Toro

I nearly dropped this game after 10 minutes because of the atrocious screen shake that you can't turn off! Seriously, maybe five people on earth enjoy screen shake and this game doesn't even let you disable it.
Anyway, after tying my head to an electric chair and syncing it with the screen shakes on my monitor, I could play without noticing it too much. /s
The game feels brutal at first. Most starting weapons for each character are incredibly weak and you often have to clear several rooms to find something slightly better. But once you adapt to enemy movements and attack patterns, surviving battles becomes manageable.
There are only 3 different biomes, each with its own boss. The first area is usually the hardest, while the last is the easiest. The game seems balanced around having multiple items, but since you start with basically nothing, it's tough early on. You typically end up with 7-9 items before facing the first boss, and if you don’t have enough damage or attack speed boosts, you’ll likely fail (especially on higher difficulties).
I liked the item design. Some items can instantly make your run 50% easier and if you’re lucky enough to stack more of them, everything (including the final boss) melts before your eyes.
I didn’t like how weapons are tied to biomes. In the first biome, you can never get the good ones. Just decent enough ones to scrape through the first boss, if you’re lucky.
Overall, this game is as much about skill as it is about luck (and honestly, much more about luck). You’ll only die to bosses and no matter your skill, it’s going to be tough unless you get good rng and acquire strong items. That’s kind of disappointing. For a roguelike, the game should offer more ways for players to grow stronger. Relying on rngesus as the sole difference between victory and defeat isn’t good enough.
I enjoyed the challenge, but this game isn’t for everyone. There are better alternatives out there.

First boss is quite difficult, the other two bosses are way easier, the rooms aren't very versatile, you just run around your enemies in circles, decent short roguelike game but it's short and not too great

I had fun for an hour but the only replay value is in the different characters which aren't really worth it. Good soundtrack. If its on a sale or in a bundle it's a fun hour.

Toroom is an energetic roguelike shooter that embraces classic twin-stick action while adding its own playful identity. Developed by Gagonfe, Ulon, and Rhowsl, and published by Gagonfe, the game revolves around an amusingly simple objective. Instead of saving the world or defeating an ancient evil for glory, the protagonist's greatest desire is to make it back to their room after being unexpectedly transported into a dangerous fantasy realm. While the story serves mainly as a humorous backdrop, it provides enough personality to distinguish the adventure from many other roguelikes that rely solely on grim fantasy settings. The focus remains firmly on fast combat, randomized exploration, and the excitement of discovering powerful new equipment.
Every expedition into Toroom's procedurally generated dungeons offers a fresh challenge. Rooms are rearranged with each run, enemy encounters constantly change, and rewards never appear in exactly the same places. This unpredictability keeps the gameplay engaging because players cannot simply memorize optimal routes or strategies. Instead, success comes from adapting to whatever the game presents. Battles are intense from the very beginning, requiring quick movement, accurate shooting, and constant awareness of the environment. As new enemy types and hazards appear, the difficulty rises naturally, rewarding players who improve their reflexes and learn to prioritize threats under pressure.
One of Toroom's greatest strengths is its wide selection of weapons and collectible items. The game encourages experimentation by offering dozens of unique firearms and melee options alongside an impressive collection of passive upgrades. Some items increase survivability, others enhance damage output, while cursed equipment introduces powerful bonuses balanced by meaningful drawbacks. Because every run generates different combinations, players are motivated to test new builds instead of relying on a single strategy. Shops scattered throughout the dungeons further deepen the experience by allowing players to spend their hard-earned currency on upgrades, additional gear, or companions that can provide useful support during battle. The steady stream of rewards creates a satisfying sense of progression even when a run ultimately ends in defeat.
The visual presentation successfully captures the charm of classic pixel art without feeling outdated. Environments are colorful, enemies are easy to distinguish during hectic firefights, and animations communicate attacks clearly enough to allow skilled players to react appropriately. Although the graphics remain relatively simple, they complement the game's arcade-inspired gameplay perfectly. Explosions, weapon effects, and enemy projectiles create enough spectacle to make combat exciting while avoiding excessive visual clutter. The soundtrack matches the pace with energetic compositions that maintain tension throughout each dungeon, while sound effects reinforce the impact of every successful shot, defeated enemy, and valuable pickup.
Boss encounters serve as memorable highlights, acting as true tests of everything learned throughout a run. These larger enemies feature more elaborate attack patterns that demand patience, positioning, and mastery of the player's current arsenal. Defeating them feels genuinely rewarding because victory depends more on player skill than random chance. Although luck influences which items become available during a run, understanding enemy behavior and making smart tactical decisions remain the most important ingredients for success. This balance between randomness and player ability helps Toroom avoid feeling unfair while still delivering the unpredictability that defines the roguelike genre.
The game is not completely free of shortcomings. Its challenging pace can be overwhelming for newcomers, particularly when later stages fill the screen with numerous projectiles and aggressive enemies. Certain runs may also feel significantly easier or harder depending on early item drops, leading to occasional balance fluctuations that are common within procedurally generated games. In addition, players seeking a story-driven experience may find the narrative relatively light, as most of the game's attention is devoted to refining its combat and replayability rather than developing an elaborate plot or cast of characters.
Despite these minor issues, Toroom succeeds as a polished indie roguelike that understands exactly what makes the genre enjoyable. The combination of randomized dungeons, responsive twin-stick shooting, diverse equipment, rewarding progression, and entertaining boss fights creates an addictive gameplay loop that encourages repeated attempts. Its humorous premise adds charm without distracting from the action, while the constant variety ensures that every new run presents fresh opportunities and challenges. For players who enjoy skill-based action games with strong replay value, Toroom delivers a thoroughly satisfying experience that remains engaging long after the first successful escape.
Toroom delivers an enjoyable blend of challenging combat, rewarding progression, and excellent replayability, making it a standout indie roguelike for players who appreciate fast-paced twin-stick action and endless opportunities to experiment with new builds.
Rating: 8/10