A brand-new Steam game named Batomon Showdown has infused the typical Pokemon formula with roguelike elements, resulting in something completely unique. This upcoming Steam release drops on September 15 and will be a breath of fresh air for Pokemon fans who want recognizable elements in a different gameplay loop.
Roguelikes are a unique genre that follows progression loops, usually involving players completing “runs” and slowly gaining power over a long period of time. They can take a variety of forms, with plenty of deck-builders, shooters, and dungeon crawlers out there that use parts of the roguelike formula in their gameplay loop. Some popular roguelikes include Mewgenics, The Binding of Isaac, and Dead Cells, among plenty of others in a genre that has become increasingly stacked with excellent games.
Batomon Showdown is Pokemon as a Roguelike
Launching September 15, Batomon Showdown sees players collect Batomon, cute monsters with serious Pokemon vibes, and build their team ready for battle. These battles can also be played multiplayer against others’ teams. Players can level up their Batomon “through a deep system of unique abilities, trinkets, and items.” It’s an auto battler game, so gamers don’t choose their next move during combat. After losing combat, players can choose their trainer and start a new run all over again. Each trainer has their own unique bonuses, giving more options to build into certain Batomon types.
Discover and battle with hundreds of Batomon! Assemble the ultimate team to take down other players! Play at your own pace while you discover new deadly team combos and synergies! Break the game by training your Batomon to overpowered levels.
For those who can’t wait until September 15 to play Batomon Showdown on Steam, the game also has a free demo available to download right now. Early impressions of the demo were very positive, with “Very Positive” reviews from players. That’s from over 500 total, too. Players have praised its simple and addictive nature, while others have pointed out that the game needs a few balance tweaks on full release.
Batomon Showdown Key Features
- Collect Batomon and build a powerful team
- Level up Batomon and select their abilities and items
- Auto battler gameplay
- Roguelike ‘runs’
- Multiplayer combat
- Unique trainers with game-changing abilities
The release update for Batomon Showdown is going to be huge, coming with “50+ Batomon, new trainers, new trinkets, and new events,” according to developer mintberry. It’s cool to see that it already seems to have cultivated a small community, which will hopefully help it become a success on its full Steam release. These types of indie games are great for Steam, as they tend to take creative risks not always seen in AAA titles.
As long as Pokemon remains exclusive to Nintendo platforms, there will always be similar games on PC looking to fill the void left by the popular monster-taming franchise. Sometimes, these games are straight-up Pokemon clones, giving PC gamers the chance to try out the formula exactly as it is in Nintendo’s games. However, games like Batomon Showdown are arguably more interesting because they take what players recognize and like about Pokemon and put their own spin on it.