Are you ready to dive into the wild and unpredictable world of Degenheim? Today, we present an ongoing project that deserves your full attention.
Degenheim is a unique roguelike that reminds us of another game with a similar design philosophy: Hades, a beloved and successful title. Degenheim shows great promise to stand alongside Supergiant‘s work while also carving out its own distinct path, which has us genuinely excited.
It’s time to talk about this new project from Highrise Studios, a small indie team with an impressively rich background. With over a decade of experience at industry giants like EA, LEGO, Google, and FingerSoft, the Highrise team has poured all their creativity and expertise into this title, currently available in Early Access on Steam and set to launch on Epic Games, PS5, Xbox, and Steam Deck.
A World of Whimsical Chaos
Degenheim stands out with its isometric style and roguelike gameplay, blending frantic action with relentless humor, internet culture references, and witty, sharp dialogue.
Set in a world completely out of control, the game transports players on an adventure where nothing is where it should be: bizarre enemies, imposing bosses, absurd items, and unpredictable situations. As champions, we will navigate through hordes of degenerate foes, facing new challenges and powering up run after run through a metaprogression system.
The core of the gameplay lies in its variety and infinite replayability. Each game session will offer a different experience thanks to the random combination of settings, abilities, enemies, and encounters typical of roguelikes. With over 100 environments to explore and 120 abilities to unlock, the game provides strategic depth that allows players to create unique builds for every run. Whether you prefer to attack from a distance or jump into the fray, Degenheim accommodates every type of player with its 20 playable characters, each with their own abilities and play styles.
So far, we’ve met the “absolute gigachad,” Dash Johnson, a muscular, cocky character who dives headfirst into battle wielding a massive sword and a sawed-off shotgun. He may not seem particularly bright, but he certainly has the boldness.
Without a doubt, the other characters will also possess unique traits, reflecting not only specific play styles but also the user’s personality. All this comes wrapped in plenty of irony and amusing references.
The character roster, including NPCs, is diverse and well-crafted, both in writing and style. For instance, the very random magical being, Straw Berry, serves as our initial guide. We’re talking about a strawberry sporting sunglasses and muscular little legs, striking an apparent yogi pose.
The Heart of Combat: Fast Action and Total Customization
The combat system in Degenheim is both accessible and challenging. Highrise Studios has crafted the combat, movement, and gameplay mechanics so that the learning curve is virtually nonexistent, providing a brief and smooth onboarding experience.
For now, players can move using WASD, which can be freely remapped, though this may make the gameplay a bit tricky. Fortunately, full controller support is on the way.
During combat, players can utilize one of their character’s abilities: primary, special, or ultimate. Each character has a dash with invincibility frames to chase enemies or avoid damage.
Moving quickly and managing resources effectively will be crucial to survive waves of foes.
As mentioned, each character possesses unique abilities that can be combined to create devastating builds. With over 120 active and passive abilities, players can experiment with various combinations to adapt to every challenge. Each ability is upgradeable, enhancing the character’s power and adding another layer of customization.
Metaprogression: Every Failure is a Step Forward
One of the most appreciated features of roguelikes is the constant sense of progression, even after a defeat. In Degenheim, each run allows players to gather valuable resources that can be used to upgrade their character and better prepare for the next challenge. Thanks to the metaprogression system, every failure becomes an opportunity to improve skills and equipment, making each run a step closer to ultimate victory.
The player hub serves as the nerve center between runs. Here, players can interact with NPCs, upgrade items, unlock new abilities, and gear up for the next challenge.
This system adds depth and strategy, keeping players consistently engaged and creating a tangible sense of progress even in difficult moments.
A Style That Rocks
Among Degenheim’s standout features is its visual style. Each chapter of the game, every boss, and every interaction with characters is accompanied by hand-drawn comics and humorous dialogue. This adds an extra layer of immersion, making the narrative a central element of the game.
The story, much like the gameplay, is filled with humor and madness. As players navigate through enemies and bosses, they uncover pieces of the plot that deepen the game’s universe. Each interaction reveals new details and quirks.
This graphic characteristic is reminiscent of Hades, yet Degenheim leans more heavily into its eccentricities and provocations, and we love it for that.
I want to highlight the sound design and music positively as well. Despite still being in playtesting, the sound design and equalization seem finalized and exceptionally well done, just like the music selection, which is varied and seemingly random: it transitions from surf to electrorock to metal without ever overwhelming or distracting from the gameplay. Everything is perfectly balanced.
Multiplayer and Co-Op
For those who enjoy sharing the experience with others, Degenheim offers a co-op mode for up to four players, allowing them to tackle challenges together, plan strategies, defeat bosses, and share the excitement of progress—or maybe even blame each other when things go wrong.
Moreover, the game introduces seasonal leaderboards and rewards, giving competitive players an added reason to return to the world of Degenheim and prove their worth. With constant updates and new challenges on the way, Highrise Studios promises to keep the gaming experience fresh and engaging for a long time.
A Bright Future for Degenheim
Degenheim is just at the beginning of its journey. We’ve experienced a playtest that already showcases a solid structure. Ambitious, yes, but already perfectly functional.
Highrise Studios has a clear vision: to create a roguelike that is easy to learn but difficult to master, offering depth and replayability that can compete with genre giants. Despite being a small indie studio, Highrise is not inexperienced, and with Degenheim, they have proven their ability to leverage their experience and passion for video games.
In conclusion, Degenheim is the next must-play for roguelike fans and has all the potential to become a benchmark in the genre landscape. With fast-paced, engaging gameplay, a wild and unpredictable universe, and infinite replayability, this title offers a unique experience that will keep players glued to their screens for hours, and we can’t wait to try it with a controller, as well as meet all its off-the-wall protagonists.
If you want to know more about: Degenheim Official Website
