Chris InglisNetherworld Covenant plunges players into a 3D isometric and dark fantasy world, offering a challenging blend of soulslike precision combat and intriguing roguelike progression. Developed by the two-person MadGoat Game Studio and published by Infini Fun, the game is currently in Early Access and sees you wield the forbidden Nether Lantern, fighting alongside fallen souls in a desperate quest for truth.
Utilising an isometric and dark fantasy aesthetic, you navigate an abyss where the mortal realm and netherworld intertwine, battling corrupted heroes, once-noble knights, and primordial demons. The story unfolds through fragmented dialogues and lore discovered at a borderland camp, where you gather spectral allies and forge demonic weapons. While the world is procedurally generated, it maintains a consistent tone of dread and mystery, inviting you to uncover the truth behind a catastrophic calamity.
At its core, Netherworld Covenant delivers a strategic combat experience that emphasises tactical mastery over button-mashing. The gameplay demands precise parries, dodges, and the strategic use of the ethereal dash to evade attacks and counter with lethal strikes. From timing your moves to managing resources and positioning, the focus on precision makes each victory feel earned and every defeat a lesson.
A standout feature is the innovative soul companion system where you can forge pacts with four distinct spectral allies: the Swordsman, Ranger, Guardian, and Rogue. Each companion offers unique abilities that significantly diversify combat strategies, allowing for actions like phasing through obstacles, ambushing foes from the netherworld, or evading fatal blows by shifting dimensions. This system, combined with procedurally generated labyrinths, ensures that each run feels fresh and offers new build possibilities, encouraging experimentation and replayability.
Netherworld Covenant is not for the faint of heart, embracing its soulslike difficulty and pits you against intense boss battles and challenging encounters that require careful planning and execution. As an Early Access title, the developers are actively collaborating with the community, gathering feedback to refine and expand the game. This commitment to community-driven development is a promising sign for its future evolution. A decent roadmap of content has been published and looks to contain some excellent additions in the coming months.
So far, Netherworld Covenant offers a compelling and challenging experience for fans of action roguelikes and soulslike combat. Its emphasis on precision, the unique soul companion system, and its dark, intriguing world makes it a game worth trying for yourself. While it’s still evolving in early access, its current state is highly promising, delivering a satisfying loop of challenging combat and strategic progression.
This review utilised a key provided by Stride PR and Netherworld Covenant is available now on Steam early access and Epic Games Store.
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