Vagante

Where most action roguelikes build their challenge around stat scaling or deck construction, Vagante by Nuke Nine roots itself in physical platforming skill and real-time melee combat, demanding that players read enemy movement and terrain before a single number is crunched. It is a dark fantasy side-scroller with permanent death and procedurally generated levels across four distinct areas, each carrying its own monster roster, boss, and trap configurations.

A run begins with a choice of class, skin, and background, and deepens at each level-up through a selection of class-specific skills. Magic items layer on top of this, with enchantments that can meaningfully redirect a build mid-run. The result is a character that feels authored rather than randomly assembled, even though the world around it is never the same twice. Up to four players can share a run locally or online through Steam co-op, which changes the risk calculus considerably since a cave that is survivable solo becomes a different problem with bodies and friendly fire in the mix.

A Book of Secrets tracks unlocked classes, backgrounds, music, and other discoveries across runs, giving long-term players a record of accumulation without altering the terms of any individual attempt.

Vagante launched on February 21, 2018, following an extended early access period that was still receiving numbered patches in January 2018. The initial 1.0 release was followed quickly by stability patches in the same month. By November 2018 update 1.02 addressed further issues, and mid-2019 brought update 1.05, a substantial expansion that added a hard mode, Steam Workshop support, and achievements. Update 1.08 arrived in mid-2020, and the game received its most recent significant revision with update 1.10 in September 2021.

For players who found Spelunky’s platforming precision rewarding but wanted a deeper RPG layer underneath it, Vagante occupies a similar physical-skill-first space with considerably more character customization driving each descent.