As a game writer for Rivalsector, I spend a lot of my time sifting through a sea of upcoming titles, looking for those hidden gems that are genuinely going to captivate the gaming community. It’s a job that keeps me on my toes, and honestly, a lot of what I see is just more of the same. But then, every once in a while, a game pops up that just grabs you. A title that, from the first trailer, makes you sit up and pay attention. For me, that game is Katanaut, the action-roguelite from solo developer Eugene at Voidmaw.
I’ve been following this one for a while now, ever since the first snippets of gameplay started to surface, and what I’ve seen has me incredibly hyped. The promise of blending the brutal, precision-based combat of Souls-like games with the frantic, addictive loop of a roguelite, all wrapped up in a cosmic horror shell, is a cocktail of gaming goodness that I just can’t resist. With its September 10 release date now officially announced, the anticipation is real, and I wanted to dive into what I’m truly expecting from this indie powerhouse.
The Foundations of a New Nightmare
The core premise of Katanaut is something straight out of a gamer’s fever dream. You’re a katana-wielding astronaut, or “Naut,” trapped on a sprawling space station that’s spiraling into an eldritch nightmare. The crew, once human, has been twisted into grotesque horrors, and your only option is to fight your way through the chaos, uncover the station’s dark secrets, and try to escape. It’s a classic sci-fi horror setup, but the execution looks anything but cliché.
The game’s visuals are a huge part of its appeal. The pixel-art style isn’t just a nostalgic throwback, it’s a deliberate artistic choice that perfectly captures the unsettling, claustrophobic atmosphere of the space station. Every blood-spatter, every flickering light, and every horrifying enemy is rendered with meticulous detail. I’m a huge fan of games that use pixel art to create a distinct, immersive world, and Katanaut seems to be doing it in spades. The developer has even mentioned a blood system where every pixel has its own simulated physics, a small detail that speaks volumes about the level of care and passion being poured into this project.
Combat That Demands Mastery
The most compelling aspect of Katanaut for me is the combat. I’m a glutton for punishment when it comes to games, and the “Souls-like” descriptor here is music to my ears. The developer has stated that the combat is fast, responsive, and built around timing and precision. This isn’t a hack-and-slash where you can button-mash your way to victory. You’ll need to master dodges, parries, and carefully timed attacks to survive. The fluid movement, including what looks like wall-running, adds a dynamic layer to the encounters that I think will set it apart from other roguelites. It’s not just about what you hit, but how you move and position yourself in the fight.
My expectation is that this focus on precision will make every victory feel earned. When a game forces you to learn enemy attack patterns and react instantly, it creates a sense of accomplishment that a less demanding title just can’t replicate. I’m ready to die, a lot. And that’s exactly what I want. The roguelite loop, where each death is a learning opportunity, will be crucial. I’m hoping for a strong sense of progression, even when I fail, so that each new run feels like I’m getting a little closer to mastering the game’s mechanics and uncovering more of its secrets.
Building the Perfect Space-Slasher
A roguelite lives and dies by its build variety, and based on the information out there, Katanaut looks promising on this front. The developer has detailed a range of systems that will allow for deep customization and varied playstyles. This is where the replayability really comes in. I’m looking forward to experimenting with different combinations of weapons, skills, and perks to see what kind of monstrosity I can create.
Here’s a breakdown of the key elements I’m expecting to shape my builds:
- Mainhand Weapons: Limited to blades, but with different styles for different play-styles. This suggests we might have a fast, single-hit katana or a slower, more deliberate one with high damage.
- Offhands: Ranged weapons, like guns, or a secondary melee weapon. This will be critical for dealing with enemies at a distance or creating space in a chaotic fight.
- Skills: Powerful, cooldown-based abilities that can turn the tide of a battle. I’m hoping for some truly creative and impactful options here.
- Syringes: These seem to be the core stat-line buffs you find during a run, and I’m excited by the idea that they can buff entire categories of items.
- Perks: These sound similar to the ones in games like Noita, offering a variety of effects from basic buffs to more outrageous, run-defining changes.
- Implants: These are a persistent, meta-progression system that you can collect and swap out before runs. This is the kind of system that keeps me coming back for more.
The fact that everything is categorized as either Combat, Aether, or Kinetic adds another layer of depth. It means my choices will have a cascading effect on my build, encouraging a cohesive strategy rather than just picking random buffs.
The Roguelite and Horror Blend
I’ve always believed that the roguelite genre is a natural fit for horror. The sense of constant dread and the fear of permadeath elevate the stakes in a way that other genres can’t. In Katanaut, the constant threat of a new, procedurally generated level and the relentless nature of the cosmic horrors will keep me on the edge of my seat. The game’s description mentions that “hand-crafted rooms blend with procedural generation,” which is the best of both worlds. It ensures that while the layout might be different, the encounters and environments are polished and intentional, not just a random mess.
The “once-human horrors” are a particularly grim detail that I’m keen to explore. Learning about the fate of the station’s inhabitants through memory fragments, which also serve as a way to unlock new abilities, is a fantastic narrative device. It ties the gameplay loop directly to the story, making every run feel meaningful beyond just reaching the end. It’s a smart way to deliver lore without resorting to clunky cutscenes or long text dumps.
I’m ready for a truly challenging experience. While the demo seems to have a few fans noting a lack of bosses, I’m expecting the full game to deliver on this front. A roguelite without epic boss battles is like a superhero movie without a compelling villain. I’m hoping for monstrous, multi-phase encounters that will push my skills to their absolute limit.
My Expectations, Laid Bare
To summarize my hopes and expectations for Katanaut, I’ve put together this little table.
| Aspect | My Expectation | Why It Matters |
| Combat | Tight, responsive, and difficult, requiring mastery of movement and timing. | This is the core loop, and if it feels good, the game will be a blast to play for dozens, if not hundreds, of hours. |
| Builds | Deep and meaningful variety through different systems like implants, syringes, and perks. | A great roguelite needs a reason to play again, and a vast number of viable builds is key to that. |
| Atmosphere | A genuinely unsettling cosmic horror experience through pixel art and sound design. | The tone is what will make the game memorable, not just the mechanics. It needs to feel like a living nightmare. |
| Progression | A compelling mix of per-run power-ups and meta-progression that keeps each death from feeling like a waste of time. | Unlocking new abilities and understanding the lore are the carrots on a stick that drive a player forward. |
| Replayability | A combination of procedural generation and a wide array of content, including bosses and secrets. | The game needs to offer enough new content on each run to prevent it from becoming repetitive. |
Final Thoughts and the Wait for Launch
The buzz around Katanaut is growing, and it’s easy to see why. This is more than just another indie roguelite, it’s a passion project from a solo developer with a clear vision, and that’s something I always find myself drawn to. The blend of brutal combat, deep customization, and a genuinely creepy atmosphere has me counting down the days until September 10.If you’re a fan of punishing but rewarding gameplay, if you love sci-fi and cosmic horror, and if you appreciate a good roguelite loop, then Katanaut needs to be on your radar. The demo is still out there on Steam, and I highly recommend checking it out to get a feel for the fluid combat and dark world that Voidmaw has crafted. As for me, my blade is sharpened and my sanity is as prepared as it can be. I’m ready to descend into the madness and experience everything this game has to offer. I’ll be back to give my full take once I’ve had a chance to get some proper playtime with it, so keep an eye out for our full review in the Video Game Reviews category.
