Chained Beasts Review Summary

Excellent co-op action with smooth satisfying gameplay and multiplayer focus, though repetitive enemies, frustrating difficulty spikes, and minimal meta progression hold it back.

Excellent co-op experience: Players consistently praise the co-op mode as highly fun and rewarding with friends. Many describe it as the best way to experience the game, supporting up to four players.

Challenging but fair difficulty: The game is praised for being challenging while remaining fun and balanced. Difficulty scales progressively as players advance through runs.

Smooth satisfying gameplay: Reviewers widely agree that the core gameplay feels amazing, smooth, and polished. The game feel is repeatedly highlighted as a major strength.

Great overall game quality: Many reviewers describe the game as a gem that is well-made and addicting. It is frequently called a great game even in its current state.

Pleasant art style: The art direction is frequently complimented as pleasant and enjoyable. Graphics are described as fantastic and visually cool.

Repetitive and lacking variety: Players consistently cite repetitive levels, enemies, bosses, and shop items. The game becomes boring quickly, with little variation between runs, and many feel that the content is insufficient for the price.

Frustrating difficulty spikes: The game features extreme difficulty spikes, especially in later levels and boss fights, where enemies stunlock, spawn adds, and overwhelm the player. Solo play is particularly punishing, often forcing players into unwinnable situations.

Minimal meta progression: Many players report that meta progression is essentially absent, with only minor skill unlocks via levels or character talents. Out-of-run growth is extremely slow, and proficiency gained in a run applies only to that character. This makes repeated attempts feel unrewarding.

Debuffs outweigh buffs: Negative debuffs are far more numerous and severe than positive buffs, with many debuffs directly impacting player control, movement, and vision. Positive buffs are often weak or purely numerical, leading to a feeling of getting weaker as runs progress.

Economic and shop issues: Gold is scarce, killing enemies gives no reward, and shop items are expensive and often low durability. Healing items are rare, and post-battle rewards are just experience or weak upgrades.

Strong co-op focus: The game is repeatedly described as a co-op experience for up to four players, with couch and online multiplayer support. Many players emphasize playing with friends or family as the central appeal.

Roguelike systems and structure: The game is consistently described as a roguelike or roguelite with acts, randomization, in-run bonuses, and maluses. Its structure combines arena brawling with run-based progression.

Friendly fire mechanics: Multiple clusters mention friendly fire, including allies damaging each other, throat-cutting, flails hitting teammates, and players swinging at each other. This mechanic strongly shapes teamplay and risk.

Solo play is disadvantaged: While solo play is supported, many players report it lacks proper balance and is a miserable or disadvantaged experience. The game is designed around co-op, making solo play less viable.

Afflictions and perks system: Afflictions are a core mechanic involving debuffs and risk-reward decisions, complemented by a perks system for buffs. Together they form a robust roguelike build system.

Stable 60 FPS on Deck: Players report the game running at a stable 60 FPS at 2K resolution on Steam Deck, indicating excellent performance optimization for the handheld platform. This suggests the game is well-suited for portable play.

Temperature gets extremely hot: Players note that the device or system becomes extremely hot during gameplay, which could impact comfort and long-term hardware health. This is a notable concern for extended sessions.

Ideal for co-op play: The overwhelming majority of feedback highlights cooperative play as the definitive way to experience the game. Many reviewers strongly advise playing with friends online or locally, describing it as essential for maximum enjoyment.

Worth the price: Several reviewers consider the game a good value, especially when purchased on sale or after trying the demo. Many state it is definitely worth the cost at a reasonable price point.

Positive early reviews and general praise: Many reviewers simply recommend the game, describing it as fun and worth trying. Some express confidence in early positive impressions.

Suitable for fans of roguelikes: Players who enjoy roguelike games, especially cooperative ones, are encouraged to buy without hesitation. The game appeals to those who like hardcore action and top-down challenges.

Replayability and content concerns: Some reviewers feel the game lacks sufficient content and replayability for long-term engagement, leading to refund requests or warnings about it becoming boring quickly.

Community fair range: $7.00 - $15.00.

Game completion: 1.2h.

Session length: 3.0h.

Endgame: 15.0h.

The game is immediately fun in co-op with friends, but multiple reports say it becomes repetitive or annoying after roughly 10-15 hours, especially on later difficulties.

Friction: Solo play is a little difficult; one reviewer recommends playing with friends.; Friendly fire can hurt friends until the group embraces and coordinates it.; Stamina can only be regenerated by standing still.; The tutorial's Senate duo can stall a first full-version run.; Joining online co-op requires sharing a code, so random matchmaking is not available.; Very little meta progression between runs to help climb the difficulty ladder..

Unlock drivers: Playing with a squad makes the game an instant purchase.; Embracing friendly fire and coordinating better with friends makes it even better.; Unique multiplayer afflictions are described as an addition that makes it even better..

Co-op Squad Player: Online or couch co-op runs with a regular squad, constantly talking through choices and laughing at mishaps. Motivation: Shared chaotic fun and coordinated teamwork with friends. Stance: buy.

Solo Challenger: Solo runs, occasionally alternating with multiplayer, focusing on surviving stacked debuffs with no meta progression help. Motivation: Enjoying the tense roguelike loop without needing a group to schedule sessions. Stance: sale.

Roguelike Systems Veteran: Repeated runs testing boon and curse combinations while climbing the difficulty ladder. Motivation: Exploring deep, build-defining mechanics and intentional roguelike design. Stance: buy.

Linux and Proton: The filtered dataset contains one positive Steam Deck performance report and no Linux/Proton compatibility complaints. The evidence suggests the game runs well on Steam Deck with no noted launch, stability, or workaround issues. Because there is no Linux-specific friction, the compatibility risk is very low.

Limited content at launch: Several players note that the current content amount is limited, with only 3 acts available. The game is short and light for a roguelike, and some feel it is not worth the asking price given the content.

More content planned: A roadmap of additional content has been announced, and reviewers are looking forward to future updates. The roadmap aims to address issues like boss variety and enemy/map variety.

Multiplayer features and limitations: The game supports local and online multiplayer for up to 4 players, crossplay, and Steam Remote Play Together. However, online multiplayer only supports room codes and friend invites, with no random matchmaking, making it hard to fill a team with randoms.

Positive comparisons to other games: Reviewers compare the game favorably to Helldivers for funny friendly fire moments, Castle Crashers for fun with friends, and Mario Kart for being fun and friendship-testing. It is also compared to Risk of Rain 2 and described as a breath of fresh air.

Graphics, art, and music praised: The game features stellar art, great music, and graphics that are graphically correct. It also handles well on controller and keyboard/mouse, and plays well on Steam Deck.