Rogue: Genesia
- September 19, 2022
- Ouadi Huard
- 31h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Rogue: Genesia," a action rogue-lite game, play as Rog and use an array of weapons and over 170 passive upgrades to defeat vast enemy forces. Collect powerful artifacts and make choices that affect your adventure, while choosing from different avatars with unique playstyles. The new Cat Pet DLC is also available.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Engaging gameplay with a satisfying progression system that keeps players coming back for more.
- Unique blend of Vampire Survivors and Slay the Spire mechanics, offering both survival and map-based gameplay.
- Active developer support with regular updates and community engagement, enhancing the overall experience.
- Performance issues, especially during late-game runs with many projectiles and enemies on screen, leading to lag.
- Some weapons and upgrades feel unbalanced, making certain builds overwhelmingly powerful while others are underwhelming.
- Limited content in early access, with only a few worlds and characters available, leading to potential repetitiveness.
- gameplay512 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is generally well-received, praised for its engaging mechanics and solid progression system that combines elements from popular games like *Vampire Survivors* and *Slay the Spire*. Players appreciate the fun combat, meaningful upgrades, and the strategic "pick your own path" mechanic, which enhances replayability. However, some critiques highlight a lack of variety in builds and enemy types, as well as occasional balance issues, suggesting that while the core gameplay loop is addictive, it may become repetitive over time.
“It has fun gameplay (the actual combat/avoidance aspects of survivors) and the graphics are extremely cool and I simply love the perspective of the battlefield that you are given.”
“The gameplay loop is so good as to almost be impossible to put down.”
“The challenges keep the gameplay fresh and rewarding.”
“For the cons, there are just a few - first is that the game lacks descriptions of what the mechanics and formulas for calculating damage and other mechanics actually do - for instance - do you go for base power or for power multiplier?”
“The enemy spawning mechanic forces you to rely on the invincibility dash to get out of the circle of enemies but there's often not enough room somewhere to even dash to, and I often feel pigeonholed into a single build instead of testing various builds each time due to how many enemies spawn.”
“You need to grind to get more variety in your gameplay, which is tedious and boring compared to other games in the genre which have plenty of build variety available from the beginning.”
- graphics462 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received a generally positive reception, with many players praising its unique art style reminiscent of titles like *Octopath Traveler* and *Vampire Survivors*. While the visuals are described as charming and colorful, some users noted performance issues and a lack of variety in enemy designs. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience despite some minor criticisms regarding optimization and visual clutter.
“The graphics are truly incredible when maxed out, and the settings menu offers a surprisingly high amount of fine tuning to get the performance and visuals that you need.”
“Incredibly addictive and the visuals are stunning compared to other games in the genre.”
“The graphics are a new standard for the genre, lifting the chains of the almost pixelated roguelikes being the trend these days.”
“There are a few areas for improvement, as once you get in the groove of the game, it suffers from the same sin as other roguelites, in that the endgame becomes a bit too easy for my tastes, the graphical style is unappealing, and there could be a greater variety of relics.”
“A janky indie game with rubbish graphics.”
“This game is horribly optimized, and still takes a relatively powerful computer to run at the lowest graphics options available.”
- optimization142 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly during intense gameplay scenarios involving numerous enemies and projectiles. While some updates have improved performance, many still experience lag, crashes, and graphical glitches, leading to a consensus that the game requires further optimization to enhance playability. Despite these challenges, some players have noted that the game remains enjoyable, especially on lower settings, but caution against expecting a smooth experience without ongoing improvements from the developers.
“You may have seen a few negative reviews mentioning performance issues (which was a very valid issue) but update after update there has been both new content and improvements to how the game has run.”
“The game keeps receiving updates with added content and a lot of optimization fixes!”
“Very smooth mechanics, optimized and really fun.”
“The lags and poor optimization have just gotten worse and worse and for the most part this game is now literally unplayable even at the very lowest settings possible.”
“This game is horribly optimized, and still takes a relatively powerful computer to run at the lowest graphics options available.”
“However, it is 100% unplayable with the current performance issues and lack of optimization.”
- music136 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its retro style and catchy tracks that enhance the gaming experience, while others feel it lacks variety and memorability. Some players appreciate the atmospheric sound design that complements the visuals, but there are calls for more diverse and engaging music options. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally enjoyable, there is a consensus that improvements could be made to elevate it further.
“The music, atmosphere, and visuals of the game are all excellent.”
“Incredibly fun to play, great music, and the monthly dev blogs are very detailed and super informative.”
“The soundtrack in my opinion is amazing and unique, almost gives me perfect dark vibes in its tone and in the lower notes.”
“The music really doesn't fit to me... it sounds very out of place.”
“The songs playing sound monotonous and not engaging at all.”
“The music really needs some work.”
