If the Don’t Starve soundtrack haunts your nightmares the way it does mine, then I have bad news for you: Klei Entertainment has another co-op title in the same spirit on deck. It’s called Rotwood, and it rolled into early access this week for just under 10 buckaroos. From Klei’s description, Rotwood is basically a co-op roguelike in which you “choose your gear and strategize your choices to create insane builds that probably shouldn’t be allowed.”
“The world has been thrown into chaos, and it’s up to you and your friends to battle the corrupted beasts of the Rotwood. Upgrade your gear, choose your preferred weapon, and sharpen your skills to defend your safe haven. Rotwood is about getting better, getting stronger, and taking on challenges you once thought impossible. Featuring rich and varied fighting mechanics, play solo or co-op with up to three other friends to battle your way through the Rotwood and its increasingly frenzied inhabitants.”
Early access is meant to run well into 2025, potentially up to two years; obviously, that means the current game is not complete. As of right now, the live version includes four biomes with bosses and minibosses as well as four weapon classes and fighting styles.
“As players progress through the Rotwood, they will unlock new weapon variations, armor, powers, biomes, and various customization options for their character and their town,” the devs write in the FAQ. “Combat in Rotwood is designed to be deep and rewarding, with a high skill ceiling. Mastering each weapon class, armor, power ups, biomes and 4 levels of difficulty per biome, we expect the Early Access version of the game to provide anywhere from 10-25 hours of gameplay. Completionists may find they spend many more to take on Rotwood’s toughest challenges.”
It’s not an MMO, but it’s certainly some multiplayer fun worth keeping an eye on as it develops onward.
