Inkbound

Inkbound is a fantastic roguelike that has easily become one of my favorites to play on the Steam Deck.

A charming turn-based roguelike that mixes Monster Train and Hades but falls shy of their peak.

I’ve been playing Inkbound for the past several months, and now that the game has finally launched, it’s time to turn a critical eye to their 1.0 version, and delve deep into the pages hidden within this co-op roguelike strategy game.

This time it's Hades that Shiny Shoe's game feels similar to, but with some delicious differences that make this roguelike stand out all on its own.

As a rogue-like that may not be on everyone's radar, Inkbound goes beyond expectations to deliver an addictive and gorgeous turn-based experience.

Despite it never really standing out from the crowd, Inkbound does a decent job of creating a fight, die, and repeat cycle that is equal parts entertaining and challenging. Running the gauntlets of the various books with friends or strangers is an undoubtedly fun experience, and since unlockables can be earned in-game, it will perhaps drive a lot of players to keep at the grind a bit longer than they normally would. Those looking for something familiar but with a new twist should keep their eyes on Inkbound, and be ready to dive into the books and write their own adventures.

Inkbound can be a demanding mistress for those looking to see it through to the end. It has a lengthy campaign, so while individual runs are often short, you'll need a lot of them to reach the end. Even if my progress is slower than I'd like, I haven't jumped off the Inkbound train just yet. I dig the formula immensely and while running solo can get old, going through runs with buddies is a blast. The latter is especially recommended for those looking to run through some of the game's tougher foes, because taking on a villain alone can sometimes be no fun and downright unfair.

Occasionally brilliant, often maddening, and just a bit too messy to be a new roguelike classic.