Stickman: Waves Of Doom is an indie action roguelike developed and published by Relevation Studios that focuses on fast-paced survival combat against overwhelming enemy hordes. The game embraces a minimalist design philosophy, presenting players with a simple stickman protagonist placed in increasingly dangerous arenas where survival depends on reflexes, movement, and clever use of upgrades. Rather than relying on complex storytelling or elaborate worldbuilding, the experience is built around pure gameplay—dropping players into chaotic battles where the goal is to survive wave after wave of enemies for as long as possible.
At the heart of the game lies a classic horde-survival formula. Players control a stickman warrior viewed from a top-down perspective, navigating a battlefield where enemies continuously spawn and attempt to overwhelm the player. Early moments of a run feel manageable as small groups of enemies approach slowly, giving players time to familiarize themselves with the controls and mechanics. However, as time progresses, the pace of the game intensifies dramatically. Enemy numbers grow larger, their movement speeds increase, and new attack patterns begin to appear. The battlefield gradually transforms into a frantic struggle where every second requires careful movement and quick reactions.
Combat is straightforward but satisfying. The player character automatically attacks enemies or uses abilities depending on the current build, while the player focuses primarily on movement and positioning. Surviving the endless waves requires weaving between enemies, avoiding being surrounded, and strategically collecting upgrades that drop during battle. Because enemies attack from all directions, maintaining spatial awareness becomes essential. A moment of hesitation or poor positioning can quickly lead to being trapped by the swarm, ending the run almost instantly.
A key element of the gameplay loop is the upgrade system that appears during each run. As enemies are defeated, players are periodically offered random upgrades that enhance their abilities. These upgrades may increase attack damage, improve movement speed, provide defensive bonuses, or introduce entirely new attack effects. Because the upgrades appear randomly, each run evolves differently depending on the choices the player makes and the options presented. This randomness adds replay value by encouraging experimentation with different builds and strategies.
In addition to the temporary upgrades gained during a run, Stickman: Waves Of Doom also includes a system of permanent progression. After each attempt, players retain certain resources that can be spent to unlock long-term improvements for their character. These upgrades can enhance base health, improve speed, or strengthen other fundamental attributes. Over time, these permanent bonuses make it easier to survive longer against the ever-growing enemy waves. This progression loop encourages repeated play sessions as players gradually become stronger and push deeper into the increasingly difficult stages.
The game features two playable characters, each offering slightly different attributes that affect gameplay. While the overall mechanics remain largely consistent between them, choosing a different hero can alter the pacing and strategy of a run. Some characters may emphasize mobility, allowing players to maneuver more easily through dense enemy groups, while others focus more on offensive capabilities. Although the character selection is limited, it still adds a small amount of variety that helps diversify the gameplay experience.
Enemy design plays an important role in shaping the challenge of the game. At first, players face relatively simple enemies that move slowly and attack directly. As time passes, new enemy types begin to appear, each introducing different behaviors. Some enemies charge aggressively toward the player, while others move faster or attack from a distance. Eventually the player encounters powerful boss enemies that require greater skill and preparation to defeat. These bosses serve as major milestones within each run, testing whether the player’s current upgrades and strategy are strong enough to continue.
The game includes multiple stages, each presenting a different visual theme and enemy combinations. Although the environments are not massive in scale, they provide enough variation to prevent the gameplay from feeling completely repetitive. Different stages introduce unique enemy patterns and environmental layouts that require players to adapt their movement and tactics. This gradual change in scenery also helps maintain the sense of progression as players move further into the game.
Visually, Stickman: Waves Of Doom uses a deliberately minimalist art style built around simple stickman characters and clean environments. At first glance the graphics appear extremely basic, but this simplicity serves an important gameplay purpose. Because the game frequently fills the screen with dozens or even hundreds of enemies, a cluttered visual design could make it difficult to track threats. By keeping the visuals simple and clear, the game ensures that players can easily see enemy movements and react accordingly during intense battles.
Despite the basic art style, the game still manages to create a sense of chaos and excitement. As waves grow larger, the screen becomes filled with enemy movements, projectiles, and attack effects. The contrast between the simple stickman visuals and the overwhelming enemy swarms creates a surprisingly engaging spectacle that emphasizes gameplay over visual complexity.
The sound design supports the action with energetic sound effects that accompany attacks, enemy defeats, and other combat events. Each successful hit produces clear feedback, helping players maintain a sense of rhythm during battle. Background music plays throughout the stages, adding momentum to the gameplay and reinforcing the intensity of the endless waves. Although the audio presentation remains relatively simple, it complements the arcade-style nature of the game.
One of the strengths of Stickman: Waves Of Doom lies in its accessibility. The controls are easy to understand, and players can jump into the action almost immediately without needing extensive tutorials. This simplicity makes the game appealing to players who enjoy quick action games that can be played in short bursts. At the same time, the increasing difficulty ensures that mastering the game still requires skill, patience, and repeated attempts.
However, the game’s small scope also reveals some limitations. The number of stages, characters, and enemy variations is relatively limited compared to larger roguelike titles. After several hours of play, some players may feel that they have experienced most of what the game has to offer. Additional content such as new maps, enemies, or abilities could significantly expand the long-term replay value.
Even with these limitations, the game succeeds in delivering an enjoyable survival challenge. The core gameplay loop of battling waves, collecting upgrades, and gradually improving through permanent progression creates a compelling cycle that encourages players to keep trying again. Each run feels like a fresh opportunity to experiment with different strategies and push survival times further.
Overall, Stickman: Waves Of Doom is a straightforward but engaging roguelike survival game that focuses on fast action and simple mechanics. Its minimalist presentation, escalating enemy waves, and upgrade systems combine to create an experience that is easy to pick up but challenging to master. While the limited amount of content may prevent it from achieving the depth of larger roguelike titles, it still offers a satisfying and chaotic survival experience for players who enjoy fighting endless hordes of enemies.
Rating: 6/10
