We’re in the season of big holiday releases, but that doesn’t mean we stop checking out the smaller productions. In today’s indie roundup we take a look at Slime 3K: Rise Against Despot, Skater’s Solstice and Backrooms: Partygoers.
Slime 3K: Rise Against Despot review (PS5)
In Slime 3K: Rise Against Despot, developed by Konfa Games and published by tinyBuild, players control a sentient blob of goo rebelling against Despot, a tyrannical AI in a chaotic dystopian future. This roguelite draws from popular games like Vampire Survivorso, but Slime 3K stands out with its unique blend of deckbuilding and arena combat, offering a fresh twist on the “survivor” formula. With a deck of interesting abilities, including the option of electrifying hordes of enemies or launching explosive watermelons, each run feels different as you mix and match skills to create potent combinations. This deckbuilding mechanic injects a welcome layer of strategy that adds depth and replayability, though it can take time to learn the optimal synergies for each run.
The game’s relentless pacing and escalating difficulty make for an intense experience. Each level presents waves of bizarre and diverse enemies, from cyborgs to mutant vegetables, and players must continuously upgrade their slime to stay competitive as enemies grow stronger by the minute. But while the variety keeps things exciting, the sheer volume of foes can occasionally overwhelm, particularly for those new to the genre.
Controls feel responsive, making dodging attacks and unleashing combos straightforward, but the relentless barrage of enemies may make some players wish for a bit more breathing room. The visuals are sharp and colorful, capturing the chaotic vibe of a dystopian battlefield, though they can feel cluttered with effects during high-intensity moments. The audio complements the mayhem well, with energetic sound effects that punctuate every squishy move and explosive hit.
Slime 3K: Rise Against Despot may not reinvent the wheel, but it brings a compelling blend of action and strategy that should satisfy fans of roguelites and deckbuilding alike. Its quirky, chaotic world and challenging gameplay loop make it a memorable entry (especially if you played previous Despot games), even if its intensity might deter those seeking a more casual experience.
Skater’s Solstice review (PS4)
In Skater’s Solstice, published by Eastasiasoft and developed by Double Mizzlee, players take on a wintery adventure as a young skater navigating icy puzzle challenges. Set in a top-down environment, the game’s HD visuals evoke a serene winter landscape, inviting players to tackle 50 progressively challenging levels. Each puzzle requires players to skate across frozen lakes, collecting stars along the way before reaching the exit, with the twist being that movement happens in a single, straight line adding a layer of strategic planning to each level. To puzzle fans, it’s going to be a familiar mechanic.
While the concept is charming and initially simple, Skater’s Solstice quickly ramps up the difficulty, introducing new environmental elements that push players to really think about how they maneuver across the ice. This increase in complexity is rewarding, but the game’s controls occasionally feel a bit stiff, which can make certain levels more frustrating than intended.
The audio design contributes to the frosty ambiance, with sound effects that capture the crunch of ice underfoot, though the soundtrack is fairly minimal, adding to the sense of solitude on the vast, icy expanses. The star-collecting mechanic, paired with the need to reach the exit in each level, keeps players engaged in optimizing their paths, though the limited movement options can sometimes make progression feel repetitive.
Overall, Skater’s Solstice offers a solid puzzle experience with plenty of winter charm, though some players may find the somewhat repetitive nature of gameplay a bit limiting. For fans of straight up puzzle challenges with a nice thematic twist, it’s a thoughtful addition to the genre.
Backrooms: Partygoers review (PS5)
In Backrooms: Partygoers, developed by Mascot Bro Studio and published by Ratalaika Games, players step into the eerie backrooms – a claustrophobic, maze-like environment filled with unsettling hallways, dim lighting, and a constant sense of dread. Playing as a researcher tasked with collecting anomalies, players are equipped with devices that beep as they near their objective, a mechanic that creates tension as it draws the attention of the lurking “Partygoers,” monstrous entities with a taste for fear. But while the premise has potential for classic horror suspense, the gameplay doesn’t quite deliver the expected scares.
Visually, the game makes a strong initial impression. The backrooms are portrayed with a gritty VHS aesthetic that adds to the eerie atmosphere, making every turn feel like a step deeper into a nightmare. Unfortunately, this visual appeal quickly fades as repetitive, glitch-prone environments undercut the immersion. The gameplay largely consists of finding eight crates and managing resources like flashlight batteries and water, which adds some survival elements but doesn’t sustain tension. Despite some decent jump scares, the slow and often comically clunky enemies rarely present a real threat. Hiding in lockers becomes an almost surefire method of evasion, reducing any lingering suspense.
Ultimately, Backrooms: Partygoers is a brief experience, clocking in at under an hour. While its initial creepiness is intriguing, the repetitive hallways and limited AI design make it feel more like a missed opportunity than a memorable horror experience. At its current price point, it feels steep, making it hard to recommend unless it’s on sale. This is a game that could have thrived with deeper polish, stronger AI, and less predictability, but as it stands, it’s best suited for those looking for a quick, if underwhelming, horror fix.
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