Pit Panic

Don’t let the cute, maybe slightly childish graphics fool you: the game is seriously difficult and can get pretty frustrating at times. I like that you can’t just get through the levels by spamming the grappling hook. Sometimes you actually have to stop and think about which route to take. I would recommend the game only to those who don’t tilt easily.

Just to be completely transparent, I was gifted a copy of Pit Panic for my Steam Deck but I'd already purchased the game on Series X....a version that I've played for around 6 hours. Right, first up let's get the compatibility "unknown" thing out of the way: The game runs a solid 60fps in hand-held mode and although there's a good selection of settings to trial and error for improved performance, 1080p is pretty much as good as it gets when docked if you want a solid 60fps without the GPU maxing out and the internal fan screaming at you. The supplied controller setup works perfectly and the deck's keyboard is not required. Ok, onto the game. There's not really a great deal of point discussing every single gameplay aspect because they're widely available to view elsewhere so I'll give a brief overview instead. Pit Panic is basically a points scoring speedrunner in which you advance up a randomly generated temple by shooting blocks in order to clear a pathway. If you reach and kill the level 1 boss you unlock a 'Daily Dare' challenge where you compete against others on a preset map for a hiscore. Completing the game will unlock a second game mode which I really don't know anything…

Very goood game.

Quite challenging. The mechanics are basic, but I still haven't mastered them enough. It takes many deaths :) I didn't know what to expect and got more! The accessibility is good. I like the keyboard+mouse controls better, but the gamepad also works well. I still haven't beaten the first level (I used the level code to try again and again).

Pit Panic is a fast-paced roguelike platformer where you climb your way out of a collapsing Aztec temple using a hook that can dig, swing, and break through the environment. Each run mixes handcrafted rooms, hazards, power-ups, bosses, and increasingly difficult movement challenges. Pros ✔️ The short runs make it VERY easy to try again - Failing never felt like I had wasted a ton of time, and most deaths immediately made me want to jump back in and see if I could get a little farther. ✔️ The art and character design give it a strong identity - The cartoon style works really well and keeps the different characters and environments memorable without needing to chase realism. ✔️ The movement gets better the more you learn it - Digging, grappling, and climbing started clicking once I stopped trying to rush every room. By later runs I was actually planning how I wanted to move instead of just desperately going UP. Cons ❌ The controller and mouse UI could use some cleanup - The controller leaves a crosshair sitting in the middle of the screen for some reason, while mouse aiming does not clearly show the actual range of your hook. Neither one communicates things quite as cleanly as I wo…

So, I got this game for free and I've only played it for a few minutes... it is not for me, BUT it is a well made game non-the-less. The animations and overall design look good and the gameplay is... well it is exactly what you'd expect. If you enjoy this kind of games, I think you'll enjoy it. If you don't... well... why are you even looking at this page then?