This Co-Op Roguelite Shooter is Worth Every Penny

I haven’t been playing a lot of FPS games of late, so when I was handed a code for a little gem called Abyssus, I was hesitant at first. I was right to be hesitant, but not for the reasons you might think. Here’s my early experience with Abyssus, a recent title from DoubleMoose Games.

You’ll Suffer Solo

Abyssus is a tough game, my word. I was totally lulled into a false sense of security by the tutorial and first dive of the game. I breezed through it so easily that I was almost instantly bored, even though I found the gameplay especially intriguing.

At this point, I wondered whether it would have scaling, so that it’s at least a bit of a challenge with friends. However, in my next dive, and for several thereafter, the real Abyssus revealed itself.

I died, again and again. Every so often, my hero would launch a little quip as I respawned back at base. Something along the lines of “what a waste of brine.”

The game gets chaotic, and the bosses I’ve encountered thus far are satisfyingly challenging. Once you learn their patterns, it’s not so bad, but trying to keep the constantly spawning smaller enemies at bay still makes the boss fights super challenging.

The game was never designed to be played solo, but even so, a more skilled FPS player than I am will likely do alright. Even though I haven’t managed to complete a full dive solo doesn’t mean you won’t be able to.

You’ll Suffer with Friends (Although Significantly Less)

With friends, however, the challenge is less intense. You’ll still likely die and lose runs; all it takes is one slip, one bad fight, and you’re in serious trouble. But as you go along, you’ll earn the right to upgrade your character, unlock new weapons, and overall get stronger.

The challenge never really dulls to the point of tempting me to quit, however.

Overall, Abyssus is a fantastic roguelite co-op shooter, and even though it doesn’t do too much to break the mold, it also manages to get everything right. With the basics in place and a satisfying experience to be had, I do hope that in time, DoubleMoose decides to push the boundaries just a little bit.

Until then, though, if you’re looking for a fun, challenging game to try out with your friends, Abyssus is a highly affordable entry that’s worth every penny.

There’s something familiar about the game, too. It reminds me of old-school Quake, Unreal Tournament, and even Painkiller to certain degrees. So if you, like me, enjoyed that older generation of shooters, you’ll probably enjoy Abyssal.

Just make sure to bring some friends.