Luisa encountered a pile of writhing maggots blocking the way forward. To pass this skill check, she kissed the maggots. Suddenly, I was notified that a few of the maggots had become friends with my cat. If this sounds both disgusting and hilarious, this is only the tip of the iceberg for the new, hit roguelite, Mewgenics.
Developed by Edmund McMillen of The Binding of Isaac and Super Meat Boy fame, alongside Tyler Glaiel, Mewgenics delivers a turn-based tactics experience with a nearly bottomless pit of content. It’s an incredibly ambitious title for two people to create, making it easy to see why it spent nearly 15 years in development. After spending a good chunk of time with it, I can see why it has already surpassed 1 million copies sold.
Deceptively Simple
At first, Mewgenics would appear be at home on Newgrounds as an old Flash game. The cartoony art style and sense of humor are reminiscent of games and animations from a particular era of the internet. It will be off-putting to some, but for me, it mostly works.
More importantly, however, Mewgenics understands the beauty of simplicity. The game can be played using only a mouse, but controllers are supported. Players start with a couple of cats and a house to keep them in, with strays often appearing.
As each day passes, food is consumed. To gather more resources, a party of cats will need to venture out. If successful, the cats will return stronger, but they will retire, no longer being able to adventure.
Mewgenics eases the player into its core gameplay loop while masking its true complexity. Gradually, the player will learn of the deep systems and mechanics hidden within via emergent gameplay.
Mewgenics’ Wonderful Combat System
Most playtime will probably be spent within Mewgenics‘ turn-based, tactical combat system. Those with experience playing tactical RPGs will be the most comfortable with the mechanics. There’s a lot to dig into here.
Thankfully, battles are a joy to play through. Classes feel distinct, and while some seem stronger than others, each provides something worth exploring and experimenting with. Players will be unlocking new classes many hours into the game.
One of my favorite units was a mage named Nero. Their basic attack was Magic Missle, a projectile with infinite range that could never miss. If that sounds powerful, one spell increased Nero’s intelligence every time it was cast, making Magic Missle significantly more powerful throughout a battle.
If that wasn’t enough, one of Nero’s other spells became cheaper by casting other spells. Eventually, this spell would cost zero and be capable of dealing significant damage within a huge range. No other mage I played had a battle strategy like this, which makes the randomness so exciting.
Risk and Reward
A basic run of Mewgenics generally isn’t too difficult at first. Players will likely survive much of what Act 1 throws at them. Of course, complications are thrown into the mix. For instance, hard paths become available for better rewards.
The player must constantly gauge risk and reward. Losses can often be avoided with careful play, but there’s a difference between playing not to lose and playing to win. Mewgenics traps the player by tempting them with victory.
Chasing victory may result in genuinely devastating defeat. This is especially true when losing a cat with great spells and stats. When that happens, it can feel like going back to square one.
If a battle goes south, players can quit out of the game and reload their save. However, there are consequences for doing so. Battles can be reset for free once every run, but after that, the punishments increase every time. It’s an effective means of discouraging the use of save scumming.
Mewgenics‘ Deep Progression
Mewgenics features many layers of progression that are sure to keep players hooked. While the game is primarily about raising stronger cats, there is a lot more involved in that process than some may expect. Much consideration needs to be taken.
The player’s house isn’t a static environment. As more cats populate it, comfort levels decrease, leading to an increased likelihood of fights occurring. Cats may die in these fights, but there are measures to mitigate the risk.
This can be done by adding furniture to the house, giving unused cats to NPCs, or moving cats to different rooms. This can also affect the kind of kittens produced from mating. Represented by some particularly crude animations, mating has the potential to produce some powerful cats.
Mewgenics is a game where every mechanic and system interacts with each other. Nothing exists in complete isolation. Tackling a major goal requires tackling a series of minor goals.
Stylish and Disgusting
Whether Mewgenics‘ aesthetic and general presentation are appealing or off-putting, there’s no denying that lots of effort went into the look and feel of the game. Sound effects pop, the animation is lively, and the game is generally brimming with personality. The best part is that this runs without the need for fancy graphics cards.
By opting for 2D, stylized visuals, Mewgenics can run on just about any PC within reason. It’s practically a perfect Steam Deck game. Some may want to adjust the controls, but it’s otherwise an excellent experience there.
Perhaps my favorite aspect of Mewgenics‘ presentation is its soundtrack. Written and performed by Ridiculon, the music provides a delightful energy, regardless of how gross or edgy the jokes may get. I often hear “Chumbucket Kitty” playing in my head well after a session of playing.
Most other songs are memorable as well. Sometimes, I didn’t want to leave my home base due to the music. If the game’s crude style of humor clicks, its presentation is overwhelmingly impressive.
Mewgenics Is a Fantastic Roguelite
I can’t think of many negative things to say about Mewgenics. The humor may not work for everyone, and not every joke was a hit for me. The controller support isn’t terrible, but it could use some work. It’s clear the game was designed with a mouse in mind. However, aside from a few gripes like these, Mewgenics is a truly fantastic experience. The game still finds ways to surprise you after countless hours. No two runs feel the same.
For the value Mewgenics presents, committing to a purchase is a no-brainer. If this game grasps one’s interest, it’s sure to keep them occupied for weeks, if not more. I can’t recommend this incredibly addictive roguelite enough.
Disclaimer: Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel provided a PC (Steam) copy of Mewgenics for review purposes.
