I explored the kingdom of Senenthia in Across the Obelisk, a cooperative roguelite deckbuilder by Dreamsite Games and published by Paradox Interactive. While the gameplay is engaging, the game’s aggressive monetization may turn some players away. This review covers its strengths, weaknesses, and missed opportunities.
Across the Obelisk is a strong entry in the roguelite deckbuilder genre. Players make key choices that shape their journey, balancing strategy and combat against tough enemies. Each character has unique abilities, adding depth—if you’re willing to pay for them. The game’s structure is similar to Slay the Spire, but its monetization model limits the experience.
Gameplay: Strategy at a Cost
Exploring the game requires careful planning, from collecting items to unlocking achievements. Deck-building is rewarding, but the high cost of hero unlocks frustrates many players. The lack of integrated co-op in single-player mode also feels like a missed chance for better teamwork.
Story and Immersion
The story keeps players engaged as they try to save Senenthia. However, much of the best content is locked behind expensive DLCs, making the world feel incomplete. While the base-game characters have distinct skills, the paywall limits the full narrative experience.
Visuals and Sound
The game’s art style is simple but effective, adding to the atmosphere. However, players looking for more detailed graphics may find it repetitive. The soundtrack is another weak point—some tracks add to the adventure, but many players find the music forgettable.
Difficulty and Replayability
One of Across the Obelisk’s strongest features is its balanced difficulty. Players must refine their deck-building skills, increasing replay value. Despite mixed opinions, many invest hours into its strategy-driven mechanics.
Final Verdict
The game excels in cooperative play and strategic deck-building. However, aggressive monetization and underwhelming sound and visuals hold it back. Dreamsite Games created a solid foundation, but Paradox Interactive’s pricing model dampens the experience.
Final Verdict
The game excels in cooperative play and strategic deck-building. However, aggressive monetization and underwhelming sound and visuals hold it back. Dreamsite Games created a solid foundation, but Paradox Interactive’s pricing model dampens the experience.
Rating: 2.5/5
While Across the Obelisk has strong mechanics and replayability, excessive DLC costs and a lack of immersive audio-visual elements make full completion less rewarding. Hopefully, future updates will address these issues and improve the experience.
