By Steven Andrew 
A new creature-collection roguelite is attempting to entice players to test their latest update with cute pixel monsters. Batomon Showdown, which is available through a demo on Steam, tasks you with assembling overpowered team rosters through synergy-hunting and deep customization. You’ll then use that roster against an endless stream of player-built competitors in asynchronous multiplayer.
There’s no race against the clock here. Every decision unfolds at your pace, with no timers forcing quick calls. You pick a trainer, each offering distinct game-changing abilities, then layer Batomon, items, and trinkets into combinations designed to create broken interactions. The system runs deep. Every creature holds “infinite potential” through unique abilities and equipment, meaning any Batomon can theoretically become a meta-shattering powerhouse if you theorycraft hard enough. It’s a neat mash up of Pokemon as a rogue, but with a unique shift in the way team comps and trainers interact.
Where Batomon Showdown separates itself from the general creature-collection mold is in how it handles failure and iteration. Once you’ve assembled what you believe is an unbeatable roster, you upload it into the world and watch as other players attempt to crack it. The feedback loop is immediate but low-pressure, feeding directly into your next build cycle. You’re not grinding a ladder or chasing a ranking; you’re exploring, what developer Berrymint hopes is an endless stream of team combinations against a near-infinite variety of human-made opponents.
Players can check out the latest on the game, including the recent news that mythical Batomon have been added to the demo. You can also check out the itch.io version. Batomon Showdown currently does not have a release date, but it’s definitely something to wishlist for rogue lovers who are also fans of creature collectors.