Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree: Deluxe Edition

Despite an interesting premise and top-notch presentation, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree only manages to be an average roguelike action RPG, failing to elevate itself beyond the ordinary.

Towa et al. has several ideas and mechanics don't earn the depth they deserve, which exacerbates the mediocre combat.

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree sees Bandai Namco dive into the world of rougelikes. Is this an adventure as good as its concept?

Beautiful visuals, Japanese mythology, serene music, and colorful characters frame the deep and moving story of Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree, a roguelite unlike any other.

Despite the abundance of Roguelite games at the current time, it offers one of the most distinctive experiences this year. The narrative aspect and the characters that are easy to get attached to, the dual combat between the two characters adds a distinctive tactical depth and creates moments charged with tension and excitement. The carefully built gameplay loop makes every attempt a new opportunity to formulate a different style, with a noticeable variety in abilities and options. The hand-drawn artistic direction adds a special identity, while the soundtrack enhances the atmosphere. It is true that some aspects need improvement, such as the balance in difficulty, repetition in some dialogues, and the cheapness of the 3D models and textures, but the core remains enjoyable and innovative. In the end, the game proves itself as a strong title in the 2025 library, and is worth the recommendation for everyone looking for an artistic and strategic adventure at the same time.

Action roguelikes are a tough genre to screw up, yet Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree manages to do that. From lacklustre in-run upgrades, to permanent progression that is boring, to perhaps the biggest problem of how utterly dry combat is, it drops the ball in many locations. The better parts, such as the banter and voice acting, are not enough to carry the woefully lacking core gameplay.

A soulful journey marred by punishing peaks and shallow progress. Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree dazzles with painterly visuals, rich sound design, and heartfelt voice acting, but its roguelike loop wears thin fast. Combat starts strong but suffers from brutal difficulty spikes and clunky twin-stick controls. The emotional twist of losing a guardian after each run adds weight, yet limited progression and muddled combat feedback dull the impact. Gorgeous, soulful, but often frustrating.

Overall, there's a bit too much holding Towa back from a recommendation. There are better Hades-likes out there, most notably Hades II: Melinoe Goes West. If you're a dyed-in-the-wool roguelite fan, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree will definitely fill your cup, but I think it's too easy to walk away from.

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree leans on its emotional story about the passage of time to stand out from the crowd, but its gameplay rarely matches that level of quality. Instead of the indie gem many hoped for, we got a solid experience that falls short of the greatness it might have otherwise achieved.

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree works best when we allow ourselves to be drawn into its narrative and world. Its mechanics are not always surprising, but they manage to make many runs matter, thanks to its permanent progression, its sacrifice system, and the emotional connection with the characters.