I have a confession: I'm a rampant roguelike uninstaller.
I almost invariably reach a point with games like Balatro, dead cellseither hell when, seeing my gaming time increase, I feel the need to eliminate the temptation to play. Roguelikes, almost by definition, pursue an addictive structure that critics often describe as the feeling of “just one more run,” in which the player feels compelled to start the cycle again (and again, and… that's it). you understand). Another common phrase you'll hear is the idea that you “wasted time” in a game, as if the game had tricked you into giving it more of your life than you were consciously willing to give. For me, this type of compulsive gaming leads to something I've started to think of as “roguelike dread,” or the feeling that I really need to leave a potentially infinite game behind so it doesn't completely take over my life. That's usually when I delete it.
Now, clearly this is a problem of mine. Without a doubt, there are people with better control of their impulses, and there are certainly people for whom this sensation of “wasting” time in a game is not experienced as fear but as joy. (Infinite game for 20-30 dollars? That's a bargain.) Still, a cursory Google search suggests that I'm not alone in my roguelike horror experience of feeling like these games are so all-consuming that they're all-consuming. So, to my fellow roguelike uninstallers, I'm here to say:
Discharge blown by the wind — it's so good.
blown by the windthe newest game dead cells Developer Motion Twin launched into early access at the end of October. Changing up the side-scrolling, pixel art vibe of dead cells For a walk up and down, in the shadow of the cells, through islands in the sky, blown by the wind manages to feel distinct from Motion Twin's last effort and close enough in spirit that it's easy to sink into its loop. True to form, the game is quite challenging and, even in early access, already offers important meta-progression unlocks to make every run feel fresh. Combat is the star here, with a new emphasis on chaining together different attacks to cause maximum damage. The soundtrack is also tremendously catchy, equal parts synth and rock, with a vocal track that never fails to excite me when it appears. Even in what seems like a very early construction, design-wise, blown by the wind It clearly has what it takes to keep you playing for days, months and years.
However, it's time to admit something else: I don't like playing roguelikes in early access. The reason is probably obvious, given everything I've already written. I know myself and I know that I get tired of these types of games, so I'm reluctant to spend time on something that's unfinished, afraid of the idea of not wanting to go back to it when I reach 1.0. . I left hell 2 earlier this year for this very reason. Everything in me wanted to keep moving forward, but every time I saw the placeholder art or read the game's balance changelog, I felt that nagging feeling that I should save my stamina for when the game was “complete.” Fear of Roguelike is inevitable for me, so I've found it's best to wait for a game until at least version 1.0, if not later.
Image: Twin Movement
blown by the wind It may be a great experience for a player, but as the game's marketing will tell you, that's definitely not the goal. blown by the wind. The issue is the cooperative mode for two to three players. The point is to take on the game's sky-high challenge with one or two friends. The point is wasting time. together. Once again, to my fellow roguelike uninstallers, I'm here to say:
No, seriously – blown by the windGo ahead, it's great.
Here's the thing: blown by the wind It is not the first multiplayer roguelike. Not even close. Somewhere out there, a Rain risk 2 The player is tearing his hair out reading this, and if so, stop. I see you and honor you. Even Isaac's BindingAfter all these years, it just added online co-op. I'm not here to claim that. blown by the wind It is the first multiplayer roguelike, not even the best. What I am here to state is that it was my first multiplayer roguelike, and because of that, it came with a revelation: the answer to roguelike terror is other people.
Usually when I play a roguelike, I start asking myself questions like “Has this become a waste of time?” or “Are there other games you'd rather play right now?” More generally, you might start to get that feeling that I'm spending too much time on one thing. I actually get a little bit of that feeling when I play. blown by the wind as a single player game. After all, it's a roguelike and I've already laid out my personal mental obstacles when it comes to the genre. Any loop, no matter how pleasant, ends up giving way to the feeling that I want to get out of it. Unless it turns out I'm not the only one in the circle.
I won't extol the joys of multiplayer gaming to an audience versed in such things, but I will say this: It was comical to me how quickly and completely my concern about “wasting time” or feeling addicted to a roguelike dissipated when it was something which I was sharing with a close friend. Instantly, I no longer cared if this initial version would feel incomplete compared to 1.0. All I cared about was chatting about our work days and strategizing who picked up which item and when. Suddenly, my time spent playing the game felt less like a personal whim and more like an interpersonal investment. What did it matter to us if the game changed tomorrow? The time we spent together would be worth it no matter how many digits came after the pre-release version number. The game was as much a social vehicle as it was a random number generator, and was all the richer for it.
for me to play blown by the wind It was a good reminder for me to open up my gaming experiences to other people. The world can sometimes feel alone and grounded, just like roguelikes. But when you walk the path with others, success feels more within reach. Or if not a success, at least a brave effort that you can laugh about together. Even failure feels better when someone else is there to pick you up again.
blown by the wind was released on October 24 in Early Access on Windows PC. The game was played using a download code purchased by the author. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, although Vox Media may earn commissions on products purchased through affiliate links. Additional information about Polygon's ethics policy can be found here.