Dec 13, 2024
Ravenswatch Co-Op Roguelike - My 2024 Game of The Year
It was love at first sight. The concept, the execution, the community—everything about this game captivated me. It quickly secured a spot among the top 10 games I’ve ever played. Keep reading to discover what makes it so extraordinary.
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Searching for an online Co-Op
I’ve been searching for a fun co-op game to enjoy with friends, and while I’ve tried other co-op roguelikes, none quite matched the online experience and replay value I was looking for—until now. I’ll admit, I’m a little embarrassed by the hours I’ve sunk into this game, but every second has been worth it. Let’s dive right in and explore what makes Ravenswatch so incredible.
So what's Ravenswatch
Ravenswatch is a cooperative action roguelike game developed by Passtech Games, the creators of Curse of the Dead Gods. It delivers fast-paced combat, character synergy, and a challenging gameplay loop. You can play solo or team up with up to four players in co-op mode (which I highly recommend).
Currently, there are nine playable characters, with more slated to arrive in the coming year. For me, these characters steal the show. Passtech has a knack for creating heroes that feel like an extension of yourself—but more on that later.
The game’s loop lasts about an hour, assuming you survive (which you won’t, at least not often). It features three chapters, each with its own distinct world and a boss waiting at the end, culminating in one terrifying final boss after all three.
Let me start by saying the main draw of Ravenswatch is its challenge. If you’re looking for a chill game where you can breeze through the story, this might not be for you. But for us hardcore, masochistic gamers, this is paradise. The game offers multiple challenge levels, some of which feel nearly unbeatable—even I still struggle with them.
But oh, that sweet victory… It makes every painful loss worth it.
Components Review
I’ll be rating each category on a scale from 1 to 10, with some context behind my reasoning. If you’re short on time, feel free to skip ahead to the Pros & Cons section.
3.1. Gameplay
I absolutely love strategy in action games, and Ravenswatch nails it. While the mechanics are crucial, mastering the map and understanding the value of items and upgrades is key to success. And man, it's exciting!
Picking up a new hero and learning their playstyle is a thrill. The sheer variety of builds you can try and finding the best ones for each scenario is like a puzzle for my brain. It's so satisfying when it all clicks and you conquer a challenge.
The game loop is fantastic—randomly generated maps keep things fresh and force you to strategize each time. Playing with friends adds even more fun as you plan your next move together.
Circling back to the heroes. Wow. They’re incredibly well-developed. Beyond their fantastic concepts, their abilities synergize in unique ways. I remember struggling with Gepetto at first, thinking "I can’t figure this guy out." But after a few games, I mastered him—and it felt like riding a bike. Once you get the hang of it, it’s effortless, and you’re just having a blast.
The enemies and bosses also add great challenge. Once you learn their moves, it’s all about dodging and waiting for the right moment to strike. The final boss is something really special (no spoilers!), and I’m excited for new enemies in upcoming updates. Right now, though, the enemies across worlds feel a bit repetitive, so a bit more randomness here would be great.
Overall, the gameplay is solid and incredibly addictive, especially if you're up for the challenge. I’ll never forget the first time my friend and I beat the lowest difficulty—I was completely mind-blown.
3.2. Graphics & Sound
From the very first moment I opened the game, the interface had me hooked. I’ve noticed a correlation over the years: if the interface is top-notch, the game usually follows suit. That’s not to say great games with bad interfaces don’t exist, but every game I’ve played with exceptional UI has been a winner. It shows effort, pride, and a refusal to compromise, and Ravenswatch nails this.
The art and setting exude nostalgia and wonder. It feels like opening a pre-20th-century fairy tale book with worn, rusty covers and mysterious illustrations, diving into a dark, intriguing story. Whether intentional or not, it works beautifully.
The motion design is absolutely stellar. Animations are fluid and seamless, with no stiff or awkward movements. The attention to detail is best demonstrated by the walking mechanics, which feature three distinct speeds based on how far you push the movement stick. When I noticed that, I knew—motion in this game deserves a 10.
As for sound design, while I don’t claim to be an expert, I know when something is lacking. Ravenswatch delivers everything you need to feel immersed in its world. The music draws you in, and the sound effects—whether landing a hit or taking damage—are spot-on. They’ve done an excellent job here.
The game includes skins for the heroes, and while some are quite creative, I wish they’d featured new models rather than retextures. For an indie game, though, this is more than acceptable and still adds variety.
The worlds are cohesive yet distinct, feeling like chapters of the same book (which is fitting since they’re literally called “chapters”). Each features unique terrain and enemies that enrich the story.
Overall, the art direction is breathtaking. As a designer, I can’t help but admire the incredible work the team has put into this game. Kudos to them for such outstanding execution.
3.3. Concept & Story
The centerpiece that ties everything together—the true star of the show, ladies and gentlemen—is the concept.
SPOILER WARNING: I’ll be discussing characters, enemies, and bosses. If you haven’t played the game yet, skip this section and just trust me—it’s worth more than the 10/10 I’m giving it. For everyone else, let’s explore what makes it so special.
From the moment you open the game, you’re greeted with a book that unfolds into the game’s interface—where you pick characters, view items, invite friends, and more. It’s not a new idea (games like Hearthstone do something similar), but here it feels different, and you’ll soon see why.
Starting with Scarlet, the experience is vague yet intriguing. You don’t know what to do at first—just fight off enemies trying to kill you. Then, you level up and are presented with “talents”. There's multiple options, but you can only choose one. This means every game can have a different build based on your choices. How cool is that? But wait, now it’s night, and Scarlet transforms into a wolf. Hold on—is this a Red Riding Hood reference where she BECOMES the wolf? Suddenly, all her abilities change, and she’s more powerful.
