AX Roguelike – A Hardcore Mobile Game That Hooks You for Dozens of Hours

Imagine a dark dungeon where every corner hides danger, every weapon unlocks new possibilities, and death is not the end but the beginning of a new attempt. AX Roguelike is a game where victory is earned through sweat and blood, and every playthrough becomes an engaging story you’ll want to share with your friends.

Creation Story

AX Roguelike is not just a game, but the dream of a small team of developers who grew up playing roguelike hits like NetHack. The project started as a small experiment on Unity, but the developers soon realized they had something bigger in their hands.

Thanks to Kickstarter, the game secured funding, and its early access phase attracted thousands of players whose feedback helped polish the gameplay to perfection. You could say AX Roguelike was created not only by its developers but also by the community.

Gameplay and Key Mechanics

The game blends elements of classic roguelike titles with deck-building mechanics, offering a deep progression system and tactical freedom. The game mechanics make the project challenging but engaging, encouraging players to experiment with different play styles.

Classes and Their Features

Classes in the game are determined by your weapon choice. Each weapon unlocks unique abilities and combat styles. Before giving a few examples, it’s worth noting a fun fact — the developers seem to have an irresistible love for axes. In fact, axes are the defining element of every class. Here are a few examples:

Iron Axe:

• A universal class for beginners.
• Great for learning the core game mechanics.
• Focused on skills with minimal risks.

Madman’s Axe:

• Allows for dealing massive damage, but comes with side effects.
• Requires careful planning and skill synergy.

Sage’s Axe:

• Focuses on resource management and strategic abilities.
• Suitable for experienced players who are ready to experiment.

Combat System

Battles in AX Roguelike are turn-based, but unlike the standard card-playing mechanics tied to energy points, here you must build chains of three skills, allowing for the creation of various interesting combinations.

The Base

Your journey begins at what is known as the base. This is where you choose your class, enhance your starting stats, and purchase different upgrades.
The base itself can also be fortified using resources gathered during runs, gradually unlocking new buildings and additional improvements.

Difficulty

One of the game’s biggest strengths—and challenges—is its difficulty. There are no hand-holding tutorial levels here. You’re thrown straight into the harsh reality. Every single tutorial tip becomes a precious piece of knowledge to treasure.

Expeditions

Once a run begins, you’re placed on a world map where you’ll encounter various monsters, random events, and places like rest camps and villages where you can upgrade your skills and recover after battles.
Your goal is to reach the boss, collecting all valuable loot along the way.
Bosses themselves are tough and well-designed.

One of the most valuable resources in the game is runes. They’re generously awarded throughout your expeditions and serve as the currency for unlocking permanent upgrades at the base.
New classes are also unlocked with a certain number of runes.

Accessibility in AX Roguelike

The game is fully compatible with mobile screen readers, using Unity’s accessibility plugin. During my testing, I didn’t encounter any bugs or unreadable elements.

Music and Sound Design

AX Roguelike features solid audio design. The music has a dark, oppressive atmosphere, while the in-game sound effects effectively enhance the epic nature of the events unfolding.

Overall Impression of AX Roguelike

AX Roguelike is a game for those who enjoy tactical turn-based strategies with deep upgrade systems. Its unique blend of roguelike elements and deck-building mechanics makes it a real gem for fans of the genre. However, its high difficulty level may be intimidating for newcomers — but with patience and persistence, the rewards are worth it.

Pros

• Endless gameplay: Every session is unique thanks to procedurally generated dungeons.
• True challenge: If you crave that hard-earned sense of victory, this game won’t disappoint.
• Multiple paths to success: The variety of builds makes each run feel different.
• Retro aesthetic: A love letter to the golden age of gaming, enhanced with modern sound design.

Cons

• Hard for beginners: The game doesn’t hold your hand. Survive as best you can.
• Unfair randomness: Sometimes bad luck hits so hard you want to quit.
• Repetition after dozens of hours: Despite its variety, patterns eventually become noticeable
• Balance issues: Occasionally, enemies feel overpowered or some items seem useless.

As you can see, some of the cons are subjective — especially for fans of retro-style challenges. It’s truly satisfying when you start to grasp the game’s mechanics and gain confidence in your abilities.

If you’re up for a challenge, AX Roguelike offers tons of content and room for experimentation.
Grab your weapon, descend into the dark dungeons, and prepare to be pushed to your limits.
And trust me — every hour will be worth it.