SFD

About

"SFD is a single-player, turn-based strategy game available on Steam. You lead a party of adventurers through randomly-generated dungeons, with the goal of defeating the Lich King Raeleus and the false god NOG. With permadeath, old-school difficulty, and a variety of weapons and skills, SFD offers a challenging and unique blend of RPG and roguelike elements."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 114 reviews

gameplay12 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game features a tight and addictive gameplay loop with engaging tactical mechanics, reminiscent of classic RPGs.
The pixel art and simple presentation enhance the experience without overwhelming the player, making it visually appealing.
There is a good variety of classes and abilities, allowing for diverse team compositions and strategic gameplay.

The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and corrupted save files, which can be frustrating for players.
Lack of music and a coherent story makes the gameplay feel somewhat empty and repetitive over time.
The user interface is clunky and lacks quality of life features, making navigation and inventory management cumbersome.

gameplay
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
58%
8%
The gameplay is described as addictive and straightforward, featuring a blend of simple mechanics with deeper strategic elements, particularly in its tactical battles and movement interactions. While many players appreciate the old-school roguelike feel and the engaging pushing mechanic, some criticize the lack of clear tutorials and explanations for game mechanics, which can lead to frustration. Overall, it offers a solid experience for fans of the genre, though it leans heavily on RNG and may feel simplistic to those seeking more complex gameplay.
- “Really addictive 'just one more room' gameplay.”
- “The movement mechanics, pushing, and synergy with traps and AoE spells is very good.”
- “I'm reviewing it because it's a hidden gem and if you're a fan of tactical turn-based, no-frills, pixely sort of game that cuts the BS and goes straight to the gameplay, especially if you're in need of or want an actual roguelike, this game is well worth the asking price and will not disappoint.”
- “It is mechanically too simplistic, and therefore the overall experience is weighted too heavily to RNG, I feel.”
- “I absolutely hate how so many things are not explained from the start and how little information there is online about these mechanics.”
- “There is no tutorial to explain these kinds of mechanics clearly, just some pointers on where to find stuff on the UI.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro, pixelated style that appeals to fans of old-school aesthetics, though opinions vary widely. While some players appreciate the simplicity and charm of the graphics, others criticize them as lacking quality, with ratings ranging from 4/10 to 10/10. Overall, the graphics are seen as a matter of personal taste, with many agreeing that they serve the game's strategic depth well despite their basic nature.
- “Very well developed retro graphics and the UI is attractive and unique.”
- “It's got old school pixel graphic appeal, which I love.”
- “If you can ignore horrible graphics and audio, this is actually a very well-designed game, and if you are a fan of turn-based strategy games and roguelikes, there's a high chance you will love it.”
- “The graphics are simple, and even for pixel art, they could be slightly better, but this is my only negative.”
- “It is different from many of the other roguelikes because it has a very old-school feeling both in gameplay and graphics.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
64%
21%
The game's music is largely criticized for its absence, with many players noting that the lack of a soundtrack makes it feel cheap and unfinished. Instead of engaging music, players are left with repetitive ambient sounds that quickly become tiresome. Some have resorted to playing external soundtracks to enhance the experience, highlighting the game's significant shortcoming in this area.
- “- no in-game music (just creepy dungeon ambient noises which get old quick).”
- “No music, and it feels cheap and unfinished because of that.”
- “The only downside is there's basically no music, but I'll put on things like the Golden Axe or Shining Force soundtracks and it fits the theme quite well.”
- “No story, no music, just ambient noise and monsters to kill.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
50%
43%
The game lacks a significant narrative, with players noting the absence of a story, music, and a focus on ambient sounds and combat. While it offers enjoyable gameplay and character building typical of turn-based RPGs, it does not provide the quest-driven or story-rich experience that some players might expect.
- “Having a lot of fun with this title - reminds me of graphically cuter Dark Quest II, but with enough difference to keep you interested.”
- “No story, no music, just ambient noise and monsters to kill.”
- “Very solid turn-based RPG (character building RPG, not story RPG).”
- “Maybe with quests and all the other usual RPG stuff.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The game offers significant replayability through its diverse unit job paths, allowing players to create varied teams. While some users feel it may not match the replay value of other roguelike games, others appreciate its potential for infinite replayability. Overall, it strikes a balance between diversity and longevity.
- “What I find really cool is that different units have different job paths, allowing you to create diverse teams and therefore giving the game huge replay value.”
- “Infinite replayability.”
- “What I find really cool is that different units have different job paths, allowing you to create diverse teams and therefore giving the game huge replay value.”
- “Might be lacking in replay value compared to other roguelike/lites, but not every game can be one you play forever.”
- “What I find really cool is that different units have different job paths, allowing you to create diverse teams and therefore giving SFD huge replay value.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, citing boring dungeons and cumbersome navigation as significant drawbacks. The necessity to clear every room for minimal experience gain, especially in larger parties, contributes to a sense of monotonous grinding as the primary means of leveling up.
- “Boring dungeons with tedious navigation.”
- “I know that the more people in the party, the less experience per unit is gained, but when it is needed to clear every single room to possibly level up a single time, it just feels like grinding is the only way to go about this.”
- “Boring dungeons with tedious navigation.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The humor in the game is primarily derived from amusing glitches and bugs, which users find entertaining and adds a lighthearted element to the gameplay experience.
- “The game is filled with hilarious bugs that add an unexpected twist to the gameplay.”
- “I can't stop laughing at the funny bugs that pop up during my playthrough!”
- “The humor in the game, especially the funny bugs, keeps the experience light-hearted and entertaining.”