In Woods

I'm very on the fence about how I'd like to review this game, but ultimately I have a few concerns that keep me from recommending it. This is similar to other games in that you build up permanent upgrades between challenges, and the core gameplay is trying to survive waves of enemies for about 20 minutes at a time. Concerns that prevent me from recommending this game: 1. In game details that explain how things work are often missing or confusing. I often had to check the discussions board to figure out anything about entire game mechanics. 2. The game performs very poorly on my computer. I can run other games just fine but I often had to disable a significant number of effects to have a consistent experience. 3. The map is rather small and each wave on each map is generally identical so there is very very little variety in the game aside from your character and the way you build it. 4. How you build during each challenge relied heavily on the choices presented. It felt very RNG dependent on whether you got good items early on, if at all. 5. Early on the game is very challenging. In late game after you unlock all the upgrades and a large number of monster cards, i…

simple games a lot of grind

Nice satisfying fun game. Good way to spend some time and relax. Some diversity, some strategy and some challenge (there is gameplay and difficulty progression) is also there, though mostly the game is about fun and satisfaction. Overall, I recommend it for casual players. Only problem is that because of all the effects and particles and stuff, it's pretty laggy on my machine. Could definitely use some optimization.

fun game

I've only played for about 70 minutes, but that's enough time to get a feel for this type of game. Honestly, I'm on the fence as to whether I would recommend this game; however, because I purchased it for $4 and it's an independent game, I'm OK. giving it a bit of leeway. Pros: * Lots of characters that you can unlock. Some (not all) are different enough to add a sense of variety. * Persistent upgrades * Vampire Survivor-esque gameplay, with appropriate skills and combos to be had * Price - The regular price is in the $7 range, which is not unreasonable Cons * Graphics aren't good, especially the interface; it's amateurish * There's a lack of QoL features - no UI directing you to points of interest and the health bar isn't near your character are some examples * The levels are big squares with black borders * Bosses are just larger versions of minions If they flesh this game out a bit (similar to the Pathfinder version of this genre, which I recommend), I'd give this a much stronger review.

In Woods, developed and published by Vision Party, is a compact yet thoughtfully constructed roguelike survival game that focuses on fast-paced combat, moment-to-moment decision making, and steady progression through repeated runs. It drops players into a hostile forest environment where danger is constant and survival is never guaranteed, embracing the familiar roguelite structure while adding its own blend of crafting, character variety, and build-driven gameplay. Rather than relying on elaborate storytelling or cinematic presentation, the game places its emphasis squarely on mechanics, rhythm, and the satisfaction of mastering its systems over time. At its core, In Woods revolves around surviving waves of enemies in procedurally generated forest areas. Combat unfolds from a top-down perspective and feels immediate and responsive, encouraging constant movement, careful positioning, and awareness of enemy patterns. Players must balance attacking with dodging, as standing still for too long often leads to being overwhelmed. Each defeated enemy contributes to experience gain, and leveling up offers choices between upgrades that significantly shape how a run unfolds. These decisions…