Platforms: Android, iOS, PlayStation 4 (reviewed), and Switch
Games in and inspired by the Rogue-like genre have become quite popular among indie titles. It seems like a new one is released almost weekly, so it takes a lot to separate from the pack. Survive! Mr. Cube falls into this category and while it has its fun moments, it doesn’t quite do enough to stand with the greats of the genre.
Survive! Mr. Cube is a self-proclaimed “Rogue-lite” that starts with a man named Mr. Cube being offered a mysterious pill from a stranger. He swallows the pill and ends up trapped in an unknown realm with only the goal of escaping and returning to his wife. The game plays somewhat similarly to a twin-stick shooter as you will move your character with the left stick and attack with the right stick. The goal is to make your way through a variety of stages finding portals that will transport you to a new area on the map until you’re able to locate the boss. It’s a simple premise with pretty simple gameplay loop.
Being a “Rogue-lite”, each run will be different, most notably because each playthrough starts with a random character with varying stats and equipment. Each character will start with a random weapon ranging from melee weapons like swords and maces to ranged weapons like magic wands and firearms. Weapons in the game all feel different when using them. Some are underwhelming and others feeling a bit overpowered. This means that the roll of the dice at the beginning will usually be key in how well your run goes, which can lead to some quick deaths or easy victories.
While the character you draw can play a major role in your success, overall Survive! Mr. Cube is one of the easier “Rogue-lites” out there. Your character has regenerating health and stamina which allows you to prolong most fights if you have patience. There are also treasure chests littered around each map that drop gold and potions with regularity. With those factors and the simple, intuitive controls, it’s a decent game for newcomers of the genre. Unfortunately more hardcore fans will probably find the game becomes tedious and boring pretty quickly. Once you get the hang of the gameplay loop and figure out what equipment works best, it starts feeling like a slog trying to make your way to the boss.
Survive! Mr. Cube is by no means a bad game and, in the beginning, I had some fun with it. Unfortunately it gets boring rather quickly. If you’ve never played a “Rogue-lite” game, this is a forgiving title that can be a decent starting point, but just know there are far better options available. If you’re a veteran of the genre or looking for a deep challenging experience, Survive! Mr. Cube is a game you can pass on without a second thought.
