NEW Roguelike Game: SWORN - Action-Packed Co-Op Dungeon Crawler!
0Sworn is a new released ambitious co-op roguelike dungeon crawler in development. Developed by Windwalk Games and published by Team17. Drawing clear inspiration from Hades, the game combines a vibrant, painterly art style with fast-paced action combat and a deep progression system. I can confidently say that Sworn already feels like a well-rounded experience—though not without its flaws.
Gameplay & Combat
Sworn puts you in the shoes of a Soulforged warrior in a dark, mythological reimagining of Camelot, where a corrupted King Arthur and his knights have taken control. You and up to three friends will fight through procedurally generated dungeons, facing off against waves of enemies, powerful bosses, and environmental hazards.
The combat system is fast and fluid, with a heavy emphasis on dodging and positioning. There are four playable characters, each equipped with four distinct weapons and spells that scale differently based on the godly blessings you receive throughout your run. The game plays similarly to Hades, with a focus on moment-to-moment action and rapid decision-making, but runs are shorter, clocking in at around 30 minutes.
Progression & Customization
Sworn offers a satisfying amount of customization. Between runs, you return to a hub area where you can spend various meta-currencies to enhance your characters. The Beacon of Avalor allows you to unlock new abilities, weapons, and spells, ensuring that each attempt at reclaiming Camelot feels rewarding. Weapons can be upgraded, and certain upgrade nodes even have alternative effects, adding depth to the build-crafting process. However, some of the lower-tier nodes feel uninspired, offering only small incremental stat boosts that don’t significantly impact gameplay.
Meta-progression is well-implemented, but the balance of in-run rewards versus long-term upgrades feels off. A significant number of stage rewards are tied to meta-currency rather than immediate power-ups, making many runs feel underwhelming. Since you rely on RNG to get meaningful stat boosts, it’s common to end up with a weak build, limiting your effectiveness in higher-difficulty encounters. A rebalance that prioritizes in-run upgrades while keeping meta-currency optional beyond early progression would greatly improve the experience.
Balancing Issues
The biggest issue with Sworn’s current state is its balance, particularly with melee weapons. While ranged weapons feel effective and allow you to navigate the battlefield with relative ease, melee options feel severely underpowered. Given that enemies frequently spam projectiles and attacks, being forced into close-quarters combat while dealing subpar damage is frustrating. A buff to melee weapons is essential for a more balanced gameplay experience.
Additionally, the upgrade economy is inconsistent. The secret shop allows you to boost a skill by four levels for just 100 gold, a trivial amount to earn, while standard in-run upgrades are far less impactful. This creates an imbalance where shop upgrades feel disproportionately powerful compared to what you naturally acquire throughout a run.
Music, Sound & Accessibility
Sworn’s soundtrack is atmospheric and reminiscent of Hades, featuring high-energy tracks that complement the action. Every god you encounter is fully voice-acted, adding personality to the game. While the voice acting doesn’t quite match the charm of Supergiant’s work, it gets the job done.
Performance is mostly smooth, though minor hitching occurs in menus. One notable oversight is the lack of a pause function during solo play, but the developers have acknowledged this and plan to add it in a future update. The game supports nine languages, though only English has full voice acting.
Despite recommending a controller, Sworn plays well with a keyboard and mouse, and key rebinding is available.
Sworn is a promising co-op roguelike with fast-paced combat, deep customization, and a visually stunning world inspired by Arthurian legend. While it has some balancing issues—particularly with melee weapons and the upgrade economy—it’s an engaging experience that’s worth checking out, especially if you enjoyed Hades.
At just $19 USD with a launch discount, it’s a solid investment for fans of the genre. With four classes, 10 bosses, and a growing list of features planned for future updates, Sworn has the potential to be a standout title in the roguelike space. If the developers fine-tune its progression and balance, it could be something truly special.
Read the latest full patch notes here:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1763250/view/499438606930149625
SWORN - Early Access Launched on February 6, 2025!
Platform: PC (Steam) Price: $24.99 USD
Link:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1763250/SWORN/
SWORN is a 1-4 player co-op action rogue-like. Explore and reclaim a fallen Camelot from the reign of a corrupted Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.