Deep Loot vs Hoplite

Everything about Deep Loot shows a great attention to detail that shows a high level of polish including the addicting gameplay of diving just to get a little more loot to afford a new suit that wil allow for even further diving.

Every movement in this game is calculated just as one would expect in a roguelike and yet the movement is so fluid that it is not even noticeable. So much so that the game controls feel more like an adventure game than a traditional roguelike.

Unlike most titles that utilize in app purchases and in game shops Deep Loot manages to pull off the perfect balance of free gameplay and in app purchases for in game items. Not once should the player feel forced or coerced into purchasing any items in the game.

You must plan your movements and attacks, paying attention to all enemy positions and their attacks. This makes for a game that the player can pore over their options, for as long as they like, which can be pretty enveloping.

Someone called it "Chess, the roguelike". You have all the information before you move, every time. Enemies follow a simple ruleset, with no variation. There is almost no randomness. You know that you will die the turn before you do, and you will die because you painted yourself into a corner.

There is a good list of achievements, which creates a high replay value. It encourages the user to play very differently in subsequent replays. Which is great for keeping the game fresh.

Hoplite is a turn based game, making for something that people can take their time with, deciding on their strategy for each move.

Starting on level 16, the altars get replaced by a portal. The player has the choice to "win" the game by exiting through the portal, or to ignore the portal on that level and venture deeper, aiming for higher scores on progressively more difficult floors. This is great for those that enjoy more challenge and extra content past the regular ending.

Other, more popular, mobile roguelikes are far too random. A lot of people associate roguelikes with randomness, but a lot of effort goes into making sure that they provide consistently winnable games. When you lose a game it should be because you did something dumb, not because the RNG didn't deign it today. Hoplite nails this.

There is a wide array of enemies to encounter and fight, which keeps encounters fresh as well as the strategies needed.