The Unliving (v1.3)

A corrupted fantasy kingdom becomes a battlefield for one of gaming’s most satisfying power fantasies: playing the villain with an ever-growing army of corpses at your back. The Unliving is a dark roguelite action RPG that casts you as an immortal Necromancer waging war against zealous clerics, fortified nobles, and armies determined to erase you. Its grim fairy-tale setting carries real menace, but the lavish pixel art, exaggerated spell effects, and swarming undead keep the mood energetic rather than oppressive. Every run feeds into the mystery of who this sorcerer was before death became an inconvenience.

Combat revolves around pushing through hostile regions, casting destructive magic, and harvesting the fallen for your cause. Slain enemies can return as undead servants, and their former roles matter: warriors form a front line, ranged units provide support, and corrupted religious figures bring distinctly nasty magical effects. You actively lead the assault rather than merely issuing orders, positioning your horde while dodging attacks, breaking defenses, and choosing upgrades that reshape your spells and army. Death sends you back through the roguelite loop, but accumulated knowledge, unlocks, and new tactical options make repeated attempts feel like experimentation instead of simple repetition.

What separates The Unliving from a standard action roguelite is the constant conversion of enemy forces into resources. A difficult encounter can turn in your favor the moment an opposing squad becomes fresh reinforcements, creating a flexible army-building layer reminiscent of an undead-focused take on Diablo combat with some RTS-style battlefield management. Story scenes and conversations gradually uncover the Necromancer’s lost past, the motives of his cult, and the rot beneath the kingdom’s religious authority. It suits players who enjoy Hades-style repeatable runs but want something messier, more tactical, and gloriously sinister; newcomers can enjoy the direct spellcasting, while genre veterans find plenty of builds and army combinations to test.