Rogue Core is no replacement for the original Deep Rock Galactic, especially not in its current state. That being said, there is something very cool here, and I hope to see it continuously expanded over the course of this year. More weapons, more upgrades, more interesting stat upgrades for your character (I’m so done with ‘get x more armor’ in video games), and more interesting events during runs. Then I think we’ll have something special. [Early Access Review]

As it stands, you’re either going to like Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core because of its tension or ultimately reject it for the same reason. The rogue-lite elements, REPD upgrade nags, timer, and whatnot can all be adjusted accordingly as early access proceeds, and there’s a pretty hefty amount of content to be had. But unless you’re on board with the core gameplay, it may be hard to really embrace. If nothing else, you have to credit Ghost Ship Games for attempting something new – even if its biggest hit is most notable for the exact opposite gameplay flow. Here’s hoping it can hone a strong identity for Rogue Core throughout early access because while “rogue-lite DRG” sounds intriguing, the execution may leave some wanting. [Early Access Review]