Deal | A family of heroes: Action RPG with roguelite elements currently available for under $4 on Steam

In Children of Morta, players are drawn into a somber fantasy world overshadowed by a creeping corruption. At the heart of the story lies the Bergson family home, located at the foot of the mythical Mount Morta. From there, the family members set out on dangerous journeys to confront corrupted creatures, uncover the source of the spreading darkness, and stop it before it consumes everything.

What truly sets Children of Morta apart is its strong focus on the Bergson family. Rather than controlling a single hero, players can freely choose between family members, each with their own personality, backstory, and distinct combat style. A fatigue system discourages overreliance on any one character, encouraging players to rotate regularly. Thanks to a shared progression system, passive upgrades benefit the entire family, ensuring that even less-used characters remain relevant throughout the game.

Children of Morta blends classic action RPG mechanics with roguelite elements. Dungeons, enemies, items, and buffs are procedurally generated, ensuring that every run feels fresh. There is no traditional permadeath – when players fall, they return to the Bergson family home to prepare for the next run. Presented from an isometric perspective, combat places a strong emphasis on precision, with well-timed attacks, dodge rolls, and blocks playing a crucial role. Tactical movement and thoughtful use of abilities are essential for success. Visually, the game stands out with hand-drawn pixel art enhanced by modern lighting and particle effects. A rich, atmospheric soundtrack, paired with a charismatic narrator, creates a storybook-like tone that adds emotional weight to the action.

In its German review, GameStar awarded Children of Morta an impressive score of 86 out of 100. The emotional narrative, diverse cast of characters, and creative skill system were singled out for praise. However, the fixed difficulty setting and a high degree of randomness attracted some criticism, as both can lead to moments of frustration. The controls were also seen as a weak point, occasionally feeling imprecise during more hectic encounters.

The Steam community largely aligns with GameStar’s verdict – around 86% of roughly 22,000 user reviews for Children of Morta are positive. On Metacritic, the game holds a Metascore of 82, alongside a slightly lower User Score of 7.9.

85% off on Steam

Children of Morta was developed by the Texas-based studio Dead Mage and released in September 2019 in partnership with publisher 11 bit studios. The action RPG typically sells for around $22 on Steam, but it is currently 85% off – reducing the price to just under $3.30 until February 1. According to SteamDB, this discount matches previous sales, although the game has never been offered at a lower price. Children of Morta is also Steam Deck “Verified” (available on Amazon for $695), meaning it runs smoothly on the handheld without technical issues.

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.