Descent from Arkov's Tower

Very barebone roguelike, rogue"like" because the game play is shallower than the original rogue's is. The same bump-attack, the same stones to throw, the same music etc. It got uninteresting very fast, so much that I likely won't give it another try. I probably haven't seen half of it, but I am kind of alright with it. There is just no motivation to continue. For 2 bucks on your phone this would be acceptable, but 7? I don't think so.

Haven't yet played the full version but i've sunk a few hours into the prologue and it was very fun :3, great game, great moddability, highly recommend Upd: going back to this game after playing it for the first time in months, realising now that i'm not feeling like making mods for it or playing them (since there's not really any to play), it's a pretty barebones game. sure that helps with moddability but it also makes the game less enjoyable when that isn't an option :p. Tldr: Fun for a while, then you wanna play mods bc the base game's a little boring, then you realise there's none, then you forget abt it. Keeping positive review since I got the copy free, if it's on sale it's probably worth it for a few hours.

Descent from Arkov’s Tower is a turn-based roguelike developed by Saturn91 and published by DreamStudios that takes traditional dungeon-crawling ideas and reshapes them into a challenging fantasy adventure built around tactical combat, procedural progression, and player experimentation. Instead of climbing upward toward power and discovery, the game introduces a simple but effective twist by placing players at the top of a mysterious tower and asking them to survive the dangerous journey downward. This inversion creates a unique sense of progression while supporting a gameplay structure that rewards planning, adaptability, and long-term mastery. At its foundation, the game embraces many of the qualities that have defined classic roguelikes for decades. Randomized encounters, unpredictable floor generation, resource management, and permanent consequences work together to create an experience where every decision carries weight. Success depends less on raw statistics and more on understanding systems, recognizing danger, and adjusting strategies as unexpected situations emerge. The tower itself becomes the centerpiece of the experience. Each floor introduces fresh obstacles, enemies, and opportunities while maintaining uncertainty throughout progression. Players rarely feel fully comfortable because unpredictability constantly reshapes expectations. A successful run can quickly unravel due to poor resource management or a tactical mistake, reinforcing the tension that defines strong roguelike design. Combat follows a turn-based structure that rewards careful thinking rather than speed. Positioning matters. Resource conservation matters. Understanding enemy behavior becomes increasingly important as encounters become more demanding. The pacing allows players time to consider decisions without sacrificing tension, creating battles where planning often matters more than aggression. One of the stronger aspects of Descent from Arkov’s Tower comes from how it encourages experimentation. Roguelikes often succeed when players feel motivated to discover new possibilities through repeated attempts, and the game embraces that philosophy effectively. Different approaches and tactical adjustments gradually reveal additional layers beneath the surface, rewarding players who remain willing to adapt. The procedural structure contributes significantly toward replay value. Random generation prevents progression from becoming predictable while encouraging players to develop broader strategic understanding rather than relying entirely on memorization. Each run carries enough variation to create fresh situations, helping maintain engagement even after multiple attempts. Another noteworthy feature comes from support for customization and modification systems. Community creativity often extends longevity in games built around repeated playthroughs, and Descent from Arkov’s Tower embraces player involvement by encouraging expanded possibilities beyond the base experience. That openness strengthens long-term appeal while giving players additional ways to engage with progression. The fantasy setting complements gameplay naturally without overwhelming the experience through excessive narrative focus. Story elements exist primarily to support exploration and atmosphere rather than dominate progression entirely. The world feels mysterious and dangerous, reinforcing the sense that survival depends entirely on understanding the tower and adapting to its constantly shifting threats. Visually, the game adopts a presentation style that favors readability and functional design. Rather than competing through technical spectacle, Descent from Arkov’s Tower focuses on maintaining clear information delivery during exploration and combat. The visual approach supports gameplay priorities effectively while preserving the atmosphere expected from fantasy roguelike adventures. The pacing rewards patience and persistence. Early failures often become valuable learning experiences rather than simple setbacks. Players gradually improve through knowledge accumulation and stronger decision-making rather than relying exclusively on progression systems or character strength increases. That design philosophy creates rewarding long-term engagement for players willing to invest time mastering mechanics. The challenge level remains one of the defining characteristics of the experience. Players unfamiliar with roguelike design may initially struggle with the consequences attached to mistakes and the unpredictability created by procedural systems. The game expects players to learn through experimentation and repeated failure rather than offering constant safety nets. However, that demanding structure also creates some of the game's most satisfying moments. Overcoming difficult encounters or surviving dangerous situations after careful planning creates meaningful accomplishments that feel earned rather than automatic. The independent scope remains visible throughout the experience, but the focused design philosophy allows core mechanics to remain central without unnecessary distractions. Saturn91 built a game that clearly understands what roguelike enthusiasts value and structures progression around those strengths. Descent from Arkov’s Tower succeeds by combining tactical depth, procedural variety, and experimentation into a progression system that consistently rewards learning and adaptation. DreamStudios helps deliver an experience built for players who enjoy challenge, replayability, and discovering new solutions through repeated attempts. Players who appreciate traditional roguelikes, turn-based tactical gameplay, procedural dungeon exploration, and progression systems driven by knowledge rather than shortcuts will likely find considerable value here. It may not reinvent the genre completely, but it delivers a focused and rewarding experience that understands the appeal of difficult fantasy adventures built around persistence and mastery. Rating: 8/10

If you are (like me) interested in the modding option... then you better skip this game. The developer here ignores questions in their discussion section about modding the game completely (for myself I waited over a month and another person even 6 months now) and the only manual you get for it is an internt link, which is missing to point out important details. For example how you mod a hero ONLY and not the whole tilesets for this game! The developer promises though to help people out, who join their Discord-sever (nice blackmailing-trial). So I will hope that one day another player here writes a proper guide and/or answers the questions in this discussion-forum, because this developer obviously doesn't care for it's clients. PS: Just check their workshop section! You won't find a single file there yet made by a client. Only those few the developer themself uploaded there.

Very fun and accessible RL dunmgeon-crawler with a retro 8-bit style and a great little OST. The dev also wisely lowered the price of the game recently which hopefully will make it more accessible to others. If you like modding then this is also a great title.