One Step From Eden

The gameplay is great. While the core mechanics are quite simple, a lot happens at once regarding your upgrades and abilities that it can be confusing since there's no real tutorial (I suggest looking up a beginner's guide). But once you get the flow it's addicting and second nature. Mega Man Battle Network as an Action Roguelike seems like such a perfect combination and it's weird how this is this the only game to try it. Luckily, the devs clearly got the assignment and made sure the core gameplay loop takes the direction and makes it consistently fun and varied. Each run is very different, not only due to the character you choose but what abilities you get. You may go into a run with a plan but then take your build in another direction due to what synergies you can put together, combined with your character's latent abilities. And imo that's what makes a great action roguelike imo. Where the core gameplay is fun and simple, and the complexity is from what you build as your run progresses. My only issue really is, and it's not a problem with what's there but what isn't, is I wish there was a legit story mode. The game hints at a story through the very occasional piece of dialogue and other implied ways, but it's still essentially just an arcade style experience. I think that would help bring more players into this outside just the fun of the gameplay loop. It feels more arcady because of it and I think it had potential to do more in the story. I know there are plenty of classic action Roguelikes that don't have a true story mode, like The Binding of Isaac and Dead Cells, but those do the Fromsoft thing and bake the story into gameplay loop. Eden doesn't really do that much, you mostly get a line or two from a boss. There's more than enough going on to build a bigger story around, so it's strange that wasn't created. That would also solve the lack of a true tutorial issue as that can be baked into a story mode. Otherwise, it's highly recommended if you think you'd like it.