Astral Ascent cover art

Astral Ascent

A stylish action roguelite where learning demanding boss choreography and building spell synergies both matter.

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Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION7 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE5 /10OPTIMIZATION6 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    7/10

    Fast platformer combat with demanding Zodiac boss patterns requires precision

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    0/10

    All bosses use scripted attack choreography; no adaptive adversary

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    5/10

    Spell and gem drops vary available build paths each run

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    6/10

    Spell synergy construction and zodiac knowledge reward methodical learning

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

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Game details

Released
2023
Developer
Hibernian Workshop
Platforms
PS4, PC, PS5, Mac, Switch
Modes
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
IGDB critics
92/100
IGDB users
90/100
PlatformAdventureIndieActionFantasy