Going Under

 Switch
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. KeenGamer
    Oct 5, 2020
    90
    Going Under starts off looking like a goofy, chaotic rogue-lite parodying company culture, and ends looking like one, too. The huge variety in weapons and skills will keep you improvising and adapting on every run. While the story is entirely ridiculous and doesn’t take itself seriously for most of its runtime, the loveable characters - both Jackie and her colleagues - will keep you invested (haha) the whole way through. Couple that with a masterfully crafted finale and you get one of the most satisfying, and overall best, games of 2020.
  2. NintendoWorldReport
    Sep 22, 2020
    90
    Going Under succeeds in crafting an addictive, hack-and-slash type of experience, and just when it seems like it might be over, it takes another step for those who really want a serious challenge.
  3. Jeuxvideo.com
    Oct 20, 2021
    80
    Going Under is as refreshing and addicting as it is demanding.
  5. Vooks
    Feb 16, 2021
    80
    Going Under has some great synergy, but don’t expect any sort of hostile takeover of your life. It lacks scope and variety compared to time-devouring classics like The Binding of Isaac and Enter the Gungeon, and certainly doesn’t come close to the challenge of either of those two games. As an accessible, friendly, funny take on the genre though, it scores some big points, and is generally a blast and a half. You should give this one a spin.
  6. Cubed3
    Jan 27, 2021
    80
    Although Going Under is a short venture where the art style and humour may not be for everyone, the fun action, creative world, and addictive gameplay make this an excellent roguelite well worth the work hours. And again, Jackie can pat the office dachshund!
  7. DarkStation
    Oct 30, 2020
    80
    If you’re looking for a roguelike with personality and wit, Going Under may surprise you. Mechanically, it won’t blow you away, but with so much character on display, this is one internship worth taking.
  8. Switch Player
    Oct 29, 2020
    80
    With plenty of humour and weapon variety, Going Under is a charming, vibrant dungeon crawler/roguelike that never gets old. If your current working environment feels strange, try this weird and wonderful one out for size.
  9. Nintendo Insider
    Oct 7, 2020
    80
    It would be easy to say that Going Under’s witty characters and fantastic presentation carry it, but underneath its sarcastic surface there’s a great rogue-like that’s entirely worth checking out all on its own. Don’t let it go under your radar.

Awards & Rankings

48
#48 Best Switch Game of 2020

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 3 out of 18
  1. nusco
    Nov 15, 2021
    7
    An original, lovely built actional roguelite. Also a scathing satire of the world of technological startups.

    PROS: - UNIQUE GRAPHICS AND    An original, lovely built actional roguelite. Also a scathing satire of the world of technological startups.

    PROS:

    - UNIQUE GRAPHICS AND STYLE: Primary colors and characters that look like inflatables. Love it or hate it, no other game looks quite like this.

    - THE SATIRE IS SPOT-ON: The social commentary and smartly designed characters start strong, and they only get better until the end. From cryptocurrency freaks to annoying founders, no one is safe from this game's scathing sarcasm.

    - PLENTY OF CONTENT: The game is longer than you'd expect. Just when you think you're hitting the end of a short game, you realize that you're barely halfway through.

    - MADE WITH LOVE: This is the first game from this team, and it's surprisingly good for a debut. After seeing how much care and love went into Going Under, I'm looking forward to the next work from Aggro Crab.

    CONS:

    - MAYBE A BIT *TOO MUCH* CONTENT: Even if Going Under tries to keep things fresh, it's still a roguelite. Only the best in the genre manage not to overstay their welcome–and Going Under isn't quite up there with the best. At times, the game feels like it was padded with narrative tricks to force you to play through similar levels multiple times.

    - THE MECHANICS AREN'T QUITE UP TO THE TASK: This is by far Going Under's biggest shortcoming. It's an action game, but the fighting mechanics aren't good enough to stay fun until you hit the final credits. The fighting isn't exactly bad, but it does feel a bit sloppy. In particular, the fact that you must commit to your moves and cannot interrupt them results in a game that feels unresponsive. I lost count of how many times I lost a run because my rolls couldn't interrupt my swings. I completed Going Under, but I didn't always enjoy the experience.    … Full Review »
  2. CasualTap
    Oct 16, 2021
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. Story

    You will play as Jackie, a new intern at Fizzle, which is a startup at the verge of failure. It is the same as any other normal internship where you get assignments from your boss and seniors except they ask you to get rid of monsters!

    Gameplay

    Going Under is a roguelite dungeon crawler, meaning you will be tasked to explore procedurally generated areas. Some of your seniors will assign you to kill monsters, while some will ask you to complete a certain task like destroy 15 laptops or buy an expresso machine and so on. You can use almost everything in your office as weapon, ranging from a sword to literally a stapler!

    You can also choose one of the seniors at a time to be your mentor. Doing that will grant you different skill and ability sets, which can be useful for your job. To complete a certain task, you will probably need to shuffle your mentors.

    Sounds

    The music is unique and very quirky and I find it most fitting in this satire internship thing. There are no voice actings, though. And it doesn’t need one either.

    Conclusion

    There are too many roguelike/lite games on Nintendo eShop already. However, Going Under is still able to distinguish itself from the crowd. It has Rouge elements, quirky humour and music, and a fresh concept. It doesn’t feel like ‘ah, just another roguelike game’. For me, it’s a 7/10 game.    … Full Review »
  3. PolygonPal
    Apr 4, 2021
    9
    Ever wanted to vent your frustration at the corporate world? This is the game for you.

    The Good: Everything is as comedic as it gets.    Ever wanted to vent your frustration at the corporate world? This is the game for you.

    The Good:
    Everything is as comedic as it gets.
    Deadly office supplies are satisfying to use.
    Goblin + Job = Joblin. This is important.
    The array of support options offers everything from more invincibility frames and extra health to weapons lasting long and enemies dying faster. All in a customizable way to get the help you need tailor made for you.
    Just one more?

    The Bad:
    Short.
    Length comes from being really hard later down the line.
    You probably won't get what you need, when you need it in these cramped and short dungeons.
    Missions feel luck based at times. Others don't explain themselves well enough.
    I broke the Joblin boss cutscene and now it doesn't work at all.
    Hard to determine what's a weapon sometimes.

    Details:
    A short and sweet dungeon crawler that features a colorful cast of characters and a colorful array of monsters to fight. Loads of jokes on our corporate society and offering a fresh coat of paint on the genre help it to stand out amongst it's peers. Just be aware that later on the game starts to get really difficult(sometimes to the point of feeling outright unfair and brutal). But smacking goblins with tablet pens is too good to pass up. I recommend the Steam version if you can get it. It updates sooner and already has a content pack the Switch version lacks.

    Verdict:
    Art: B+
    Gameplay: A
    Corporate rage: A
    Comedy: A
    Red Staplers: Yes

    Good for dipping into the rouglike genre, though it pays to have experience in Zelda games. Be aware of the game's difficulty spike and everything should be fine. I suggest grabbing it when you can.    … Full Review »
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