ScourgeBringer

About

ScourgeBringer is a single-player shooter game with an intriguing post-apocalyptic story. Experience fast-paced rogue-platforming gameplay, combining the fluid controls of Dead Cells and the precision of Celeste. With exceptional visuals, a fantastic soundtrack, and stellar replayability, the game offers a highly grinding yet satisfying experience. Join Kyhra in her quest to discover her past and seek humanity's redemption.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,193 reviews

gameplay259 positive mentions

grinding36 negative mentions

Fast-paced and fluid combat that makes players feel like a badass.
Beautiful pixel art and a dynamic soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
Challenging yet fair difficulty curve that encourages skill development.

Repetitive gameplay with limited enemy and room variety, leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
Some mechanics, like the dash and smash attacks, can feel unresponsive or lead to frustrating deaths.
The skill tree progression can feel shallow, with many upgrades not significantly altering gameplay.

gameplay
618 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The gameplay of this game is characterized by its fast-paced, fluid mechanics that emphasize skill and precision, making it both exhilarating and challenging. While many players appreciate the tight controls and satisfying combat, some express concerns about repetitiveness and a lack of meaningful variety in gameplay across runs. Overall, the game is praised for its addictive nature and engaging mechanics, though it may require a steep learning curve for new players.
- “The core combat system and the upgrades make the moment-to-moment gameplay feel fantastic and stylish.”
- “The gameplay is where Scourgebringer shines... fast-paced, cutthroat, and fluid.”
- “The gameplay feels polished and responsive, but the lack of randomization between runs makes the progression a bit of a slog.”
- “A really neat idea for a game, but the execution doesn't have enough visual depth or gameplay variety to avoid going stale faster than McDonald's fries.”
- “The upgrades are pretty repetitive and the unlocks feel more like the introduction of new mechanics than anything that excited me too much.”
- “There needs to be something done to the regular rate at which health items spawn, how long your invulnerability lasts between hits, and having health return at the end of a stage because there was not a single run in my near 3 hours of gameplay where I reached the 2nd stage with more than 3 HP.”
music
347 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its energetic and engaging soundtrack, often compared to the heavy metal vibes of the "Doom" series, which enhances the fast-paced gameplay. However, some players find the music repetitive and the abrupt transitions between calm exploration tracks and intense combat themes jarring. Overall, while the soundtrack is considered a highlight, its lack of variation and occasional overbearing nature can detract from the experience for some players.
- “The music is pulse-pounding, metal earworms that are perfect for the combat, and some more relaxing ambiance that fit the areas well.”
- “Easily one of the greatest roguelites out there, it's so disarming at first, but then your first fight, the metal music kicks in for the first time, and it's just one hell of a wild ride from there.”
- “The soundtrack is friggin amazing and I like the high difficulty too.”
- “Repetitive music, which frequently oscillates between calm and aggressive, gets annoying rather fast.”
- “The change is very jarring since the exploring music is very ambient, and the fighting music is very heavy metal.”
- “Battles are so frequent that the constant starting and stopping of the battle music gets fairly annoying.”
graphics
222 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
38%
1%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art style, vibrant colors, and cohesive aesthetic that enhances the fast-paced gameplay. Many reviewers noted the smooth animations and impressive visual design, which contribute to an engaging experience, although some mentioned minor issues with readability during chaotic moments. Overall, the combination of beautiful visuals and a strong soundtrack significantly elevates the game's appeal.
- “The graphics are beautiful, some incredibly fluid and incredible looking pixel art.”
- “The pixel artwork and color palette is delightfully minimal, and evokes a bit of an 8-bit nostalgia, but the game loop has modern rogue-lite progression system not unlike that of Dead Cells.”
- “With its tight controls, beautiful graphics, and thrilling combat, Scourgebringer is sure to keep you on your toes throughout a run.”
- “It's a bit repetitive - not randomized enough, in my opinion - and the graphics could do with some retouching to make it easier to understand what's going on.”
- “As minor setbacks, I'd say that sometimes the graphic style makes it difficult to tell the background from some of the enemies' attacks (especially in the third area) and you get hit even without noticing.”
- “Enemies felt really unresponsive and the visuals were kind of overwhelming (which tends to happen when you have a bunch of 2D Metroids swarming you and overlapping each other, which hides the visual indicator that an enemy is about to start spraying you with bullets).”
story
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
78%
3%
The game's story is often described as convoluted and lacking depth, with many players feeling it doesn't progress meaningfully throughout their playthroughs. While some appreciate the intriguing premise and atmospheric elements, they note that the storytelling is sparse and often feels like an afterthought, leading to a sense of repetition and minimal engagement. Overall, the narrative is seen as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a driving force, with calls for more substantial lore and character development.
- “This game has excellent gameplay, a simple and effective story, and gorgeously smooth pixel graphics.”
- “I really love the story and wish there was a sequel.”
- “The story is about a thing that came from the sky and burns everything; nobody knows why, but they call it the Scourgebringer. Many people tried to go in, but no one came back out.”
- “The story of this game is a bunch of setup and intrigue but seems to have little to no delivery.”
- “After the introduction, there is very little progression of characters or story.”
- “The themes, setting, and intrigue are all there, but the in-game storytelling and dialogue is so sparse it barely serves as a coat of paint.”
replayability
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
54%
7%
Replayability in this game is a mixed bag; while it offers a solid challenge and engaging combat that encourages repeated play, many players feel it lacks significant variability and content after completing the main game. Some reviews highlight that the rogue-like elements provide decent replay value, especially with updates adding new challenges and modes, but others note that the absence of diverse characters or impactful items can lead to a sense of stagnation. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable and worth the price, but its replayability may not satisfy those seeking extensive variety.
