Dead Weight

Dead Weight is not perfect. The game’s economy doesn’t feel balanced, and there’s plenty of randomness in the game to make you scratch your head at times. But that doesn’t really matter, in the end.

Dead Weight is carried by its great setting, fun characters, impressive art, and unique take on the roguelike campaign system. While its gameplay is fun, it does suffer from design choices that might end your run before it even begins, and less-than-perfect in-run and out-of-run progression holds the gameplay back significantly. However, for the game’s incredibly fair price, I would still recommend giving it a try for yourself, even if this review has left you skeptical.

Dead Weight's pixel art and fast-paced combat system are its main strengths and may be enough to please some players, but balance issues, the tedium of repeatedly replaying the initial levels, and a wasted lore meant I had no interest in returning after defeating the three bosses. Even so, there's still some fun to be found in its quick, turn-based tactical battles.