The easy and quick nature of what Port of Jumanah offers does allow it to feel different than most rogue-lite's, so I do give it props there. The visual style is certainly borrowed, but plays into the charm and comedic writing Red Dunes Games and Agate were shooting for. The Oxygen mechanic keeps you on your toes, and the mechanics and temporary shell boosts can make for some interesting runs.
While some may be disappointed at some of the changes to core systems, or further leaning into its rogue-lite elements, Moonlighter 2 feels just so good, and that isn't just toward its combat, but its shopkeeper aspect too. Systems may feel streamlined, and many are, but these changes are intentional and do a lot to make each run slick and easy to jump into.
Running a small shop that sells a variety of wares is never an easy task, even in the best of times. But when you have a debt hanging over you that if you don't pay, it is your flesh on the line. This is where we find ourselves with Fortune Seller, a gothic rogue-like where you are the shopkeeper trying to pay off your debt.
If you’re a fan of word-based games of any kind, then Beyond Words is absolutely a must-play. It’s an experience that I will continue playing for hundreds of hours. While Balatro’s ‘lightning in a bottle' success might not be replicated here, it does provide that similar rush when a round goes your way and you feel like an absolute god. With all that in mind, it’s impossible not to recommend it to everyone who likes these deckbuilding roguelike-style games.
