Godbreakers: Juice Edition (PS5) | REVIEW | A Rewarding Roguelike Set Within A Dystopian World!!!

Developed by the talented team at To The Sky and published by Thunderful Publishing, Godbreakers marks an exciting debut for the studio, blending high-energy action with roguelite progression in a fresh take on cooperative chaos. Released earlier this month, this third-person hack-and-slash title drops players into a dystopian sci-fi saga where humanity's creation of an all-consuming artificial intelligence, known as the Monad, backfired catastrophically. 

The rogue supercomputer has already wiped out Earth and is feasting on the solar system, with the Sun next on its menu. As one of the last revived warriors in a desperate coven, your mission is to storm through the AI's nightmarish realms, absorbing forbidden powers and reigniting the fading embers of human defiance. It's a lean, lore-driven narrative that unfolds through environmental storytelling and cryptic boss taunts, emphasizing themes of hubris and rebellion without bogging down the momentum.

The Gameplay ...

At its core, Godbreakers delivers blistering, responsive combat that's equal parts arcade brawler and strategic power fantasy. Movement is the star here. A quick dash lets you cancel attacks or abilities mid-animation for seamless combos, turning every encounter into a dance of precision and aggression. You'll chain light and heavy strikes, weave in weapon-specific skills like area-denying slams or rapid slashes, and layer on temporary buffs from environmental pickups or enemy drops. 

Progression within a run feels organic, as you gather essence to boost stats like health, damage, or stamina, while fragments slot into your build for passive effects such as crit chance on dashes or debuffs that make foes explode. The game's roguelite structure shines in how runs evolve your arsenal over time, with meta-unlocks ensuring each attempt builds on the last. Key features include optional quests in levels for bonus rewards, like using hazards to finish off specific foes, and a helpfulness system that subtly guides co-op coordination without hand-holding.

Character variety kicks things up a notch with unlockable Archetypes, essentially classes tied to unique weapons and playstyles. Start with basics like the melee-focused Twin Blades for agile backstabs and lightning combos, or the ground-pounding Mauler club for crowd control, then expand to six total options, including a high-risk Savage Blade that rewards bold dives into enemy packs. Each Archetype comes with tailored traits, like bonus mobility or elemental infusions, encouraging experimentation. 

Customization in the game runs deep. Mix and match fragments for hybrid builds (e.g., a tanky healer with explosive finishers), swap cosmetics for visual flair, and unlock new weapons mid-run by chaining ability synergies. Skills are pulled straight from the battlefield via the signature Godbreak mechanic, where you weaken an enemy below a threshold, then dive inside them for an invincible burst of damage, emerging with a one-time-use copy of their signature move, be it a tunneling burrow attack, a charged energy beam, or a jaw-snap lunge. It's explosive and tactical, forcing split-second choices on whether to deploy it for mob cleanup or save it for a boss phase shift. Complementing this are Tangles, the game's run modifiers that amp up difficulty for bigger payoffs, think enforced stumbles on stamina drain or random teleports on hits, unlocking more as you progress and adding layers of replayable madness.

A typical playthrough unfolds across three planets per run, culminating in a showdown with the Monad, but the path branches early with choices between biomes to tailor your challenge. Solo playthroughs are surprisingly robust allowing you to hone your reflexes through tight enemy patterns and health management (limited healing forces smart positioning), though it can feel isolating in longer sessions. Multiplayer, alternatively, supports up to four online players without matchmaking, and is where the game ascends to euphoric heights, friends syncing dashes for combo extensions, sharing Godbreak revives, or piling on a boss with complementary abilities creates those unforgettable "we did it" moments. 

Expect to burn through 45-60 minutes per run, dying often but returning quickly. The six surreal biomes keep things varied. Early ones like the introductory wasteland teach basics with sandy hazards and burrowing pests, while later realms ramp up to wretched misery pits crawling with spectral ambushers or cosmic voids teeming with homing projectiles. Creatures range from swarming minions with predictable lunges to elite variants that adapt mid-fight, dropping Godbreakable powers that synergize with the environment, like ice blasts to freeze lava flows. Bosses are highlights, multi-phase behemoths with personality-driven taunts, evolving from sweeping beams to summoning adds, demanding team reflexes and creative Godbreak timing. Defeating them yields hefty essence hauls for permanent stat bumps, rare fragments for build slots, and archetype unlocks, fueling that satisfying grind toward god-slaying mastery.

Beyond the core loop, Godbreakers packs thoughtful bonuses that extend its lifespan. The Ergos Trials offer bite-sized arena challenges for honing specific mechanics, while the roadmap promises free updates like December's massive 2.0 patch adding a new Archetype, enemy variants with fresh absorbables, elite affixes for tougher foes, and more Tangles. The just-dropped first update (timed perfectly for Halloween) introduces six themed challenges unlocking cosmetics for beekeeper, astronaut, and hockey outfits, plus two devious Tangles including one that staggers you on low stamina, another that warps you randomly on direct hits. It's a smart way to inject seasonal flair without paywalling essentials.

The Presentation ...

Presentation-wise, Godbreakers punches above its indie weight on PS5, with cel-shaded visuals that pop in vibrant, otherworldly hues. Think jagged ruins under fractured skies or bioluminescent horrors in misty abysses. Particle effects during Godbreaks explode with satisfying flair. The soundtrack, courtesy of Daniel Rosenqvist and Anton Dromberg, is a pulse-pounding synthwave triumph. Relentless electronic pulses build tension in exploration, erupting into orchestral swells during bosses that make victories feel epic.

The Verdict ...

Ultimately, Godbreakers earns high marks for replay value thanks to its interlocking systems, endless Archetype-Tangle combos, branching biome paths, and post-launch support ensure dozens of hours without fatigue, though solo purists might crave more narrative depth amid the fairly lengthy campaign. Content is solid but concise, avoiding bloat while the Juice Edition sweetens the deal with immediate access to both cosmetic packs. The Deluxe set's four weapon skins, headpieces, and materials for stylish matching ensembles, plus the Juice pack's cosmic-themed void and quasar glows evoking black-hole mystique. It's pure vanity fuel that enhances personalization from run one.

If you're craving fluid co-op action with friends akin to Risk of Rain 2 but crave more intimate, skill-shot skirmishes, snag Godbreakers, especially the Juice Edition, for a shot of roguelite adrenaline that'll keep your squad hooked through the holidays. Solo adventurers or build-crafters, dip in via the free demo first. It's a gateway to divine destruction!