33 Immortals

I am a sucker for roguelikes despite how much I suck at them. 33 Immortals is a co-operative action-roguelike that reimagines the genre for larger groups. Players, as cursed souls, band together in groups of up to 33 to conquer hordes of enemies and challenging bosses in a stylized, dark fantasy world inspired by Dante's Inferno. The game emphasizes fast-paced, visceral combat, and a focus on cooperative play, where players must work together to survive and ascend. With a unique approach to progression and a strong emphasis on replayability, 33 Immortals aims to deliver a chaotic and intense experience. Emphasis on chaotic.

• Short Sessions (45-60 minutes): This one presents a mixed bag for short sessions. While you can jump into a run with a group, the roguelike nature of the game means that a single run can vary significantly in length. You might clear a few encounters in a short time, or find yourself cut short before a significant checkpoint. Depending on how your run goes, it could feel like you played for an hour and got nowhere.

• Fulfillment: The game delivers intense, adrenaline-pumping action, and the cooperative element is a definite highlight if you get lucky to be grouped up with people who know what they're doing. However, the roguelike structure means that success is often tied to completing a full run, which also means everyone has to do their job. Short sessions might provide exciting moments, but as I mentioned before, it might feel like you didn't do anything productive during a bad run. Especially if you only had time for one session.

• Playability: The combat is fast-paced and visceral, and the game is designed to be accessible. However, coordinating with a large group of players, even in a cooperative setting, can sometimes be challenging, especially in shorter sessions where communication might be limited. The game's learning curve is tied to mastering the combat and understanding the progression system, which required more time from me to get the hang of. Plan on at least an hour during your first few play-throughs.

• Time Commitment: My first few games took me at least an hour just to learn the game, progression system and combat strategies. If you've played roguelikes before you might have an easier time adjusting. The game is unique enough that even for my 100th roguelike it took me a while to get used to. Mostly because the other 30 people in my group were also trying to learn the game, so sessions in a few months may run smoother and quicker. It is a cooperative roguelike so your runs could take at least 45-60min if you can make it far enough, or 5min if you end up trying to solo a mob because you have no idea where everyone else went. This may change once the game gets out of early access, but for now plan to have some time in your hands before logging in.

Verdict:

33 Immortals offers a unique and exciting take on the roguelike genre with its emphasis on large-scale co-op. The action is intense, and the cooperative gameplay is a blast. However, the game's roguelike structure, with runs that can vary in length, makes it less ideal for truly short play sessions. While you can still have fun in bursts, the most fulfilling experience comes from dedicating larger chunks of time to a full run. If you're looking for a game you can consistently pick up and put down for 20 minutes at a time, 33 Immortals might not be the best fit. At least during early access. But if you have an hour or two to spare and enjoy cooperative action, it's worth diving into the fray.