What happens when the team behind Rogue Legacy dives headfirst into a dark, crumbling world filled with gods, fear, and a tower that flips everything on its head? The answer is Neath, a roguelike tactical RPG that throws out the rulebook and replaces it with dread, destiny, and a combat system that’s as unpredictable as it is brilliant.
A new world from the minds behind Rogue Legacy
Cellar Door Games made a name for itself with the bright, bouncy chaos of Rogue Legacy 1 and 2. But Neath trades colorful castles for something far darker. This time around, players climb an irradiated, upside-down tower in a world that’s rotting from the inside out. Everything feels heavy—from the crumbling stone to the creeping horror of what’s around the next corner.
The setting is soaked in dread. Grotesque monsters lurk in every shadow. Eldritch horror oozes from the pixel-art visuals. It’s a bold shift from Cellar Door’s usual flair, but it works. The art style still pops—it’s just popping with decay instead of whimsy. And that inverted tower? It looms large over everything, both literally and metaphorically.
As players ascend Neath, they guide a fragile group of warriors. No overpowered heroes here—just battered survivors trying to defy fate one floor at a time.
Combat so slick it lets you mess with enemy turns
Thought you knew turn-based combat? Think again. Neath throws a curveball with its fluid turn-based system. Turn order isn’t locked in stone—it shifts constantly. Players can take control of both their own units and even manipulate enemy actions mid-fight.
This twist changes everything. Instead of waiting patiently for an opponent to act, players can step in and rearrange their moves like chess pieces on a broken board. That goblin about to wreck your healer? Not anymore—switch up the timeline and make him target his own ally instead.
This isn’t just clever—it’s chaos made tactical. Battles feel like puzzles where each decision could mean survival or doom. Every move counts because every action reshapes what comes next.
A fear mechanic that turns teamwork into lifesaving strategy
If Neath’s turn manipulation wasn’t enough to chew on, its engagement-locking system adds even more bite. When enemies set their sights on one of your warriors, that character freezes up with fear—literally losing their turn if nothing is done about it.
But there’s hope: shove them out of danger, knock back the attacker, or throw another ally into harm’s way to take the hit instead. It sounds brutal—and it is—but this mechanic forces real teamwork. Saving someone else often means putting yourself at risk.
The tension this creates is thick enough to cut with a rusted sword. In one early playtest moment, an archer stood frozen while two horrors closed in—only for her swordsman ally to body-check one attacker off a ledge at the last second before crumpling himself under poison damage two turns later. Heroic? Yes. Preventable? Also yes.
This kind of sacrifice feels raw and human—and it makes victory taste all the sweeter when everyone barely scrapes through alive.
Tower runs filled with traps, relics, and weird combos
Each trip up Neath is unique thanks to its roguelike roots. The inverted tower shifts every time players enter it—changing layouts, enemies, traps, and loot along the way.
Random relics offer strange synergies: maybe one run leans into poison damage while another focuses on shoving enemies off cliffs like medieval sumo wrestling champs. The randomness keeps things fresh but never unfair—it encourages adaptation instead of perfection.
This approach channels old-school dungeon crawlers from the ’90s—the kind where danger lurked behind every corner and planning ahead saved lives more than high stats ever could.
Bargain with gods… but be ready to pay up
Adding another layer to this already rich stew is Neath’s fate system—a clever mechanic that lets players roll Fate’s Die to twist destiny itself.
Players can use divine influence to reshuffle their party or change enemy spawns entirely… but messing with fate has consequences. Take too much divine help and those same gods might decide they’re owed something big—and soon.
The game also weaves in Taboos: silent laws dictated by unseen powers that must not be broken. Break one accidentally—like healing at the wrong time or attacking while “marked”—and expect divine punishment faster than you can say “I didn’t mean to.”
This blend of mechanics feels more like storytelling than rule-setting; it’s as if every battle carries its own myth waiting to be written—or erased by wrathful gods watching from above (or below).
Build your home between runs—or watch it fall apart
Outside combat lies Shale—a busted-down settlement players rebuild slowly over time between tower runs. It starts as little more than rubble and sorrow but grows as resources are collected and serfs are assigned jobs back home.
This adds layers beyond just fighting monsters—it becomes about planning long-term survival strategies too. Want better potion access next run? Invest in alchemy huts now. Tired of weak archers? Train them harder using village upgrades before going back into battle.
The meta-progression here feels smart without being overwhelming—a perfect place for strategy fans who enjoy long games that reward careful thinking across multiple sessions.
When does Neath come out?
Neath is scheduled for release sometime in 2026 and will be available on PC via Steam when it launches.
A roguelike RPG where failure teaches more than winning
No two climbs through Neath will ever feel quite alike—which makes each death sting less like failure and more like learning what not to do next time around. It’s punishing but fair—and clever enough that every mistake feels earned rather than random.
The mix of shifting combat systems, divine meddling, fear-based mechanics, rogue-like exploration, settlement building—and oh yeah—that giant cursed tower looming over everything—makes Neath feel like something special brewing deep underground.
The only question left now: when fate rolls its die… will players rise or crumble?
F.A.Q.
When does Neath come out?
Neath is scheduled for release sometime in 2026 and will be available on PC via Steam when it launches.
What type of game is Neath?
Neath is a roguelike tactical RPG developed by Cellar Door Games, known for its unique gameplay mechanics and dark, atmospheric setting.
Is Neath a roguelike?
Yes, Neath is a roguelike game. It features an inverted tower that changes layout with each run, offering randomized encounters and unique challenges every time.
Does Neath have a permadeath system?
As a roguelike, Neath incorporates elements of permadeath where each run through the game is unique, and players must start over after a defeat, learning from their experiences.
What platforms is Neath on?
Neath will be available on PC via Steam when it releases.
Does Neath have unique gameplay mechanics?
Yes, Neath features a fluid, shifting turn-based combat system where players can manipulate both their allies and enemies’ actions, as well as an engagement-locking mechanic that emphasizes strategic teamwork.
What is Neath about?
Neath is set in a decaying world overshadowed by an irradiated inverted tower. Players ascend the tower with a fragile group of warriors, facing grotesque monsters and eldritch horrors, while engaging in tactical battles and rebuilding a settlement between runs.
