Turning numbers into enemies sounds like the sort of idea that should stay scribbled in the corner of a notebook. Somehow, EVEN OR ODD 1 makes it work, combining fast-paced action with an unexpectedly clever mathematical twist that arrived on Steam yesterday.
Rather than throwing endless monsters your way, the game revolves around streams of numbers inspired by the famous Collatz sequence. Playing as Ichi, a muscle-bound magical girl with an impressive right hook, you’ll dash between lanes, punch incoming numbers back where they came from, and chain together increasingly satisfying attacks while trying to survive the chaos.
What could have been a novelty quickly becomes the game’s biggest strength. Every run introduces new upgrades and build options that gradually change the way you approach each wave, encouraging experimentation instead of simply relying on faster reflexes. Before long, you’re making split-second decisions about positioning, timing, and which upgrades best complement your current run.
It’s also refreshingly committed to its own bizarre identity. Between the colorful presentation, delightfully over-the-top protagonist, and mathematical foundation, EVEN OR ODD 1 never feels like it’s borrowing someone else’s ideas. It knows exactly what it wants to be and fully commits to it.
We’ve seen roguelikes and roguelites take inspiration from poker, rhythm games, city builders, and even fishing over the years. Turning a sequence of numbers into the basis for a fast-paced action game might be one of the strangest ideas yet, but EVEN OR ODD 1 makes a surprisingly convincing case that great game ideas can come from just about anywhere.