Thanks to the Rumble HD in the JoyCon, you get a sense of that physical feedback you would once have got naturally from those mechanical arcade machines; you feel your seed rolling from one side of the screen to the other. And while the tension of TumbleSeed makes it a surprisingly great spectator game, this just feels right in portable mode, with that precarious, procedurally generated mountain in the palms of your hands.
TumbleSeed is the perfect combination of addicting gameplay, with a plethora of varied elements that solidifies itself among the pantheon of great roguelikes. Each run has its own unique feel that continues to keep the game incredibly fresh, whether it’s your tenth or hundredth run. While it’s a shame there’s no way to submit a score offline, the rest of the game shines so bright it’s easy to overlook. If you’re looking for a challenging, but insanely satisfying roguelike, look no further.
Tumbleseed is just a game about concentration and survival. Simple to understand, incredibly hard to master. There’s a variety of different approaches to the levels, depending on your play style, and no matter what, the game will always give you a challenge.
TumbleSeed is a game that I don't think I'll ever completely finish, but it's damn impressive for those that dare to stomach its difficulty. If you're the kind of person looking for a mostly skill based game that is brutally challenging, yet very entertaining, then TumbleSeed is for you. More casual players will want to save their money and sanity for games a bit more accessible to them. Honestly, the biggest mistake here is that the developers haven't offered multiple difficulties, which will surely limit the potential player base.
All told, Tumbleseed is a game that will certainly divide opinion. The absurdly high difficulty demands that you put up or shut up; if you don't take the time to be patient and focus on improving your skills in controlling the seed, you will not find much enjoyment here. However, if you're willing to stick it out and put in the time required to 'git gud', you'll find a deeply rewarding game with nearly unlimited replayability between the daily challenges and the constant tease of getting a better score. If you consider yourself a skilled and patient gamer, give Tumbleseed a shot. If not, perhaps something else might be a better choice.
TumbleSeed is unique and different, and has very distinctive features. It's roguelike take on a skill-based game isn't for everyone, but if you like how it sounds, give it a try.