Sworn is a medieval roguelike game from Windwalk Games. And an unapologetic clone of Hades, from its isometric presentation to the combat and progression skills.

The game heavily leans into, and rewards, dash and evasion

Seems old Camelot has gone to hell in a hand basket under the rule of Arthur and it is up to you to run through the forests and catacombs, battling ever increasingly powerful enemies until you eventually die and are returned to the game's hub, which allows you to improve both you weapons and stats, ready for your next run.

That’s pretty much it for the narrative, so if you’re looking for a story driven experience you are not going to find it here. There is little in the way of lore to be had and, apart from getting stronger, your character has no discernible story or personal arc.

The game allows for a great deal of customisation, whether you’re into ranged weapons, or hand to hand. You also have wind and fire spells you can add into the mix and this part of the game works well allowing you to lean into your preferred play style.

In the hub you eventually will end up with four characters who each have a number of weapons which can be upgraded. You can even change the effects on your weapons, giving multiple combinations to discover prior to your next run.

You're unlikely to live long with just an aggressive combat style, as the game also heavily leans into, and rewards, dash and evasion while fighting monsters. Combat is responsive and I felt that I had a lag-less experience while dashing and attacking. Once you get used to the gameplay, you can easily dash in for an attack and get out of the way just as quickly before the monster tries to attack back. This combination of dash and attack makes the game enjoyable to play.

Run through the forests and catacombs, battling powerful enemies

This variety helps build up the reusability of the game as each run will be something different. The gameplay can sometimes feel a little repetitive, but then that is the nature of these games. That said, the game has procedurally generated monsters and environments to make each run feel fresh.

The game can be played solo and still give a satisfying experience, but it really shines in the co-op, where up to four players can take on the quest together, which can produce anything from a coordinated strategy to outright chaos, depending on which you would find the most fun.

Although the game follows Hades very closely it also has charms of its own. The artwork is different to Hades, giving the game a character of its own which provides a very emergent experience. Sound design is also well constructed, and the overall presentation is impressive.

7

Charles Packer