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This roguelike looks like a crunchy 90's PS1 game

This roguelike looks like a crunchy 90's PS1 game (Image Source: Steam)
This roguelike looks like a crunchy 90's PS1 game (Image Source: Steam)
Tyrant's Realm is an action roguelike with souls-like combat and the visual aesthetics of a PS1 game from the 90s. It is currently 15% off on Steam as part of an introductory offer.

Tyrant's Realm by Skystone Games is an action roguelike that mixes Soulsborne elements with the visual aesthetics of a PS1 game from the 90s. The game is 15% off on Steam as part of an introductory offer.

You can expect the crunchy, pixelated look of an early 90s PS1 game, complete with wobbly character models to emulate the grit of the low-poly visuals from that era. The game also lets you turn off these effects for a much cleaner look. 

While retro visuals are nice, the gameplay mechanics are the real draw. It borrows liberally from Soulsborne games for its combat system, mixing it with the dopamine rush of getting new upgrades and gear in procedurally generated dark fantasy levels. 

Your character has the familiar weighty dodge and block that runs off your stamina bar but adds a few wrinkles on top to make it unique. A successful, perfect parry in this game allows you to dispatch enemies with finishers, provided your execution meter is full. You fill up the meter as you defeat enemies. 

As for the roguelike elements, they are what you expect. Each run through various biomes is randomly generated and has hidden skull altars that award you new gear. You must unlock these with the currency you pick up from defeating enemies. Enemies also drop blueprints for weapons. Take these to a merchant and craft them for a fee. 

Tyrant's Realm currently sits on a "Very Positive" rating on Steam, with 89% of the reviews skewing positive. It also has a demo that introduces its mechanics and gives you an idea of what to expect from the full game.

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Rohith Bhaskar, 2025-01-20 (Update: 2025-01-20)