- grinding108 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players enjoying the grind for its rewards and replayability, while others find it tedious and overly time-consuming, especially in the late game. Many reviews highlight that while the initial stages can be engaging, the later levels often require extensive grinding for minimal progression, leading to frustration with RNG elements and repetitive challenges. Overall, the game is seen as semi-grindy but rewarding, appealing to those who appreciate a challenge, though it may deter players seeking a more streamlined experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“First 20 hours were spent playing through levels and getting cool stuff, next 20 were spent banging my head against the wall grinding heavily RNG challenges and hoping not to get clipped by an instant death orb after a 2-hour run doing the exact same things.”
“I can't really recommend it when the early game is just tedious, without a real avenue to move into the fun part of the game but rerolling and praying to RNGesus to please for the love of God just drop a weapon already so I can start having fun.”
“I bought this game on day one and was very supportive at first, but as the updates came through, the game became a tedious monotonous job-like grinding purgatory to unlock new achievements to get new skills.”
- replayability90 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by extensive customization options, a variety of challenges, and a rewarding meta-progression system. Players appreciate the infinite replay potential, engaging gameplay loops, and the ability to experiment with different builds and difficulty levels. Despite being in early access, the game offers substantial content and replay value, with many users expressing excitement for future updates.
“Tons of replayability and a gameplay loop that grabs you and doesn't let go.”
“It is a very good roguelike with infinite replayability; you can easily advance and wreck your enemies from a distance or up close and personal.”
“The weapons offer a lot of variety, the challenges have depth, and the upgrades are meaningful and offer a lot of replayability.”
“Right now the game lacks content and replay value.”
“More replayable than Vampire Survivors, but has less depth and content at the moment.”
“Of course, you want to do those challenges because they will all reward you with buffs or cards; this makes games replayable, and maybe for some players this will be grindy.”
- story48 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game features a "story" mode that allows players to navigate various biomes and face bosses, unlocking new tile sets along the way, but it lacks a cohesive narrative or engaging world-building. While the gameplay is enjoyable and offers procedural elements, many players feel that the absence of a deeper story or thematic content detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game is more focused on gameplay mechanics than storytelling, making it less appealing for those seeking a rich narrative.
“The rog story mode seems to alleviate the long runtime of the game most have complained of by breaking progression down into smaller waves with an overworld map connecting different waves together.”
“I can't wait for more content, though there is quite a bit that you can unlock by progressing through the main part of rog's story.”
“I'm excited to see where this goes story-wise, as it's pretty fun when not in survivor mode.”
“The game seems to lack an overall story or theme.”
“Similarly, the world is not very engaging, through a general lack of storytelling, be it through text or design.”
“But if you're here for a game with plot or a story, then this isn't for you.”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong sense of humor, with players finding the integration of exploits into achievements and the comedic design of characters and weapons particularly amusing. Many reviews highlight the game's potential for humor, suggesting it adds a fun and entertaining layer to the gameplay experience. Overall, the humor is seen as a significant and enjoyable aspect of the game.
“Heck, instead of removing an infinite money exploit, the developers behind the game decided to tie an achievement into it (and disable further achievement gains in that run) because it is hilarious!”
“It's pretty hilarious when you see Dr. Livesey walking towards you.”
“Weapons are hilarious to use and some items completely break the game in a good way.”
- stability14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates strong stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where it consistently runs well at high settings, achieving steady frame rates around 60 fps. However, it is noted to be power-consuming, and performance may drop to about 30 fps in survival mode. Overall, players find it polished and capable of handling high on-screen enemy counts effectively.
“Runs great on the Steam Deck on ultra, steady 60fps.”
“It's very polished and runs great even at very high on-screen enemy counts.”
“Great ability changes, challenging and rewarding combos, and runs great on Steam Deck.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its excellent music, visuals, and overall mood, creating an engaging experience that enhances gameplay. However, some players note that the moody design can hinder visibility, making it challenging to spot enemies, including powerful bosses. Overall, while the atmosphere is generally well-received, there are suggestions for improvements in the music.
“The music, atmosphere, and visuals of the game are all excellent.”
“The atmosphere was nice, the art made me feel good, and something inside me cheered and soared.”
“Great visuals and atmosphere.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally uplifting, praising its wholesome atmosphere and art that evokes positive feelings. The overall experience leaves them hopeful for more content, despite minor frustrations with gameplay mechanics.
“The atmosphere was nice, the art made me feel good, and something inside me cheered and soared.”
“It feels wholesome and I hope to see a lot more content for this game in the future.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the game's monetization model, feeling it lacks sufficient pay-to-win elements and microtransactions. They desire more opportunities for spending money to enhance gameplay, indicating that the current system does not meet their expectations for monetization.
“I really can't recommend this game, all it does is give you a huge dopamine hit and make you play it over and over... come on devs, we want pay to win, microtransactions, etc.”
