Runeborn

Runeborn is a well-received early access roguelike deckbuilder that combines slot machine mechanics with strategic rune and relic management. Players praise its visually stunning art style, cohesive interface, and satisfying gameplay loop that balances challenge and fun. The game offers a fresh take on the genre, drawing favorable comparisons to titles like Balatro, Luck Be a Landlord, and Slay the Spire. Many appreciate the depth added by rune locking, trinket synergies, and deck customization, which create rewarding runs and encourage experimentation.

However, some players note issues with sound design and visual effects lacking impact, which diminishes the excitement of big combos. Difficulty spikes and RNG elements, particularly enemy debuffs that can abruptly end builds, lead to frustration for some. The slow animations and absence of a fast mode also detract from pacing. While the game shows strong potential and responsive developers, players hope for further balancing, more unique elemental distinctions, and quality-of-life improvements as it evolves.

Highlights

Runeborn's gameplay mechanics are praised for their clever integration of slot machine elements with deckbuilding strategy, especially the rune locking and relic modification systems. The graphics receive high marks for stunning, cohesive art and intuitive UI design, contributing to an engaging atmosphere. Players enjoy the rewarding challenge and strategic depth, with many calling it one of the best new roguelikes of the year. The game's tutorial is clear and the core loop addictive, making it accessible yet deep. The active developer engagement and promising early access roadmap also stand out positively.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the sound design and visual effects, which many find underwhelming and lacking excitement during key gameplay moments. The RNG can feel punishing, especially when enemy debuffs randomly disrupt carefully built strategies without meaningful counterplay. Difficulty spikes and slow, unskippable animations hinder pacing, with requests for faster modes or animation skips. Some players feel elemental runes lack distinctiveness, making builds feel repetitive. Additionally, UI scaling issues on devices like the Steam Deck and occasional crashes upon exiting are noted. Overall, balancing and polish are areas for improvement.