Bastion cover art

Bastion

An isometric action RPG narrated as you play.

On Steam ↗
Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION5 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE2 /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

    5/10

    Action combat needs timing and aim.

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    0/10

    Enemies are scripted.

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    2/10

    Minor loot variance.

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    6/10

    Weapon and idol builds reward planning.

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.

Compare with

Similar games

see all →

Ranked by shared genre first, then by how closely the cheat-test profile matches - a cross-genre tag means a pick matched on skill profile alone.

Transistor cover art

Transistor

Pure Optimization · tactical action RPG

E
R
V
O
Transistor
Hades cover art

Hades

Practiced Mastery · action roguelike

E
R
V
O
Hades
Pyre cover art

Pyre

Practiced Mastery · sports RPG

E
R
V
O
Pyre
BioShock Remastered cover art

BioShock Remastered

Practiced Mastery · immersive sim FPS

E
R
V
O
BioShock Remastered
The Saboteur cover art

The Saboteur

Practiced Mastery · open-world action

E
R
V
O
The Saboteur
Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition cover art

Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition

Practiced Mastery · action RPG

E
R
V
O
Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition

Game details

Released
2011
Developer
Supergiant Games
Platforms
PS4, Linux, PC, iOS, Mac, Vita, X360, XONE, Switch
Modes
Single player
IGDB critics
90/100
IGDB users
83/100
Role-playing (RPG)AdventureIndieActionFantasy