Children of Morta Reviews
While I have played (and generally enjoyed) a ton of roguelikes of all flavors on the Switch I can’t say any of them has been quite like Children of Morta...
Roguelikes often try to keep players out of their later levels, but Children of Morta keeps it all in the family with persistent level-ups, buffs, and checkpoints.
Children of Morta is a fantastic rogue-lite that mixes in elements of action RPGs into its addictive gameplay loop.
11 bit studios is surprising deweloper. Frostpunk is amazing, Moonlighter is great and now Children of Morta. It's a roguelite game focusing on family of fighters who fight with evil below. You can choose characters, skillsets and styles. Everyone will find something for themselves in this great action adventure roguelite masterpiece.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Children of Morta may be tough and grindy, especially at the outset, but there’s enough to keep players engaged: randomized dungeon maps and goodies to pick up; no less than seven playable characters; an emotional tale that unfolds in beautiful cutscenes. It’s not a party game, so I would only recommend it to players who can commit to ongoing co-op sessions—especially as progression is slow and the game feels more rewarding only after beating the initial dungeons.
It's an excellent roguelite of action and fantasy in which there is nothing wrong. The gameplay is a enjoyment and it told its story very well.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Whether it’s the name its carving out for itself as a rogue-lite title or not, this beautiful-looking game is one that is joining titles such as Hyper Light Drifter, Dead Cells, Rogue Legacy, and Slay the Spire rather quickly. This is one that isn’t holding back and due to the wide array of platforms that it is available on, it’s hard to not acknowledge the potential Dead Mage has to offer and if they stay the course, this could be the biggest success story yet.
All in, I found Children of Morta to be an enjoyable experience. I wouldn’t say it was the best title I’ve ever played, but it is nowhere near the worst and I am quite looking forward to going back to continue the journey.
Children of Morta is a very entertaining roguelite, with a very interesting history and an enviable number of events. I assure you that if you like the genre, this title will not disappoint you. If you also like cooperative games, you're in luck. The Bergson family is waiting for you, and Mount Morta will not be explored alone.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Overall, Children of Morta is a fantastic Roguelike experience that makes itself rather accessible even if the genre is not your forte. With multiple characters to be used with unique gameplay styles and a well narrated story to tie it all together, this is one that should be looked into and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next in the later updates.
Children of Morta is such a complete experience. The narrative is surprisingly strong, the gameplay really gets its hooks into you, the characters play so differently and are well balanced, and the world around you is rich and detailed. I am so excited to watch Children of Morta grow through 2020. This is a game I keep coming back to and one I seem to appreciate more and more each time I play.
Children of Morta is has multiple beautiful pieces that fit together. The Diablo-esque style gameplay is satisfying. The emphasis on family and bonds is told & shown throughout the game in a wholesome way. The pixel graphics and animation are very high quality and is simply gorgeous. There's oomph and impact you can feel. The procedurally-generated dungeon runs and grind might not be for everyone, but Dead Mage Studio shows exactly how it can be done properly.
With each passing dungeon, I knew I was getting closer to finding out what was behind the corruption. I also knew that meant the game was drawing to a close. This was a harsh reality as I thoroughly enjoyed every second of the game. The family members and their role to play is felt on almost every level of the game. The attention to detail with skillsets and the attacks is worth playing the game just for that alone. The controls during combat are responsive and work well. The game keeps a fluid motion even when there are hordes of enemies on the screen. You couple it with an amazing story and beautiful pixel artwork it’s hard to deny this game could find itself in the conversation for Indie game of the year. If there were any nitpicking it would be in the slow loading times and a few crashes I experienced. The dungeons did at times appear to not change much for stretches but overall they present too much fun to care. Children of Morta is a stellar dungeon crawler with a family that is worth fighting with and a storyline to take it over the top. The range of emotions the game will cause you to have is just one reason this is a must-own.
There’s no shortage of top down, pixel art, fantasy roguelike’s out there vying for your attention and many of them are enjoyable. It’s a genre I’ve spent far too much time with over the past few years so the thought of playing another was daunting when I first got my hands on Children of Morta. The thought of re-treading the same ground for hours, something of a staple for this genre, had put me off. I couldn’t have been more wrong about this game though. It’s visuals, narrative originality, the vast array of content and the sheer amount of polish that’s on display here has shown me that Dead Mage and 11 Bit Studios have created the roguelike to end all roguelikes, combining the best of the genre in a package which feels familiar yet refreshingly fast moving.
"Roguelikes can have good stories?"
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Despite the randomly generated dungeons, there is not much in the way of replay value to be had in Children of Morta. The storyline is linear and it is a somewhat short game. That being said, the journey through that first time is delightful, due in large part to fantastic visuals and also the interesting family dynamics found in both the gameplay and the narrative. The rogue-lite elements work well here, encouraging progress without being terribly punitive. Fans of the action-RPG genre should definitely give Children of Morta a look.
While Children of Morta stays pretty solidly in the tradition of recent RPG/roguelikes, its packaging — graphics, design, story and characters — elevate it above the pack and players who have grown weary of the genre will find it refreshing. It’s challenging without (usually) being unfair and while there is plenty of varied combat, there is a story with some heart and soul for any player looking for a break from constant hack and slash.
However, even with these technical issues, I enjoyed my time with Children of Morta. The constant narration depicts the bonds of family with a kind-hearted pathos, which is a welcome palate cleanser between the bouts of monster slaying. Even failed runs are rewarded with new tidbits, tying us to the Bergsons’ struggle.
Represents a winning convergence of art, design, and narrative.
Children of Morta offers a unique twist on roguelike formula and wraps it up in a warm and engrossing story that will have you genuinely caring for its family of characters. Unfortunately, whilst the gameplay starts off strong, the dungeon crawling eventually becomes a chore due to repetitive combat and long load times.