readily available and have been active in fixing any issues that popped up.”