Very literal dungeon crawler DeadRoot just got revealed at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase.
I say 'very literal' because while most dungeon crawlers do admittedly take place in dungeons, relatively few of them turn the real-life denizens of those dungeons into their main enemies. Sure, we've all killed plenty of video game rats in our time, but I've not had to deal with them as main bosses anywhere near so many times.
DeadRoot's reveal trailer begins with its main character, a snail, looking pretty dejected in the cold, dank environs of its dungeon. It's not long before a handful of mosquito-shaped goons attempt to get the better of them, but while snails might not be famed for their speed, this one is pretty quick with their blade, and manages to dispatch their would-be foes.
What follows is plenty of hack-and-slack action that belies the lack of agility snails are often known for. The isometric gameplay is filled with flips and tricks, but while those might be effective against the rank-and-file enemies you'll face in DeadRoot, you'll have to use all your skills to survive against the towering rats that make up some of the game's boss fights.
There's a touch of modern Zelda-like to DeadRoot - think Link's Awakening and Echoes of Wisdom rather than Breath of the Wild. Sadly, for now there's no release date, but you can wishlist DeadRoot ahead of its eventual launch on Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam.
If you're looking for more excellent games from today's Future Games Show, have a look at our official Steam page.
