Ziggurat

A delightful modern take on the first person shooters of old.

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"Ziggurat is a single-player Fantasy Shooter with fast-paced combat, Rogue-lite elements, and RPG features. Explore randomly generated dungeons, defeat bosses, and level up to prove your worth as a sorcerer. With its beautiful graphics, hilarious moments, and high replayability, Ziggurat offers a wonderful atmosphere and a challenging experience for players."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,926 reviews

gameplay330 positive mentions

grinding77 negative mentions

Fast-paced, fun gameplay with a variety of magical weapons and spells.
High replayability due to procedurally generated levels and numerous unlockable characters, perks, and weapons.
Challenging yet fair difficulty curve that encourages skill development.

Repetitive enemy types and room designs can lead to a lack of variety over time.
RNG elements can sometimes result in frustrating runs where players are stuck with ineffective weapons or perks.
Some players may experience motion sickness due to the game's movement mechanics.

gameplay
977 mentions
34 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Ziggurat is characterized by fast-paced, old-school FPS mechanics combined with roguelike elements, offering a fun and addictive experience. However, many players note a lack of variety in enemies, weapons, and environments, leading to repetitive gameplay over time. While the core mechanics are solid and enjoyable, the game suffers from a lack of depth and innovation, making it feel dated compared to other modern roguelikes.
- “Ziggurat is pure FPS mechanics, with infinite replay value, in a fantastic environment.”
- “The gameplay is fast, fun, challenging, and addicting.”
- “The gameplay is extremely tight and responsive, which is good because it is also very challenging.”
- “There isn't a ton of variety in gameplay with the maps, weapons, or enemies.”
- “Sadly the game does not have enough abilities, mechanics, weapons, or enemy variety to be a decent roguelike.”
- “The gameplay is simply 'go from room to room and floor to floor' to kill the same enemies over and over again.”
graphics
711 mentions
53 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, showcasing a vibrant and stylized art style that many players find appealing, reminiscent of classic titles like Hexen and Heretic. While some users note that the visuals can feel dated or simplistic, especially given the game's indie roots, others praise the colorful environments and smooth performance across various hardware. However, there are mentions of graphical bugs and a lack of variety in level design, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “The graphics are gorgeous and the game itself is great fun to play.”
- “The visuals are excellent, and the gameplay is solid.”
- “The graphics are very nice, most rogue-likes I have seen/played go with retro looks, not so with this one.”
- “The art style has aged alright, but you can definitely tell it’s a decade-old indie game at this point.”
- “The graphics needed a bit more; the gunplay needed a bit more, the roguelike elements needed a bit more, the dungeon designs needed a bit more, some (but not all) of the bosses needed a bit more.”
- “First and foremost, all the levels in the game have barely any variety in graphical design.”
replayability
389 mentions
49 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally praised, with many players highlighting the procedural generation of levels, a variety of unlockable characters, weapons, and perks, which contribute to a highly engaging experience. While some reviews mention limited long-term replay value or balance issues, the overall consensus is that the game offers significant replayability, making it enjoyable for both casual and dedicated players.
- “The breadth of weapons, characters, and such cater to all play styles, and the random generation gives it great replay value.”
- “Ziggurat is pure FPS mechanics, with infinite replay value, in a fantastic environment.”
- “This game also offers some nice replayability with multiple difficulties, character unlocks, and as you play, you unlock upgrades and weapons to appear in future games.”
- “It's worth picking up on sale for some mindless, enjoyable shooting, but don't expect long-term replayability.”
- “Ziggurat unfortunately has no replayability.”
- “Pretty fun game but its replayability is hurt by its lack of content.”
story
220 mentions
16 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story in "Ziggurat" is largely considered minimal and underdeveloped, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. Players take on the role of a sorcerer navigating through a series of floors in a ziggurat as part of an initiation rite, but many reviewers noted that the narrative lacks depth and is easily forgettable. While some appreciate the simplicity and unobtrusiveness of the story, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, leaving it feeling somewhat pointless.
- “The story is you are a sorcerer trying to prove your worth by braving the rite of passage known as the ziggurat.”
- “The story is interesting; you are an eager sorcerer that believes you're ready to participate in 'the ziggurat'.”
