Posted by: Gianna Cosimini | October 8, 2025 | Demo, Roguelike
If you’re looking for a game that blends the frantic, limb-severing gore of a samurai slasher with the challenging, unpredictable nature of a roguelike, then Cursed Blood is one to keep a keen eye on. Still in development (but with a robust, brutal demo to sink your katana into), this title promises a relentless top-down action experience that is best enjoyed with friends.
The Hook: Samurai Apes on a Vengeance Spree
Forget the standard fantasy protagonists; Cursed Blood has you take on the role of a vengeful Samurai Ape. Fueled by rage and seeking retribution against the mafia who exploited their sacred shrine, you’re tasked with cutting a bloody path through a visually striking world, a gritty, industrial-era setting mixed with dark, blood-powered technology. The premise is deliciously absurd, setting the stage for a unique and violent adventure.
The Gameplay: Fast, Precise, and Gory
At its core, Cursed Blood is a 1-4 player co-op melee roguelike. The combat is where the game truly shines, demanding a high degree of precision and speed.
- Lightning-Fast Combat: You’ll be using swift dashes, charged katana attacks, and brutal takedowns to dispatch enemies. The satisfaction of a successful parry or a perfectly timed dodge-and-slash is the game’s main draw.
- The “Blood” Mechanic: Your health and power are intrinsically tied to the spilled blood of your enemies. Absorbing it is key to healing and staying in the fight, which encourages aggressive play. Limbs will fly, and the screen is often painted in gore, delivering on its promise of “brutal” action.
- Throwing Weapons (and Guns!): While focused on melee, you can pick up enemy firearms. When the ammo runs dry, you don’t discard the weapon, you can throw it back for a powerful, context-sensitive katana strike. This fluid combination of close-quarters and projectile combat keeps the engagements dynamic.
- Roguelike Loop: You’ll carve your way through procedurally generated levels, acquiring new gear and katanas, each with unique perks that encourage different playstyles. The threat of permanent death (permadeath) adds weight to every bloody encounter.
The Honest Feedback
While the core concept and combat are a blast, especially with its emphasis on co-op, the game’s current state (based on the demo) has a few drawbacks worth noting:
- Co-op Jitters: Player feedback indicates that the online co-op, while a major feature, can be buggy. Issues like controls failing for a joining player or unexpected crashes have been reported. Given that this is a “Coming Soon” title, the developer is actively working on stability, but it’s an important caveat for those prioritizing multiplayer.
- Chaos vs. Strategy: In a 4-player game, the action can become incredibly chaotic. While some enjoy the frenetic energy, others find it too overwhelming, making 2-3 player runs the sweet spot for a balance of fun and strategic play.
- Demo Limitations: As expected, the demo is short, providing only a taste of the full experience (one level, three katanas). While this is understandable, it leaves some players wanting more varied content and clearer goals beyond the moment-to-moment combat.
Verdict for the Uninitiated
Should you be excited for Cursed Blood? Absolutely, if you love fast-paced action and the roguelike genre.
Cursed Blood is an immensely stylish and mechanically solid hack-and-slash game with a unique, memorable theme. If the idea of a top-down, hyper-violent, co-op Samurai Jack meets Hotline Miami appeals to you, wishlist it immediately.
Final Takeaway: The combat is sharp, the art style is bold, and the co-op potential is massive. The major question mark remains the stability of its online features upon release. If the developers can iron out the technical kinks, Cursed Blood will be a bloody brilliant addition to the co-op roguelike space. Play the demo if you can—you’ll know within minutes if its particular brand of brutal samurai justice is for you.
Maturity Rating
M for Mature (Likely to include Strong Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Drug Reference)
PEGI: 18 (Likely to include Extreme Violence, Strong Language, Nudity, Drug Use)
Based on the explicit descriptions of violence, dismemberment, and blood, Cursed Blood is clearly targeted at an adult audience.
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