Lone Ruinhas virtually no plot at all or real dialogue of any kind. Once players start up the game, they will be treated to a few pixelated cinematic cutscenes depicting the unnamed player character entering some castle grounds. This is a roguelike, so the aforementioned castle will rearrange itself every time players restart the experience.
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Lone Ruinwas developed by Cuddle Monster Games, a relatively small name at the time of writing. This game could easily blow up likeHadesand help to make a name for the company. Whether this game will explode in popularity or not isn’t important though. Players should first focus and listen up to the following beginner tips.
6A True Roguelike With Difficulties
Unlike a lot of other roguelikes,Lone Ruinallows players to choose their difficulty level. They can start the game on Easy, Medium, or Hard from the title screen. The easier one makes it so that they get more life on their run. The game isalso very arcade-likebecause no upgrade path continues after death.
Players wander into the randomized dungeon at the start of every run and the game restarts every time after death. Players simply have to earn enough real-world life skills to make it to the end. This follows in the tradition ofroguelikes likeSpelunkyexceptLone Ruinhas more fantastical elements such as spells. To get a feel of the world and how it works, players should start the game on Easy.
5Taking On Survival Mode
Players can go through the campaign, fighting bosses on their way down to the final level like in a traditional roguelike. They can also test out Survival Mode, which sends out hordes of monsters. This is another good way for players to practice as it will teach them how to adapt to situations on the fly.
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How spells and upgrades are acquired is quite different in Survival Mode too. Players level up the more they kill and upgrades will be randomly bestowed upon them, makingLone Ruinmorelike an RPGin this mode. Similar to the campaign, scores can be uploaded online once players die in combat.
4Testing Out New Spells
Players can choose one spell at the start of their run. The offerings will change just like the level layout ina standard roguelikebut there are always a lot of spells to choose from. Two of the better starter spells are Barrage and Shards. These spells give players a good distance between themselves and their enemies.
The fire and recharge rates on these spells are also well-balanced meaning that players won’t be hanging without a way to attack for long. Conversely, players should attempt to avoid melee spells like Scythe, which is powerful but puts players in harm’s way more often. Scythe is a good secondary spell to have though if players come across it in their adventures. Overall, players should test every spell they come across to then assess if that spell feels right for them.
3Upgrading Spells
There are kiosk stations that can be found in rooms after swarms of enemies are vanquished. There is no right way to upgrade spells as it varies between each one. For example, a common upgrade path for Chain Lightning will allow lightning bolts to pass through more enemies.
Players can start to feel like aSith Lord like Emperor Palpatineif this spell is upgraded to the max level. It’s a great feeling to have in a roguelike, especially with no continuing upgrade path inLone Ruin. Players should use their intuition when upgrading spells to take advantage of their unique properties.
2Good Accessories To Find
Spells are not the only thing that will keep players alive in the dungeons. They can find accessories that will boost stats like HP or bestow special abilities. For example, the Ankh will revive players if they fall in battle.
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The Ankh will only work one time though, so it is not a fix-all accessory to turn players into an undying god. There are only a few select accessory slots from the start, like the spell slots, but the range can be expanded through shops. Players can also sell unwanted spells and accessories for a bit of extra cash which is always handyin a roguelike.
1Getting Used To Doors
Rooms will have players go through three phases. Once they enter a room a battle will ensue. Once the battle is over, players can collect any leftover money, loot, or interact with special setups like the aforementioned shops. The final phase will have players choose one of several doorways to go through which is howroguelikes akin toHadesare built.
If there is one reward ahead, like the Blizzard spell, this will be communicated to the player. If there are multiple rewards ahead, they will not be spelled out for the player, so they’ll need to learn what each of these symbols means. It’s always handy to jot down notes on a phone and to take screenshots to accompany these notes inLone Ruin.
Lone Ruinwas released on June 19, 2025, and is available on PC and Switch.