The opening minutes hook you with layers of discovery. You’re unsure of the story, just fighting monsters and ghouls. Then a message appears: “Master Nightmare will awaken soon.” Who’s that?! And there’s a timer ticking down. What happens when it reaches zero?
Soon, you’re thrown into a fight with a massive kraken-like creature whose tentacles relentlessly try to bring you down—and they will. Those first few games are tough, but that’s okay. Each time you play, you unravel a bit more of the setting, characters, and story.
As you level up your heroes, you unlock pieces of their memoirs, offering glimpses into their perspective. You begin to understand the nightmare, the curse on the lands of Reverie, and your role in fighting it. This motivates you to jump back in, game after game, progressively mastering your character and uncovering more of the world’s rich narrative.
The heroes are nothing short of brilliant. It’s one thing to create new and inventive characters, but Ravenswatch takes familiar faces from fairy tales and mythology and flips them in ways you don’t expect. Snow Queen? She’s ruthless and commanding. Red Riding Hood? Forget the helpless girl; she’s a gun-wielding assassin who transforms into the wolf. Gepetto? Not a side character anymore—he’s a quirky, warm-hearted inventor stomping nightmares with mechanical prowess.
These characters stirred a deeply personal memory for me. They reminded me of my grandmother, reading fairy tales to me when I was a child. For a game to unlock that kind of time-travel nostalgia means something truly special.
And that’s where the book comes in. It’s more than just an interface—it’s a portal. It feels like something you found in a forgotten library corner or pulled out of a dusty drawer in your grandmother’s attic. Honestly, it feels like the book from Jumanji.
Ravenswatch brims with story, wonder, excitement, and thrill. It takes heart to create something this special, and the developers have poured every ounce of it into the game.
3.4. Controls & Accessibility
This game thrives on controller play. Sure, I’ve seen friends and streamers use mouse and keyboard effectively, but if you want the optimal experience, grab a controller. It’s a game-changer, especially for characters with dual-stick mechanics, like the move-and-shoot abilities—it’s implemented flawlessly. The button layout feels natural, avoiding awkward hand positions and ensuring your hands stay comfortable even during extended sessions.
Accessibility has been a clear priority for the team. They’ve designed abilities and controls with ergonomic comfort in mind, unlike games that force you into claw-like grips to multitask with buttons and the camera. As we age, these poor ergonomic designs can take a toll, but Ravenswatch gets it right. The controls are intuitive and familiar—A for roll, B for back, X for attack—streamlined but polished for a smooth experience.
On the interface side, while it’s improved significantly during early access, there’s still some room for refinement. Menus have the occasional quirk, possibly tied to integration limitations with Steam, but overall, the text contrast is excellent, and accessibility options are present in the settings.
Ultimately, the controls and interface are a testament to the team’s thoughtful design philosophy. They’ve delivered a system that feels better—not necessarily unique—but undeniably better.
3.5. Multiplayer
Multiplayer in Ravenswatch is a mixed bag for me. On one hand, it’s the best co-op experience I’ve ever had, but on the other, it can leave me frustrated enough to need a break. Let me explain.
The game is Crossplay, meaning you can play with friends that are on PC, Xbox and Playstation (with more to come) at the same time! That's a rare treat.
Playing solo is straightforward and fun, but multiplayer takes the game to a whole new level. As the number of players increases, so does the difficulty—enemies grow stronger and more numerous. With a full team of four, coordination becomes essential. Straying too far from the group can spell disaster, as the team struggles to scale and ultimately fails to reach the end.
This is true for most team-based games, but Ravenswatch introduces a unique challenge: enemy aggro in camps. Camps are open areas where you fight a set number of enemies for rewards like chests or gold. However, these camps are surrounded by other enemies on the map. If a team of four enters from different directions, they pull enemies from all sides in addition to the ones inside the camp. The result? Either you abandon the camp and waste precious time or face an overwhelming fight that more often than not leads to defeat.
This issue is most pronounced with randomly matched players. Without proper communication—since the built-in system isn’t widely used—chaos often ensues. Playing with friends or experienced players who stick to the team strategy makes all the difference. Even then, sometimes skilled players go off on their own, which can still lead to a loss. There's also the occasional network issues resulting in lag.
At its core, Ravenswatch is a game best played with friends. The co-op is thrilling and rewarding when everyone is on the same page, plus the connection is superb, but it shines less brightly with random players unless you get lucky.
3.6. Value
If you’re still reading this, you’re probably interested already, but let me give you a nudge: go watch some gameplay. Most of the negative reviews come from the game’s difficulty, and I get it—it’s not for everyone. Even the lowest difficulty can be a challenge. But once you get the hang of it, it’s like riding a bike. The more experienced you become, the more fun it gets.
The journey from constant losses to dominating the highest difficulty is incredibly rewarding. Even after unlocking everything and completing every achievement, there’s always the surprise of a unique build or the joy of introducing the game to a new friend. Experiencing it all over again through their eyes makes it feel fresh.
It’s on PC, Xbox, PlayStation (and more platforms to come), with full crossplay—and it works flawlessly.
Go buy it. You won’t regret it.
3.7. Final Score
Pros & Cons Summary
Let's do a quick overview of the good and not so good from the components review section.
Pros
Cons
Some Closing Thoughts
If you liked the review, please let me know by sending an invite to my steam account @imzhelev, so we can hop in a game and teach the nightmares a lesson. Since the links aren't affiliate and none of this is sponsored in no way, by anyone, you can support me through the link below, if that's something you're into.
Thanks for stopping by, and have a nice rest of your day!