Astral Ascent

Overall, Astral Ascent is a damn fine example of roguelites at their near best. It’s an unfolding mystery set in a beautiful world, and the addictive gameplay loop just keeps you coming back for more. The amount of times I was ready to head to bed before hearing my mind calling for “just one more” happened times than I’d care to admit. It may not topple the giants, but it certainly gives enough to stand amongst them.

Astral Ascent is one of the best roguelites we've had recently. Its gameplay, design and art form a brilliant constellation that forges an identity of its own. We miss some more value in terms of innovation, but even with that "problem", Hibernian Workshop establishes itself as an indie reference with this game.

With a combat system supported by a huge amount of possibilities to customize your runs, memorable boss fights and excellent pixel art, Astral Ascent is a must-have for roguelite fans.

Catering to both 2D action enthusiasts and casual gamers alike, Astral Ascent is a roguelike that anyone can thoroughly enjoy.

Despite having some real issues with it, though, Astral Ascent simply feels great to play, and that goes a long way in a genre that lives and dies based upon exactly that. If you’re going to ask players to make run after run through the same areas and repeat the same challenges, you need to feel good on a visceral level. Astral Ascent nails that and is the exact sort of game I want to keep running through. In some ways, it feels more like a great Early Access game that needs a bit more polish than a truly finished product, but what’s here today is still well worth a look for fans of the genre.