This month has been good for fans of pirate-themed video games- Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced has allowed players to return to the critically acclaimed setting with new updates and other features (although the lack of the Freedom Cry DLC being included is rather disappointing), and now players can get their hands on another newly released title, that being the turn-based roguelite Dead Weight, which launched on July 16th and was developed by Klukva Games.
Dead Weight has a rather interesting take on pirates, with the steampunk setting taking place across numerous floating islands populated with other pirates, robots, goblins, and Lovecraftian monstrosities who you fight across the game. The world is also threatened by the awakening of the “Ancient Gods”, who you can choose to fight against or side with to discover forbidden truths. This fascinating world is all presented through detailed pixel art, bringing to life its characters and enemies and navigating between the cute and fun as well as the grotesque and horrifying.
In terms of gameplay, it combines turn-based combat with roguelite mechanics, allowing players to try out different characters with each run in which they can retrieve various weapons and armor alongside character skills. This offers players a different experience each time and challenges them to experiment with new strategies across the game. It also features exploration via your flying ship, which you can upgrade and obtain new crew members for as you visit each island.
Dead Weight has been very well-received since its launch, receiving an 85% approval rating on Steam, which is likely also helped by the fact it’s on sale for 25% off, bringing it down from $12.99 to $9.74. There are some criticisms from players, such as its performance on the Steam Deck, as well as QoL and balance issues, but many argue that otherwise it is well-designed and lacking any significant problems; if you’re a fan of tactical roguelites, you might want to check this out and grab it while it’s on sale.