Conquest Dark Review Summary

Highly praised by players, this roguelike shines with excellent meta progression and solid, fun gameplay, but repetitive content and missing localization options hold it back.

Game is highly praised: Players describe the game as amazing, excellent, and one of the best they have played in a long time. The gameplay is consistently highlighted as satisfying, addictive, and top-tier.

Meta progression is excellent: The meta progression system is frequently praised as fun, meaningful, and well-designed. Players appreciate that unlocks and progression paths feel rewarding and logical.

Gameplay is solid and fun: The core gameplay is described as fun, challenging, and engaging with interesting mechanics. Players note that the game has a solid foundation and is enjoyable to play.

Great roguelike experience: The game is frequently described as a very nice action-roguelike or roguelite. Players appreciate the genre execution and find it both casual and engaging.

Stylish and visually appealing: The game's artistic style and aesthetics are frequently praised as beautiful and well-handled. Players appreciate the visual design and overall presentation.

Repetitive gameplay and content: Players frequently report that the game becomes repetitive and boring after a short time, with combat and levels feeling samey. This is compounded by a general lack of content and variety, making the experience feel thin and monotonous.

Missing localization options: A significant number of players complain about the lack of official Chinese, Russian, and Polish localization, which they say prevents many from playing. Some also note that community patches for Chinese were broken by updates.

Grindy and uninteresting progression: The game is described as very grindy, with progression feeling uninteresting and not justifying the time investment. Upgrades are often just minor stat increases, and the grind makes the game unenjoyable.

Game feels unfinished: Many players feel the game is incomplete, raw, and lacking polish. This is tied to slow development and infrequent updates, which further contribute to the sense of an unfinished product.

Bosses are too difficult: Bosses, especially the final one, are considered freakishly challenging and force players into specific builds. They also become damage sponges, taking too long to kill, and some use unfair tactics like attacking from out of bounds.

Vampire Survivors-style gameplay: The game is frequently described as a Vampire Survivors clone or part of the genre it spawned, with autoshooter mechanics and survivor-style gameplay. This is the most common comparison across reviews.

Class and build variety: The game offers multiple playable classes with abilities, skills, and build strategies, allowing for diverse character customization. Players can combine classes and weapons for different playstyles.

Meta-progression systems: The game features extensive meta-progression, including runes, rituals, and level rewards that persist between runs. This adds long-term progression depth beyond individual sessions.

Roguelike and roguelite elements: The game is described as an action-roguelike and roguelite with bullet-heaven mechanics, combining genre conventions with RPG elements. This hybrid approach is a defining characteristic.

Arena-based combat: Combat takes place in various arenas across a map, with a ritual-style structure and story elements. The arena format is a core structural element of the game.

Runs well on Steam Deck: Multiple reviewers report that the game runs flawlessly and efficiently on the Steam Deck, with no performance issues. This positive feedback is consistent across several clusters, indicating strong handheld compatibility.

Good optimization overall: Reviewers note that the game is well-optimized, running smoothly on various hardware including low-end systems and the Asus Ally X. Performance is described as acceptable or fluid, with no major issues.

Crashes and instability issues: Several players experience frequent crashes, freezes, and even bluescreens, making the game unplayable in some cases. These stability problems are reported across different clusters, highlighting a significant technical concern.

UI cut off on Steam Deck: One player reports that parts of the UI are cut off on the Steam Deck, making the game unplayable. This is a specific usability issue that affects the handheld experience.

Battery drains fast on Deck: A reviewer mentions that the battery drains very quickly on the Steam Deck, which could be a concern for portable play. This is a niche but relevant issue for handheld users.

Worth the price: Reviewers frequently mention the game is worth its low price, offering good value for money. The modest cost is seen as a strong positive factor.

Recommended for ARPG/roguelite fans: The game is recommended for players who enjoy ARPGs, roguelites, and survivor-like genres. It appeals to fans of these gameplay styles.

Recommended for Vampire Survivors fans: Multiple reviewers explicitly recommend this game to fans of Vampire Survivors and similar survivor-like titles. The game fits well within that genre and appeals to its audience.

Recommended for genre enthusiasts: Reviewers recommend the game to fans of the genre, noting it fits well within the survivor-like and ARPG space. Genre fans are likely to enjoy it.

Not recommended currently: Some reviewers cannot recommend the game in its current state, citing issues like instability or incompleteness. This suggests the game may need further development.

Community fair range: $7.99 - $12.99.

Game completion: 20.0h.

Story completion: 8.0h.

Session length: 0.3h.

The game is a survivors-like ARPG with strong meta progression, but most players report that it becomes truly engaging only after the first few hours or a few rounds, once more systems unlock and the slow start resolves.

Reported time to anchor: 2h.

Friction: slow start; confusing menus; learning curve; limited variety at start.

Buildcrafting Enthusiast: Theorycrafting, testing boundaries, optimizing rune and skill combinations. Motivation: Deep buildcrafting and meaningful meta progression. Stance: buy.

Casual Time-Killer: Short sessions, often on Steam Deck, exploring builds without heavy commitment. Motivation: Casual fun and time-killing. Stance: buy.

Grind and Design Critic: Grinding for upgrades but feeling unrewarded by marginal gains. Motivation: Meaningful progression and well-designed content. Stance: no buy.

The Windows <8GB VRAM cohort reports the game runs well, with no performance issues noted.

Windows <8GB VRAM: positive. Runs great despite lacking graphics quality options.

Steam Deck: The game generally runs well on Steam Deck, with most users reporting smooth performance and no major issues. However, there is a notable report of freezing that causes progress loss, and minor complaints about small text and interface/controller support. These issues suggest the experience is not fully seamless but remains playable with some tinkering.

Linux and Proton: The user reviews indicate that the game runs very well on Linux/Proton, particularly on the Steam Deck, with multiple users praising performance and stability. There is one report of a trivial Linux bug and one report of freezes on the Steam Deck, but these are isolated and do not outweigh the overwhelmingly positive consensus. No anti-cheat, DRM, or launcher blockers were mentioned, and no extensive tweaks (like Proton Experimental or GE) were required.

Frequent Vampire Survivors comparisons: Many reviewers compare the game to Vampire Survivors, often noting it as a similar or inspired title. Some consider it a ripoff, while others praise it for having more actual gameplay or being the best in the genre since that title.

Game still in development: Reviewers frequently mention the game is in early access or under development, with a low build number and expectations for future updates. This is seen as a positive sign of potential growth, but also indicates the game is not yet finished.

Potential for future growth: Reviewers express that the game has great potential and room to grow, expecting updates and expansions. This is tied to its early access status and the developer's active involvement.

Steam Deck compatibility praised: The game runs well on the Steam Deck, with some noting it is perfect for the device. Minor issues like small text are mentioned, but overall it is considered playable and suitable for the handheld.

Solo developer project: Reviewers note the game is developed by a single person or a very small team. This is often mentioned in a positive light, highlighting the achievement and the developer's dedication.