With the success of games like Hades, it is only natural that other developers would want to make games in that style of Roguelike. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate was one such experience that merged the Hades style of roguelikes with beat em up gameplay, but we also have others that veer closer to the inspiration, but still having their own identities. One such example of this is Ragnar from Fimbulwinter Games, which goes for a Norse take on the genre.
Ragnar should not be thought of as just a Norse ripoff of Hades though, as it manages to do some things differently. It needs to be mentioned first though, that Ragnar is still in early access, and the game will undergo a lot of changes as it continues development.As such, what is here is just the start of what the experience will end up being in the final result.
What Ragnar manages to do to set itself apart is how it turns its weapons into full on class systems that allow it to really experiment with builds. Some can feel very overpowered and some end up just being a mess, but you want to keep experimenting and trying. It still is very repetitive, as is any roguelike, but manages to use its Norse seem to create a feeling of a mythical saga to create a story that feels unfinished as yet, but that you are filling out.
Another interesting aspect of Ragnar is how it handles its dodges, which are a bit more in depth than in Hades and feel like they will continue to be a major part of the gameplay as the development progresses.If there is one thing I can say, it is that the game feels a lot more arcade like than Hades did, and has a more pick up and play feel. Combat is smooth, weighty and satisfying, and I am eager to see what gets added to it.
One thing I do not like about Ragnar is that while the game has an okay narrative, it feels a bit too meta at times, with the protagonist even commenting on the situation in a snarky way. This gets old very fast, and while a lot of the use of Norse myth is handled very well, I just feel that the story needs a lot more work. A big reason Hades became a hit was its narrative, and Ragnar has some work to go in that regard.
I should mention that Fimbulwinter Games did disclose that some generative AI was used for some translations and voiceovers, as well as some music. It is my understanding that this will be gradually removed as development continues, so that does not bother me as much since Ragnar is still in active development. It may bother you, but the overall game still does have a lot going for it, and the game is being made by a very small team as is.
Ultimately, Fimbulwinter Games has something with a lot of potential here. The developer has laid out its development roadmap and there is a lot ahead for Ragnar. I am very excited for what is to come, and I hope that Fimbulwinter Games continues to address issues fans point out, because this game could be great.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
