Hades Fans Need to Try 2019's Co-op Riff on the Roguelike Formula
Family drama and over-the-top action galore
When you think of roguelike RPGs with emotional stories about family, your mind probably goes straight to Hades. For good reason! Supergiant's exceptional take on Greek mythology is a modern classic. But before Zagreus ever copped an attitude with the lord of the underworld, indie studio Dead Mage put family first in another dark fantasy, co-op roguelike.
Dead Mage secured funding for Children of Morta in 2015, then finally launched the game in early access in 2019. It remained in that state until 2020 when, thanks to its overwhelming success, Dead Mage added more playable characters and build items than they ever intended.
Children of Morta turns family drama into compelling roguelike action
Children of Morta follows the Bergson clan during a time of crisis. The mountain they're sworn to protect has fallen under the sway of corruption, and its guardian deity along with it. Each member of the family braves the perilous climb up, and into, the mountain's heart to discover what's gone wrong — and they fail, a lot, and go back home, a lot, to try again with new ways to tackle the challenges ahead.
It's an action game, but it's just as much a game about the challenges of keeping a family together. It’s a bit like The Brady Bunch starring a group of magical adventurers in a gorgeous pixel art world… and it wasn't a sitcom, and had better sensibilities about relationships. Okay, so not exactly like The Brady Bunch. But the point is that every member of the family screws up somehow at some point or other, but they all still play a vital, helpful role in each other's lives. It's literal for most of them, as you'll rotate between playing each member of the nuclear family — John the father and warrior, Linda the archer and mother, Lucy the precocious mage and the baby of the family — and eventually a few others as well. Each character's role in the family extends to the battlefield as well.
Take John, for example. He puts himself very firmly in the defender role for his clan, and that's the role he takes out on the mountain, too. He's excellent at shielding and quickly taking out foes, though he's not the most powerful. Lucy's personality is huge and loud and all over the place, and so is her magic. She's one of the strongest fighters capable of covering the battlefield in fire and windstorms — but she's also just a kid. Kids aren't that great at surviving on their own against a bunch of hellspawn.
It's ideal for co-op play, where you can compensate for each character's shortcomings. Thanks to its extensive customization options, though, Children of Morta works perfectly as a solo game, too. Not that you can always plan for the optimal route. You decide which skills to level up, sure. But procedurally generated maps and randomized item placement mean you're never guaranteed that perfect run, which enhances the overall experience. Morta is at its best when it pushes you to experiment with different builds and fight tooth-and-nail with whatever you have at hand to see just how far you can make it.
Like any good roguelike, defeat is rewarding in itself. The further you progress up the mountain, the more of the Bergsons' collective and individual stories unfolds back at home. Characters have heart-to-hearts with each other in-between missions, affording you insights into the complexities of their lives and why the family is the way it is. These conversations may be fluffy and light one moment and then delve deep into family trauma, intergenerational issues, and the politics of sibling hierarchies the next. It's occasionally quite heavy, but always executed with sensitivity and good taste.
You can grab Children of Morta on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.