Roguelike blend of Dead Cells and Castle Crashers drops biggest free update yet

With a bit of Dead Cells, Castle Crashers, and Rogue Legacy, Lost Castle 2 is one of the most intriguing roguelikes available on Steam at the moment. It’s not as well known as those other three games, but that’s a tall order considering the renown they’ve garnered over the years. Still, developer Hunter Studio is making its way through Steam Early Access at a pace, with the latest Lost Castle 2 update packed with new, free content.

Lost Castle 2 is a beat-’em-up roguelike game. So if you’re as big a fan of Castle Crashers as I am, and love the endlessly replayable combat of Dead Cells, this is one you need to try. The world is colorful, enemies are plentiful, and you can even play with up to three friends in classic beat-’em-up fashion. Either alone or as part of a team, it’s up to you to make it to the Dark Castle. There’s treasure to be found, and after all, who doesn’t love loot?

With over 200 weapons and armor to find, each run is wildly different from the last. There are also more than 130 treasures, all of which offer distinct effects that impact how you’ll fight your way through each level. Lost Castle 2 is a solid, if overlooked, roguelike. It currently has nearly 5,500 user reviews at 77% positive on Steam, so it’s certainly worth a shot.

Nightmare in the Dunes is Lost Castle 2’s biggest update yet, and it’s absolutely packed with all-new content to try out. Saltpeter Desert is an entirely new “scorching, treasure-laden wasteland” level for you to explore – with Treasure Anglerfish and The Captain bosses also putting up a fight. You’ve also got nine new desert-themed enemies to contend with, eight extra weapons, two new treasures, three more armor sets, and additional cosmetic skins.

If you’re a returning player, or just fancy putting yourself through a grueling challenge, the Hard and Nightmare difficulty modes have been replaced. The reworked Ethereals’ Nightmare mode is a “fresh and brutal” challenge, and perfect if you want to go through the ringer. The new difficulty mode is also tied to the all-new soul inscription system. With this, you can unlock unique styles for weapons by mastering this progression mechanic – giving you all the more reason to challenge yourself.

As developer Hunter Studio continues the Lost Castle 2 Steam Early Access journey, players have come flocking back to the game. The average concurrent playercount has shot up from around 2,000 to 8,000 thanks to the free update, so now’s the perfect time to join in the fun.

Lost Castle 2 is currently 10% off on Steam, so expect to pay $13.49 / £11.51 until Thursday January 30. You can find the game right here.

We’ve also got all the best co-op games to keep you and your friends busy this year, alongside some of the best indie games if you’re looking for something a little different.

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