Barony
" Deep first-person roguelike RPG with cooperative play but steep, punishing difficulty "
Barony Review
Barony is a challenging, deep roguelike dungeon crawler with a retro voxel aesthetic and a strong emphasis on permadeath and procedural generation. Players praise its rich gameplay mechanics, diverse classes and races, and high replayability, especially in co-op mode. The game rewards skill and knowledge accumulation, with each run offering new tactical opportunities and emergent stories. The open-source nature and active developer support foster a wholesome community and modding scene.
While the visuals are nostalgic rather than cutting-edge, the game delivers a satisfying blend of classic dungeon crawling and roguelike elements. However, its steep difficulty and punishing mechanics can be off-putting for newcomers. Some players note clunky controls and occasional bugs, particularly in settings and UI, which detract from the experience. Despite these flaws, Barony remains a beloved title for fans of hardcore, skill-based roguelikes who enjoy cooperative play and complex systems.
Highlights
Players especially praise Barony's deep and varied gameplay mechanics, including multiple classes and races that offer unique playstyles. The game's procedural generation and permadeath create high replayability and emergent narratives. Its retro voxel graphics and nostalgic feel are well-liked, fitting the dungeon crawler atmosphere. The community is described as friendly and supportive, and the open-source model encourages modding and continuous updates. Co-op multiplayer is highlighted as a major strength, enhancing fun and reducing frustration.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include the game's steep difficulty curve and punishing nature, which can frustrate new players. The control scheme and UI are often described as clunky or unintuitive, with some players struggling with mouse input and menu navigation. Bugs, especially crashes when changing audio settings, are reported. Some feel the game could benefit from more content variety, such as additional bosses, item diversity, and clearer class identities. The hunger mechanic and friendly fire also receive mixed feedback. DLC access limitations and lack of certain races in the base game are noted.
Pros
- • Deep and complex gameplay mechanics with diverse classes and races.
- • Highly replayable due to procedural generation and permadeath.
- • Engaging cooperative multiplayer enhances fun and reduces frustration.
- • Open-source game with active developer support and modding community.
- • Nostalgic voxel graphics fitting the dungeon crawler theme.
- • Tactile combat requiring skill, timing, and strategic thinking.
- • Emergent stories and unpredictable run experiences keep players hooked.
Cons
- • Steep and punishing difficulty can be off-putting to newcomers.
- • Control scheme and UI are clunky and unintuitive for many players.
- • Frequent crashes reported when changing audio or sound settings.
- • Limited content variety leads to some repetitive gameplay experiences.
- • Hunger mechanic considered too aggressive by some players.
- • Friendly fire can cause frustration during cooperative play.
- • Only one starting race available without DLC, limiting options.
Rating Criteria
Barony is the premier first-person roguelike with cooperative play! Adventure alone, or gather a party with iconic and unusual RPG classes to face off against the brutal dungeons. Test your resourcefulness, wits, and friendships, on your quest to lift the evil lich's curse!