Path of Achra for Windows

A 2D pixel-art turn-based RPG dungeon crawler

Path of Achra is a turn-based roguelike RPG that you can play on your web browser if you don't mind not saving. You can also download it to your device or play it on a gaming platform like Steam. The platforms demand payment, but the website only asks for a donation.

This 2D pixel art game shares a visual style and several game mechanics with an amazing game called Vampire Survivors. Even though Path of Achra is not as addictive as Vampire Survivors, it has that nostalgic 2D pixel charm like the Infectonator series.

Gather goods and slay monsters

The roguelike elements mean that each play-through is slightly different. The overall theme is what you expect from an RPG dungeon crawler. You open chests, gather equipment, and dispatch the different monsters and enemies in the rooms you enter.

Start with different builds

Just like the Dark Souls games, you can start with different character builds to experience the game differently as you go. Like the Bloodborne game, what you dress your character in will appear on the sprite. That way, you can visually see if you are optimized for a certain enemy.

A surprising amount of depth

For a solo-developed indie dungeon crawler, this game’s systems have a surprising amount of depth. Weapon choices, armor choices, and in-game decisions will have a big impact on how easily you dispatch in-game enemies. Even the religion you pick will affect your gameplay.

Clever or clumsy game optimization

It is difficult to know if some game elements were accidental. For example, if you are specced for poison, then the starting benefit of having sprites come to protect you will be nullified because your allies are poisoned.

Were elements like this planned as a way to balance the game’s difficulty, or were these conflicts simply an oversight? Still, this goes to show the level of depth this solo-developed game has.