Game: Doors & Loot
Genre: Action, Indie
System: Steam (Windows)
Developer|Publisher: Scalions Studios
Controller Support: Yes
Steam Deck: Playable
Price: US $11.99 | UK £9.99 | EU € 11,79
Release Date: May 13th, 2024
A review code was provided, and many thanks to Scalions Studios.
Doors & Loot: Simple Roguelike Fun with the Right Setup
Some games are exactly what they say on the tin, and Doors & Loot delivers on its name. There are indeed doors, and there’s certainly a lot of loot. This dungeon-crawling roguelike keeps things simple and accessible, and when approached the right way, specifically with mouse and keyboard, it offers an enjoyable, if somewhat basic, dive into roguelike adventuring.
Climbing the Tower
Doors & Loot kicks off with a short introductory cutscene. You play as Dorian, a knight on a quest to climb a dark tower and defeat an evil sorcerer. Accompanied by your trusty llama (yes, really), you enter the dungeon, sword in hand, ready to face the horrors within. It’s a simple, no-nonsense setup, and if you’re interested in more lore, you can find diary entries and scrolls throughout the game. But if you’d rather just jump in and start hacking away at skeletons, the game lets you do that too.
Each run begins with you tackling a series of floors that must be fully cleared of enemies before advancing. You can choose to press on for greater rewards or cash out early by claiming a chest and returning to the hub. Risk versus reward is a familiar roguelike loop, and it works reasonably well here.
Use a Mouse, Seriously
At first, I played Doors & Loot with a controller and found the experience frustrating. Targeting enemies using shoulder buttons before attacking made combat feel sluggish and unnatural, especially when surrounded by multiple foes. Attacks lack impact, and trying to cycle between enemies under pressure was a headache.
However, everything changed once I switched to a mouse and keyboard. Suddenly, I could freely click on enemies, quickly use abilities and potions, and enjoy a smoother combat experience. What initially felt clunky became far more intuitive and responsive. Even the save system worked better, as my progress began saving correctly after the switch.
While combat still lacks satisfying feedback, strikes don’t carry much weight or visual payoff, it’s functional, and with the proper control scheme, it’s far more tolerable and even enjoyable in bursts.
Loot and Progression
Loot is central to any roguelike, and Doors & Loot offers a decent if slightly inconsistent system. After clearing each floor, you can either advance or end your run by opening a chest. While this system adds a layer of tension, the actual rewards are hit or miss. Equipment drops often feel random, and there’s little opportunity to shape your build in meaningful ways.
This lottery-like nature means you may find powerful gear… or a run’s worth of useless armour when you’re playing a melee build. It can be frustrating, but when you do land a strong upgrade, it feels great, just not often enough.
Crafting and upgrading are available back at the hub, with a respectable skill tree and the ability to forge new gear. However, you’re limited in what you can sell during a run (just three items to start), which feels unnecessarily restrictive and slows down progression when your inventory is clogged with junk.
Visuals and Vibe
Visually, Doors & Loot has a charming aesthetic. The wooden doll-like characters and toy-like vibe give the game a distinctive personality. It’s a nice change from gritty realism and helps set the game apart in a crowded genre.
However, the environments don’t carry the same charm. Dungeon rooms are repetitive and start to feel samey after only a few runs. There’s little visual diversity, which can make later playthroughs feel like déjà vu.
Conclusion: A Worthy Try (With a Mouse)
Doors & Loot has its share of rough edges, most notably its underwhelming controller support and limited combat feedback, but when played with a mouse and keyboard, it becomes a much more enjoyable experience. The core loop of exploring, looting, and upgrading offers enough satisfaction to keep you coming back for another run, especially in short bursts.
It’s not going to blow anyone away, but it doesn’t need to. Sometimes, a simple dungeon crawler with a solid progression loop is enough. With a bit more polish, Doors & Loot could be something great. As it stands, it’s a charming and worthwhile indie that’s definitely worth trying, just steer clear of the controller and play it the way it clearly wants to be played. A free demo is available on Steam.
Final Verdict: I Like It
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