The roguelite genre officially has another contender in the form of Dark Scrolls, an upcoming Steam game that may sound like Dark Souls, but is more reminiscent of retro title Ghosts ‘n Goblins, with a healthy dose of bullet hell. This exciting Steam title has the backing of publisher Devolver Digital and is set to release on June 22 on PC and Nintendo Switch.
When it comes to smaller titles from relatively unknown developers – in this case, doinksoft – few have a track record like Devolver Digital. The publisher has an excellent record of publishing great titles from talented indie developers, where the main barrier to success is simply word of mouth. When looking at some of the best Devolver Digital games, titles like Hotline Miami and Cult of the Lamb instantly spring to mind, with games like Enter the Gungeon and Inscryption serving as reminders of the publisher’s genre versatility.
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Dark Scrolls immediately looks like a game from another era, strongly committing to its retro side-scroller aesthetic. On the surface, this 2D action platformer looks very Ghosts ‘n Goblins, but it becomes immediately clear that there’s way more going on here. The game is run-based, giving players the opportunity to enjoy “hand-crafted screens, unique bosses, and evolving routes shaped by player choices and quests.” There are nine unique heroes to play as in total, each with their own “skills, side objectives, and customizable trinkets that alter gameplay.” The main gameplay loop involves avoiding hordes of on-screen particles, giving it that bullet hell vibe.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Easy (120s)Medium (90s)Hard (60s)
Dark Scrolls Key Features
- NINE UNIQUE HEROES – Pick from nine heroes, each with their own unique skills.
- PROCEDURALLY GENERATED RUNS – Every run is different, offering infinite replayability.
- BRANCHING PATHS – ‘Choose your own adventure’ elements offer choice in every run.
- ONLINE CO-OP – Play through the chaos with a friend.
- PERK SYSTEM – Chain perks for explosive builds.
- DIFFICULT BOSS FIGHTS – Unique boss fights that challenge your build.
- BULLET HELL COMBAT – Enjoy excellent visual feedback with visually stimulating bullet hell combat.
The good news is that, while Dark Scrolls isn’t yet released, it’s not far off. Developer doinksoft – previously behind games like Gunbrella and Gato Roboto – is launching its next title on June 22, so gamers don’t have long to wait to get their hands on this bullet hell title. Both of the studio’s previous Steam games have earned “Very Positive” reviews from players, and this looks as if it has the potential to reach similar heights.
Steam is filled with so many great titles from lesser-known developers, and it’s easy for them to go under the radar. But for gamers willing to take the time to seek out these kinds of games, they can result in some of the most unique experiences that often can’t be found from AAA studios.