- “Although the story is not the main focus of the game, it is clear that a lot of thinking was put into it.”
- “Basically has little to no story worth mentioning and I became bored with it very quickly.”
- “The story is almost nonexistent, but the game really doesn't need one to begin with.”
- “Starting at the beginning, the story is very straightforward without giving a single satisfying answer to anything or even having an air of mystery; the storyline is there attempting to justify the game for existing but fails miserably since there is no closure and just an endless loop.”
music
197 mentions
30 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it forgettable or generic, often noting that it fails to enhance the gaming experience significantly. While some appreciate the atmospheric qualities and the way it complements the visuals, others criticize its repetitiveness and lack of memorable tracks, leading many to prefer listening to their own music instead. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a weak point, lacking the energy and variety expected in a game of its genre.
- “The music matches the pace of the game and the environment such that you feel a little more enveloped in the game.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic and really helps immerse you into the world.”
- “The world of Ziggurat exists in randomly created dungeons which are beautifully designed with plenty of color and ambient lighting alive with many a lethal trap making combat a fantasy thrill-seeker's delight while bringing an amazing soothing surreal meditative calm between battles as one gazes upon the suddenly very peaceful gorgeous setting as haunting ageless music plays in the background.”
- “The soundtrack is very forgettable.”
- “I can't even remember if the game has any background music and I literally just played the game for the final time just 30 minutes ago!”
- “The music is pretty generic and forgettable, and you'll often find yourself turning it off and listening to your own music (at least I certainly did).”
grinding
78 mentions
1 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly as they face increasingly spongy enemies and limited mana resources. While some appreciate the grind for unlocking new characters and weapons, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to burnout after a few hours. Overall, the experience can be fun and addictive for those who enjoy grinding, but it risks becoming monotonous for others.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “But after only playing three hours, getting to the end already felt so tedious I wouldn't dare do it again.”
- “However, it very quickly becomes tedious: after 6 hours, I'm already burnt out, running around in circles shooting at the same enemies, fights getting longer the deeper you go into the levels.”
- “Game feels good and plays well, but is unfortunately a tedious, repetitive, and boring grind for unlocks with procedural semi-modular level layouts that leave a lot to be desired.”
atmosphere
72 mentions
57 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its vibrant, colorful design and nostalgic nods to classic dungeon crawlers, creating an engaging and magical experience. However, some players feel that the cartoonish graphics detract from the potential for a darker, more immersive atmosphere, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall tone. While the sound design and music contribute positively, the inconsistency in thematic elements leaves some players wanting a more cohesive atmospheric experience.
- “It honestly might be the best atmosphere, lighting, and ambience I've ever seen in a game.”
- “The atmosphere is absolutely fantastic, capturing that awesome colorful 90's dungeon feel.”
- “The magical atmosphere, otherworldly color scheme, and randomized floor layouts create a highly compelling experience.”
- “It's hard to tell which atmosphere this game tried to maintain.”
- “Sadly, the interesting monsters fall flat in a flat world, with a flat atmosphere.”
- “If it had, I probably would have been able to forgive the lack of content and lack of environmental interaction if a suitably dark atmosphere was produced, and give a positive recommendation.”
optimization
69 mentions
49 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many players reporting smooth performance on various systems, including mid-range PCs and Linux. However, some users experience issues such as microstuttering, performance drops during intense moments, and specific problems on ATI graphics cards. While the game is well-optimized for most setups, those with lower-end hardware or certain configurations may encounter significant lag, particularly in high enemy count scenarios.
- “Very fun, incredibly well-optimized, amazingly polished.”
- “It has beautiful graphics, especially for an indie game, and is extremely well optimized.”
- “It's also very optimized; I get no slowdown ever on the highest settings, played through the entire game on normal, nothing lagged me.”
- “Great game if it didn't have persistent microstuttering when moving.”
- “Badly optimized, 580 GTX + 3.2 GHz hex core + 16 GB RAM (well above recommended), this game lags terribly in spots.”
- “Boss fights are about 10-15 FPS, normal rooms with high enemy counts can visibly slow down performance.”
