The new roguelike will be tactical and co-op
Shiny Shoe, the team behind the deckbuilding hell-train roguelikeMonster Train, has a new game in the works. Today the team revealedInkbound, a co-op tactical roguelike that’s coming to Steam Early Access in 2023.
While 2020’sMonster Trainblended deckbuilding with tower defense,Inkboundis going for a different vibe. According to the developer, it’s blending tactics games, ARPGs, and roguelikes into one with hybrid real-time/turn-based battles.
The option is there to go fast or slow down, charging in for melee hits or staying just out of reach and pelting away with ranged attacks. Most notably, co-op play is a big component.
Binders, the heroes of this realm who maintain stories and care for them, can work together in fights. One might lean into healing while another does the damage, or focus on debuffing the enemy. Shiny Shoe says co-op is “rewarded, but not required.” Playing solo is totally possible, though playing co-op is the best way towardsInkbound‘s best loot.
A neverending story
It’s an interesting pitch, mixing co-op in with roguelike and tactical combat. But after the mish-mash of ideas that isMonster Trainturned out so well, I’m inclined to keep an eye on what Shiny Shoe is doing. There aremany competitors in the roguelike world, but Shiny Shoe has already shown once that they can make something unique and interesting.
We’ll see whatInkboundbrings to the field in 2023 when it launches into Steam Early Access on PC.
