Tears of the Maker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-SIZgQqq9w Was interested when I saw it was a pachinko roguelike deck-builder and was not let down. The gritty 8-bit aesthetic adds a subtle horror vibe that is a nice touch to the two modes available. You either go true rogue fashgion with the tower climb, or dive into the story mode that lets you earn permanent upgrades and cards, not to mention unlock things for future tower climb sessions. I did manage to find a combo that became my go to in every session, but the further I got the more important my card choices became to stay alive against foes with higher defense (the offensive levels weren't much to deal with though). But even with that subtle repetition I found myself coming back to try to get higher in the climb or stringer in the story (currently in new story+). All in all, Teares of the Maker has been a surprisingly addictng experience. Give the demo a shot if you're not sure, but if you like an old-school rogue chllenge that deviates a bit from the norm then I gotta suggest you check this one out.

I have been playing this game since alpha and it is so much fun. Its surprisingly addictive and a great way to just kill 30 minutes when you have down time. I played it mainly on the steam deck and it works great right out of the box.

A well-made roguelike with a unique central mechanic. The different ways you can build your deck to approach the fights adds an extra layer of complexity to each game - do you stack heals and try to outlast the enemy? Do you go all in on stuns and debuffs (and then immediately run into a stun-immune monster, if you're me)? It really makes you feel like you're in charge of what's happening, and there's no better feeling than falling behind and then pulling the exact right cards to turn the tide and eke out a win against a tough monster. Really enjoying the game so far, and looking forward to unlocking the rest of what it has to offer!

I have play-tested this game for a friend on and off for about a year. As some things have been added and gameplay has been balanced, one thing stayed the same the entire time: the novelty and addictive nature of the battle system. I have had a lot of input on balancing and what-not, but I have never had any issues with the battle system. It keeps me coming back. Yes I was playtesting it for a good friend, but I also would pick up and play during class or just for fun when I had a few minutes of quiet time after the kids went to bed. That's probably the best part is you can just pick up and play for a few minutes or an hour and get some quick game-age in. Rogue-likes/lites always tickle my fancy because I think deep down, it scratches the same itch that fishing and similar "try-again-you're-almost-there" hobbies do, which is some kind of light gambling addiction! So when you combine the rogue-lite elements with the pachinko style and card battle system, it's really satisfying. So yes, I do recommend this game because the guy that made it is a Grade-A human being, but also because I do genuinely recommend it as a relaxing, good, fun play with a pretty mild learning curve.

A unique take on a heavily populated genre make this fun to play although longer runs can get a bit grindy once you've put together a strong build, but the almost idle battles coupled with a bit of RNG and some well balanced cards and opponents make this well worth the price. I'm maybe a quarter of the way through the achievements after four hours and can see myself popping in for a quick run until I see the end game at least. Works well on the Steam Deck with trackpad mouse.

This is a very unique and addicting game! The different cards, buffs, and abilities make for different strategies to master. 10/10

Really love the game, i wish there was a way to choose the cards with 1,2,3 or something like that tho XD but this game is very cool and addicting. 4/4/2026 they added the 1,2,3 for selecting cards, very cool :D

After almost 40 hours, I can confidently say that this is a great game with a lot of replayability! It took a lot of trial and error to find the best card combinations but that is what makes this game fun. Each playthrough is completely different and I enjoyed leveling up my character in Story Mode. The music is incredibly catchy and the enemy artwork is fantastic. Highly recommend.

Not an overly complicated game. I've been playing a game here or there before I go to bed on my steam deck.

Love the unique art and music in this game. Tower mode is a lot of fun and gives you the tools for completely different builds every time you play. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys deckbuilders and roguelites. Plays great on steam deck!