Undergrave Review: The Hardest Strategy Game I've Ever Played

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I can't remember the last time I've ever completed a jigsaw puzzle. I wasn't exceptionally patient as a child—not that that’s changed much now. But every time I see a five-thousand-piece puzzle box in a department store, I wonder to myself, "how can anyone muster the patience to solve this?" I'm sure it's an enjoyable pastime, but I just can't handle the time and effort it takes to solve extremely long puzzles. Undergrave encapsulates a similar feeling for me, but the scenic art and jumbled-up pieces are replaced with dungeons and monsters from the void realm. My own bewilderment and impatience, of course, remains.

Undergrave is a free-to-play, pixel-art, single-player tactical game featuring a puzzling gameplay experience where your movements and actions matter more than ever. With roguelike mechanics and seemingly endless ways to play, Undergrave sets you on a path down into the void realm, where you must battle all sorts of monsters.

Image Credited to Undergrave | Wired Dreams Studio

Undergrave's gameplay mechanics and storyline are pretty straightforward. The only significant thing you need to know about the game is that you're traveling into the void realm. The void realm is filled with all sorts of horrors you'll need to destroy. It's up to you to make it to the end unscathed or at least breathing.

The game features three fundamental mechanics that comprise most of its gameplay: abilities, upgrades, and strategies. Each tiled stage is sort of like a single floor in a dungeon, and every object or being on that stage comprises precisely one tile in the game’s grid-based layout. Every floor has obstructions that can either help you distance yourself from monsters or end up putting you in a pinch between them.

Undergrave is also turn-based, which means you're only allowed to move one tile before your opponents react. After taking one step, all enemies move once too. If an enemy hits you, you're allowed to attack them in return without it counting as a move. But be wary, as you'll need to try to get through the plentiful levels without taking too much damage; you only have eight health to survive your entire journey through the void realm.

Limiting the amount of damage taken was my most challenging task in Undergrave. I needed to think two moves ahead and reposition myself in order to deal damage without taking it. I needed to utilize the environment to my advantage and stay out of the open on most occasions. The obstructions popped up around each stage were my best friends, as they allowed me to play ring-around-the-rosy with monsters while my skills recharged. Understanding what I was able to kill without getting hurt while moving around the dungeon floor was essential, since one false move could end my game.

Image Credited to Undergrave | Wired Dreams Studio

The player character in Undergrave utilizes three abilities to attack enemies and defend from attacks. Abilities use action points (AP) which replenish a tiny amount per move. It's also important to know that only when you're holding your sword does it actually do damage. If your blade isn't with you, you'll simply move by without affecting your enemies. However, moving without a sword means all your skills cost less AP.

The first move you’ll utilize for a lot of levels is a dash that rushes your character straight ahead, cutting down all enemies in your path. This move can kill multiple enemies at once if they're in a row, and it can be performed numerous times in a turn. The jump mechanic allows you to hop to any tile, and any enemy you land on dies. If you land next to an enemy, it pushes them back one tile and stuns them for two turns if you have a weapon equipped or one turn if you do not.

Lastly, the throw skill hurls your sword at an opponent. But you'll need to be careful when or where you toss your blade, as it doesn't necessarily come back around like a boomerang. Once your sword is thrown at an enemy, it stays there until you get it back. Funny enough, if you actually land your sword on the last enemy and leave it there while you head into the next stage, it'll fall down and land on a monster in the following level. However, that also means your sword is stuck out in the open while you're defenseless at the edge of the level.

I found Undergrave's gameplay mechanics perplexing. It always seemed like I was trying to find patterns in how the monsters moved so I could use my abilities to do collateral damage. The game features many tactics and potential movements to pull from at any time, but all the choice in the world doesn’t matter if every result is double-edged. I had to repeat stage after stage to pinpoint the perfect decision, because that's what Undergrave required in order to progress. Even the smallest deviation from the laser-perfect game plan could end with my health half drained and many stages full of imposing foes ahead of me. In other words, it was like playing an extended game of chess wherein I couldn't even really stand to sacrifice my pawns.

Image Credited to Undergrave | Wired Dreams Studio

Undergrave contains only four monster types, including the boss. Zombies move one tile per turn, rats move two tiles, and floating tentacle blobs take two hits or a jumping dive to destroy. Other than those blobs, every regular creature dies with a single swing of your sword.

If you make it far into the void realm and face Remus, the beastmaster and the Undergrave’s boss, it'll take you roughly six attacks to defeat him. But it won't be easy. As with most final bosses, Remus is a big step up from the monsters who came before. He can dash three tiles in any direction, and after a few moves, he summons monsters that increase in number every time he casts this ability.

Throughout your run, you'll receive two chances to choose between three randomized upgrades that'll help you in your journey toward beating Remus. These upgrades improve your abilities, add to your health pool, or gift you a conditional effect when you're low on health. You'll need to choose wisely, since these buffs matter a lot.

I found the upgrades essential to success as I traveled further into the void. I especially loved the jump enhancement, which an area-of-effect damage circle to one tile around wherever I landed. This upgrade completely decimated hordes of monsters in one dive, especially during the battle against Remus and his summons.

Image Credited to Undergrave | Wired Dreams Studio

After you slay Remus, the game's officially over, as the current mobile version of Undergrave is just a demo. An endless arena unlocks after beating Remus, allowing you to play forever if you want to continue, or you can time yourself on speedruns through the regular dungeon. However, if you're interested in more bosses or dungeon areas, then you’ll need to switch to PC to purchase the full version on Steam that’s available on July 13. It’s still unclear whether (or when) the full version will also be available on mobile platforms.

But if you're like me, one successful run is good enough. I enjoyed playing Undergrave not really for the gameplay experience but for its lessons. Many strategic games nowadays teach fanatics like me to make quick decisions that seem like the best choices without looking at the bigger picture. Undergrave taught me that patience is important, especially when analyzing every possible move to keep you on your feet. In the end, I learned that rushing blindly ahead doesn't always mean you make it on time; in this case, you may not even make it alive.

SCORE: 3 STARS OUT OF 5

PLAY IF YOU LIKE:

• Enyo. If you enjoy Enyo's roguelike gameplay style, then you'll love Undergrave for the exact same thing.

• Chess. Now hear me out: Chess might have nothing to do with Undergrave, but the gameplay is actually pretty close in some ways. Undergrave features monsters that move strategically, and you must think intelligently to make it to the end of the void realm. If you like the strategic gameplay chess brings to the board, you'll love Undergrave's unique experience.

💬 Check out Undergrave and let me know what you think of it in the comments below! If you liked it, let me know what's your favorite gameplay aspect down below!

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