Simulakros

Simulakros is a 2024 indie third-person action roguelite developed by Sirio Games and published by Dear Villagers. Released on October 10, 2024, for PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store), it is a fast-paced, highly kinetic shooter that seamlessly blends the aggressive, fluid combat of modern action games with the randomized, run-based progression of the roguelite genre.

Core Concept and Story

Set in a sleek, neon-lit futuristic world dominated by advanced AI and robotics, the game pits you against a massive, tyrannical megacorporation simply known as the CORP.

The CORP has recently developed the ultimate military weapon: a line of highly advanced combat androids known as Simulakros Units. You play in tandem with a mysterious hacker who manages to infiltrate the CORP’s highly secure network. Your mission is straightforward: hijack these deadly androids, turn the corporation’s own creations against them, and relentlessly blast your way through their sprawling, high-tech facilities to dismantle their operations from the inside out.

Gameplay and Features

Simulakros operates on a classic, fast-paced roguelite loop, heavily emphasizing aggressive mobility and varied playstyles:

• The Three Units: Instead of a single protagonist, you can take control of three distinct hijacked Simulakros chassis, each functioning as a unique class. The Sharpshooter focuses on precision rifles and time-manipulation abilities; the Barrage utilizes short-range SMGs and explosive energy attacks; and the Rupture relies on pure, aggressive close-quarters combat, utilizing shotguns and the ability to instantly teleport behind enemies.
• Roguelite Progression: Every run takes place in procedurally generated levels (intelligently built from handcrafted modular rooms). As you blast your way through the facilities, you gather randomized power-ups, weapon enhancements, and abilities to create unique, highly chaotic builds.
• Horizontal Upgrades: Dying inevitably sends you back to the start, but the game features a permanent meta-progression system. As you explore, you collect powerful chips and experience points that can be equipped between runs to permanently enhance your base stats and unit control.
• High-Speed Combat: The core shooting is heavily inspired by fast-paced arena shooters. You are expected to stay constantly on the move, utilizing dashes and unit-specific cooldown abilities to manage swarms of robotic enemies and dodge massive barrages of incoming projectiles.

Reception and Repetition

Simulakros currently holds a “Mostly Positive” user rating on Steam.

Fans of the genre have praised the game for its incredibly tight, satisfying combat mechanics and the highly distinct feeling of the three playable classes. The high-speed gunplay makes for an engaging, adrenaline-fueled gameplay loop that rewards aggressive play.

However, critics and players frequently note that the game suffers from the classic pitfalls of budget roguelites. Because the environments are heavily restricted to industrial steel factories and neon-lit corporate corridors, the visual variety wears thin rather quickly. Furthermore, players have criticized the boss fights for feeling somewhat straightforward, and many have expressed that a larger roster of playable units is needed to truly sustain long-term replayability.

Quick Note

Simulakros is a sleek, fast-paced robotic shooter with a satisfying roguelite loop.

In short: If you are looking for a deep, narrative-driven cyberpunk RPG with sprawling open worlds, this isn’t it. But if you want a highly kinetic, mechanically tight action game where you can teleport behind a corporate kill-bot with a shotgun and experiment with different chaotic builds run after run, it is a highly competent and entertaining indie arena shooter.