- “Great replayability; 75+ hours of content.”
- “Wonderfully fast-paced, tight and punchy action platforming gameplay, fine-tuned roguelike elements that add just enough replay value to get the player to the finish line without slowing down the experience, and all on top of an immediately exciting world.”
- “The addition of 3 more bosses and challenging environments, as well as the trials you unlock after first beating the game, have added a lot more replay value to the game than its initial release offered, as well as a more difficult and rewarding experience.”
- “Basically, the way the progression system is designed, once you beat the game, there's not much replayability.”
- “Very little replay value; after you beat the secret final boss, there's nothing to do.”
- “I do think that this game has limited replay value because there is only one difficulty and a limited amount of content, so once you get good, it loses some of its appeal.”
grinding
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
5%
90%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unfulfilling, with many expressing frustration over the lack of variety in upgrades and the repetitive nature of gameplay. While some acknowledge that grinding is necessary for progression, it often feels like a chore rather than a rewarding experience, detracting from the enjoyment of the game. The absence of meaningful changes in runs and the difficulty spikes in later stages further contribute to the perception of grinding as a negative element.
- “A key difference which brings it back to Hades is you have to clear rooms to progress, while in Dark Souls and Dead Cells you can choose to skip a majority of enemies if you weren't grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This game is just tedious for the sake of being tedious.”
- “As a roguelite, it is lacking a few areas such as the progression being so grindy. Honestly, my main gripe with the game is that it's a grindfest of smashing your head against the wall forever for some really uninteresting upgrades. Eventually, you get the important ones after going through the others, but there is no variety in your runs as the guns and perk shrine give you items that are so interchangeable that I sometimes don't even pick them up because they don't do anything.”
- “It's so bland and grindy in the sense that it doesn't feel rewarding enough.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
15%
15%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, characterized by slick movement, a vibrant soundtrack of frenetic synths, and a visually stunning style reminiscent of Ghibli films. Reviewers note that the focus on atmosphere enhances the overall experience, making it more engaging than typical roguelikes, despite a relatively standard gameplay structure. The combination of polished graphics and immersive sound design creates a captivating environment that encourages players to fully immerse themselves in the game.
- “The setting and atmosphere are reminiscent of Ghibli movies such as 'Castle in the Sky' and 'Nausicaa', which is great.”
- “Check out the soundtrack, which generally sticks to frenetic, ever-shifting synths oozing with atmospheric flavor driven by skittering drum lines.”
- “The game is more focused on atmosphere than on story.”
- “The setting and atmosphere are reminiscent of Ghibli movies such as Castle in the Sky and Nausicaä, which is great.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by a fun, snarky tone and a blend of dark comedy, effectively enhancing the gameplay experience despite some repetitiveness. Players appreciate the amusing alien ambient noises in quieter moments and the clever subversion of typical game mechanics, such as the exaggerated movement options. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm that keeps players engaged.
- “The only calmest moments in-run are the shops or secret rooms, where you hear nothing but funny alien ambient noises.”
- “Interestingly, Dead Cells pulls off dark and humorous very well, and from what I can tell watching old footage, even very early in development it had that kind of ethos.”
- “+ has a fun, snarky sense of humor that I wasn't expecting at all.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and engaging gameplay, which evokes a sense of joy and satisfaction as players navigate through combat without touching the ground. The unique mechanics, such as the dash ability and the emphasis on spacing and positioning, contribute to a thrilling experience that feels rewarding, despite some concerns about repetitiveness and graphical clarity. Overall, players appreciate the emotional highs of mastering the game's combat system.
- “This is a really wholesome roguelike, with its excellent pixel graphics and gameplay.”
- “It's a good roguelike game with a very different feeling combat - all about spacing and positioning, and it feels great when you ping-pong between multiple enemies without ever touching the ground.”
- “It felt really good to smash 'em up while never touching the ground.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
22%
11%
Overall, players find the game's optimization to be generally positive, with many noting improved performance after customizing controls. However, the less powerful Vita version experiences some performance issues during intense action sequences, though it still offers smooth gameplay in both docked and handheld modes.
- “My performance improved so much after remapping some buttons so that controls are like other similar games.”
- “While the less powerful Vita version of ScourgeBringer does have a few performance issues, this is a great way to get into the addictive roguelike.”
- “Slick, stylish, and addictive combat action with plenty of upgrades to keep things interesting, tons of enemy types to take on, and some monumentally challenging boss battles to get to grips with. Super smooth performance in docked and handheld modes, hugely atmospheric graphical style.”
- “[Some performance issues during more congested action sequences; Vita's touchpads make for poor projectile buttons.]”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game demonstrates excellent stability, with tight controls and responsive hit feedback that minimizes the impact of frame freezes on gameplay. Menu navigation is intuitive, and overall performance is smooth and reliable.
- “Menuing is easy and cohesive, the game itself runs great and has been perfectly stable.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization model is generally viewed positively, as it is not perceived as a cash grab, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money. Players appreciate the design choices that enhance gameplay, contributing to an overall satisfying experience.
- “That is not just an excuse for a cash grab.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development in the game is noted to be uneven, with pacing issues that disrupt the overall progression and growth of characters, particularly in the context of its roguelike elements.
- “The character development feels uneven, with pacing issues that disrupt the overall experience.”
- “The roguelike elements overshadow the character development, making it feel rushed and incomplete.”
- “I found the character development to be lacking depth, which made it hard to connect with the characters.”