humor
54 mentions
93 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its clever and quirky humor, featuring absurd enemies like maniacal, man-eating carrots and a variety of amusing weapons and abilities. Players appreciate the blend of creepy and funny aesthetics, along with humorous lore and secrets that enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the frenetic action, making each playthrough entertaining and unpredictable.
- “The humor in this is great, and the variety from one playthrough to the next is never boring.”
- “The devil is in the detail, and the minutiae certainly are devilishly adorable here: from secret rooms that esconce little optional nuggets of history about the devs, to the ridiculous enemies and weapons, to the drip-fed lore through cutscenes and text scrolls, to the hilariously unjust blessings system at shrines, to the uncertainty whether that mystery box will shower you with health potions or exploding carrots.”
- “The game's got a great sense of humor to it, you'll be fighting evil carrots alongside banshees and all sorts of minions.”
- “But with so few health packs and permadeath, this is not funny anymore.”
- “I mean, you are a wizard and killing minions and monsters is not funny?”
stability
29 mentions
21 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
79 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players reporting smooth performance and minimal issues, while others experience significant glitches, including enemies getting stuck and mouse control problems. Graphical glitches, such as clipping, are noted but often go unnoticed during gameplay. Overall, while the game runs well on certain systems, the presence of frequent bugs and crashes detracts from the experience for many users.
- “I am happy to report that this awesome game runs great with OS X 10.6.8 and works on both of my computers!”
- “Everyone involved has done a good job, and it runs smoothly and is bug-free; well worth the purchase.”
- “Combined, you get this game which looks great, runs great, and is a lot of fun.”
- “About 45 minutes into my first run, an enemy glitched out and was below the floor - they can't hurt me and I can't hurt them.”
- “Everything about this game is excellent, except for the insane amount of glitches and crashing.”
- “As well, I've experienced other glitches such as my mouse losing control of movement but not shooting, or the cursor appearing in gameplay requiring a restart to get rid of.”
character development
14 mentions
7 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is streamlined and focuses on selecting passive perks upon leveling up, resembling a quick and straightforward process akin to a fast food experience. While there are no traditional stats or gear, the unique unlocks and varied enemy designs contribute to a dynamic gameplay experience that encourages tactical adaptation. Overall, the character development system is efficient but may lack depth for players seeking more complex progression.
- “From the hard-as-nails enemies to the depth of play and unique character development (imagine 'Rogue Legacy'-like unlocks).”
- “The character development is very streamlined and primarily revolves around selecting a new perk (mostly passive abilities) every time you level up.”
- “The character development is like a fast food drive-through; pick up your upgrades and resume fighting.”
- “There are no stats, no character development, no gear besides a few weapons (just like in action games).”
emotional
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with some players feeling a sense of confusion and disappointment regarding the gameplay's pacing and quality. However, others find moments of joy and reflection, particularly when using specific weapons like the alchemy grenade, which evoke a deeper, almost spiritual connection to the game's atmosphere. Overall, while the game has its highs and lows, it can elicit strong feelings of nostalgia and excitement in certain contexts.
- “Its like listening to a spiritual harp touching the soul making one reflect on the positive setting the player up for some fun battles at any moment.”
- “All in all, a great roguelike FPS, made me feel like I was playing a modern revisioning of Hexen.”
- “The only weapon that made me feel this way in Ziggurat was a throwing weapon, the alchemy grenade.”
monetization
10 mentions
10 % positive mentions
10 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is mixed; while players can earn numerous unlockable characters through gameplay without any microtransactions, there are complaints about in-game advertisements that detract from the experience. Overall, the presence of ads and the design choices have led to a negative perception among some users.
- “There are tons of unlockable characters earnable through gameplay; no microtransactions, and having randomized dungeons with secret areas keeps things fresh and tense.”
- “2/10 a real great game if you love bad design choices, samey rooms, deviantart tier cutscenes, and in-game ads.”
- “In Ziggurat, you have endless square rooms, jumping puzzles, in-game advertisements, often-stationary monsters that just repeatedly throw slow bullets, and a primary weapon resembling a stick.”
- “Spawn in, summon some ads, charge at you (give or take) and do a large attack.”