Crypt of the NecroDancer

It’s a unique, fun, and wildly imaginative take on the roguelike formula that stands out, despite being in the company of other A-class titles within the genre.

Crypt of the Necrodancer offers just about every feature imaginable, and each one is executed absolutely masterfully. It’s wholly unique and provides a tension found nowhere else, offering up some rhythm to the roguelike genre just as it started to feel like it was getting stale.

Crypt of the Necrodancer nails everything that it sets out to do. Every moment of Necrodancer is fun and engaging, the music is some of the best original music in any rhythm game, and the entire experience feels very original.

Crypt of the Necrodancer is an awesome rhythm game you don’t want to pass up if you’re into the genre.

For those looking for the next gaming obsession after the likes of Spelunky, Binding of Isaac, or Rogue Legacy, look no further than Crypt of the NecroDancer.

A seamless and exhilarating meshing of two entirely different genres.

So good, it's worth risking carpal tunnel for. [July 2015, p.78]

Sometimes someone comes up with an idea so brilliant that others wonder how they didn’t think of it earlier. Crypt of the NecroDancer – a rhythm-based roguelike – is an example of such brilliance. [06/2015, p.60]

A virtuoso feat of creativity. [July 2015, p.110]

Originality, tactical depth, variety — you’ll find them plenty in Crypt of the NecroDancer. ‘90’ is not only a score but the minimum amount of hours you’ll spend obsessing over this game.

Destined to join the ranks of the truly great and memorable new age Rogue-likes. [June 2015, p.58]

This combination makes Crypt of the NecroDancer a brilliant reimagining of nearly every fantasy RPG standard, from combat to status effects.

This is a game that appeals to all gamers, not just fans of rhythm games, but it’s a damn good rhythm game regardless.

Crypt of the NecroDancer is a great roguelike because of its simple, game-changing twist; you do everything you do to the rhythm of the music. The experience is magical, the soundtrack is great and the procedural generated dungeons will challenge you every time.

Unique, challenging, glorious. There's simply so much love poured into Crypt of the NecroDancer, that it's hard not to fall deeply under its spell.

This game deserves attention. It's a good addition to the rogue-like, and nobody else is going to get a chance to make rhythm-based games like this again. The bar's set pretty high after this.

Crypt of the NecroDancer is a phenomenal dungeon crawler.

Crypt of the NecroDancer has reminded me how creative, original, and fun video games can be. I’ve switched it off at 2 a.m. more than once this week, forcing myself to break from a dangerously addictive “one more go” loop as I tried in vain to beat the damn thing.

Brace Yourself Games has brought some real ingenuity into the indie game circuit, and the developer deserves great praise for creating an incredibly fun roguelike that’s filled to the brim with addictive gameplay and fiendish enemies.

Although the content feels curt and the difficulty is somewhat dependent on the luck of the draw, the game's high replayability and bit-tastic presentation will scratch that itch to play just another round. So be careful... you might just dance the night away.

With its strange and addictive premise, Crypt of the NecroDancer goes straight to the point. It's fun, clever and original. Adding the rhythm-game concept to the roguelike formula, the game apparently changes the rules, but doesn't deny its roots.

There are few games as immediately accessible and fun as this one. Pure, simple, joyful and with a killer soundtrack, Crypt of the Necrodancer is a small radiant gem.

Crypt of the NecroDancer is a unique and enjoyable game, but don't let its ties to rhythm-based games fool you - it's also quite challenging.

The logic used to dispatch enemies should ideally play out like a neat algorithm, flawlessly executed once you know their patterns and how to manipulate them. That’s not how it works, of course, as the dungeons are complicated, chaotic things, and players are forced to move at the whim of the soundtrack’s tempo, with little room for error. Logic meets chaos. It’s a tension evident in many games, and it’s exemplified wonderfully here.

A beautifully designed, tough, and cheerful roguelike that rewards perseverance with a singular feeling of finesse.

It's the acquired and applied knowledge of a roguelike against the demanding drive of a rhythm game, and yet Crypt of the NecroDancer escapes the gaze of a simple curiosity and leaps to an ideal hybrid of two disparate genres.

It not only is a great game, but also original, addictive and comes with tons of content. If you like dungeon crawlers and you're looking for something different, Crypt of the NecroDancer is a safe bet that adds an unique musical touch to the formula.

Crypt of the NecroDancer is a magical, hypnotic game, thanks to the mixture of roguelike and rhythm mechanics which it is impossible not to have fun and finish your gaming session with fully charged batteries.

An exceptional indie game that utilizes perfectly its unique and fresh idea of rhythm-based roguelike. Its non-stop action, extremely fair high difficulty, and large variety of unique enemies form an utterly addictive experience.

NecroDancer may not appeal all the roguelike aficionados, but it's a lively, smart and unconventional twist in a typically slow and reflective genre.

An innovative roguelike experience that deserves praise for its rhythm-matching system as well as for its mechanics that add replayability and encourage players to keep going even during the most difficult of stages. However, if you want to unlock more characters and really enjoy the game, prepare to spend a lot of time with it.

The soundtrack is great. The conceptual mix of rhythm game puzzler and dungeon crawler is ingenious. Games like this show that the indie scene is still dancing to a different beat.

A complete transformation of a genre. [Issue#162, p.110]

Crypt of the Necrodancer is a very original and very funny game that kept us glued to the screen for several hours and that lends itself well to be played and replayed, even for short sessions.

A very original and fresh roguelike that's maybe less strategic than its predecessors, but far more fast-paced.

There’s never a dull moment: Brace Yourself Games have created an experience where there is a lot to think about in terms of strategy, movement, enemies, traps and maintaining multipliers. However, the constant pull of Baranowsky’s compelling soundtrack always keeps things moving, encouraging the player to think on their toes and adapt to the situation at hand.

Regardless of your musical tastes, Crypt of the NecroDancer takes a proven but basic recipe and improves it with a seemingly simple twist. It would have been a fine roguelike game without its musical side, but the rhythm mechanic makes it a truly special experience.

If you manage to master the music you will be rewarded with engaging combat, a plethora of items to use and an addictive adventure that you can sink your teeth into. However if the beat breaks you down then this game is nothing more than a heartache.

An original and well executed rogue-like that manages to work well with its peculiar rhythm mechanic.

If you've ever fancied taking on the toughest challenges a game like Dark Souls has to offer, Crypt of the NecroDancer is probably what you're looking for. But now imagine completing it with a dance mat.

Crypt of the Necrodancer marries rhythm and roguelike in a unique way — It feels accessible, fun, and fairly difficult at any given moment.