Soulstone Survivors is one of those games that gets under your skin. You either love this type of game or you avoid it like the plague! I’ve tried my hand at practically every subgenre of this expansive game type, and I adore where the developer has gone with this title. It is challenging, loaded with content, and as casual or as hardcore as you like.
This bullet-heaven rogue-like has been developed by Game Smithing and published by Digital Bandidos. It is a single-player title with a dark and sinister fantasy edge. There are temporary and permanent buffs, a huge progression tree, and plenty of other elements to keep you focused. Additionally, there is a nice sense of synergy as you combine skills and other core elements.
Soulstone Survivors is a story-lite experience.
Like many other titles in this genre, Soulstone Survivors is light on its story. Effectively, you play the part of a Void Hunter. This is the resistance group who are defending the Kingdom and protecting the Dawnstone. However, when this isn’t enough, you decide to join a small army to jump through a portal and hunt the Void King. The plan goes wrong, and you are left in the void fighting alone.
The story works well, but after a few runs, you forget about it and look at the madness that’s unfolding. With hordes of enemies to slay, XP to collect, and the option for a never-ending battle, there is plenty to keep you busy. The core concept is remarkably simple, and that is part of this game’s charm. Although there is plenty to work with, you can keep things easy if you wish.
Choices, choices.
Each playthrough asks you to select your hero and a magical loadout. Before you jump into the action, you can spend your hard-earned resources on permanently upgrading the world’s largest skill tree. This is essential if you wish to tackle the latter stages. However, it takes a bit of effort to unlock even the earliest elements, so some patience and grinding are necessary.
This may not be to everyone’s liking, but I like the methodical approach and the almost repetitive but slow progressive action. As the round unfolds, you’ll kill a range of tiny minions and huge demi-bosses. Once you hit the final rounds, you must kill one of 5 hellish overlords. This is where your skills come to the fore. You must identify their weaknesses as you run wild and try to survive. Sadly, death is all but assured, and only the best will get past every boss.
Once you finish your initial mission, you can choose to retire and upgrade your hero, or take things to the next level. Do you head to the deadly arena and smash everything in sight, or just take on endless waves of monsters? Either way, you’ll grab key resources to upgrade each of your favourite heroes.
How do you want to play?
Soulstone Survivors offers different playstyles throughout. Melee combat, magic, or ranged attacks are standard. Consequently, picking the right hero for your desires is key. I loved flitting between swords and magic, and I felt the ranged weaponry to be a little clunky. However, this is more of a me thing than anything to do with the game.
Once your hero is selected and your mission agreed upon, you’ll have to select some additional skills to help you with your mission. Active and passive skills improve your character in different ways. More health, increased speed or damage, or improved magical abilities are on offer. Whichever ones you pick will help you on your journey, and combining certain elements can create a powerful and match-winning synergy.
Soulstone Survivors looks amazing.
I’m a huge fan of this genre, and I don’t mind the occasional lack of detail. Luckily, Soulstone Survivors delivers brilliant details as well as smooth animation. No matter how many enemies I faced or the volume of projectiles, this never faltered. The action is flawless, and you can simply enjoy the madness that unfolds.
The audio is brilliant. It is loud, uncomfortable, and exceptionally energetic. Furthermore, it has a dark fantasy edge that is tough to ignore. Aesthetically, this game offers sinister moments that cannot be ignored. However, the combination of never-ending sounds and silence works incredibly well.
Brilliant to play.
It doesn’t matter if you are a veteran or new to this type of game. Soulstone Survivors is easy to pick up, and all the core mechanics are well explained. Additionally, a little bit of trial and error never hurts. Therefore, you can experiment with each character layout and test new abilities without undermining your progress.
Replay value and longevity are core concepts. If you love this genre, you’ll enjoy 100+ hours. With over 22 characters to unlock, a blacksmith to visit, a huge skill tree to invest in, and runes to change your skills, this game offers almost endless replay value.
Soulstone Survivors is phenomenal.
This game was always going to be a winner, but I was blown away by its polished exterior, incredible gameplay loop, and number of characters to unlock. Moreover, it offers a little bit of risk vs reward as you get to the end of each playthrough. I adore the massive skill tree and the different builds that are available. Accordingly, it is a must-play title, and I recommend buying it here! Can you defeat the Void King and save the Kingdom? Pick your hero, select your layout, and prove your worth!
