BELOW

This game is a little difficult to recommend. However, there is so much done right that I haven't gotten from any other game.

Below is a very punishing game, more so than it is difficult. I had to take two different multi-month-long breaks because dying was so demoralizing. If this sounds like it might be you, it's worth trying out explore mode as the amazing atmosphere is there all the same. Explore mode is a bit of a mixed bag removing the needlessly cruel one-hit-kills, but also the survival mechanics. I expect most people to prefer it.

Beyond the difficulty, Below is a masterclass in ambiance. The sound and visual design is standout, while leaving room for tense and careful gameplay. The survival complements the combat and breaching into the unknown feels exhilarating. There's a certain type of person who I can imagine has Below as their favorite game, but they'd need a strong will to get over the difficulty. Explore mode is a heartbreaking compromise because the peaks are so much lower. The developers were right to make it as punishing as they did, but players were right to complain.

Try this game if you like exploration and mystery or if you like horror movies. Don't be shy about looking up a guide if you'd otherwise give up.

High-skill combat roguelike. If you love a challenge, the ambiance and story really unfold down at the lower levels but it gets to be a bit ridiculous how tedious it can be, so this game isn't for everyone

Such a great game, patience and planning are required for success.

The game is good
A really cool souls-like with a top down camera angle. It mixes survival elements with traditional souls combat for a really cool experience. It isn't the longest game. But well worth the money spent.

The graphics on this game are stunning, which is why I picked it up initially. But it is very much a resource gathering and exploration game. It does not hold your hand, and literally just plops you down into the world to have at it. If you like that kind of vibe, you will likely enjoy this game. It's not something that I vibe with as much though, so I haven't really been able to get into it as much as I thought I would.

Received as a bday gift and dove in blind, and by god how blind I was. This game does not do any handholding. Everything is meant to be figured out as you go and it is all the better for it. The first game that came to mind when I booted it up was GRIS, and similar to that game the artstyle and sound design almost immediately emersed me. I write this after playing only for 1 hour.

It's a good game, besides one major gripe (see below). It requires patience but the sense of mystery is near unmatched. There's not really a story, but the world feels very real. Soundtrack and art direction (besides gripe, see below) are incredible. If you like Rain World, this game is for you.
Spoilers: The ending sucks. Not the final levels, I enjoyed those, just the very end. It's a really bad cutscene, both visually and narratively, that's out of place and extremely edgy. It takes away from what little story there is, undermining the whole adventure. It's one step above "it was all a dream". The fact that it's not at the very least an in-game cutscene is ridiculous - the pre-rendered visuals are by far worse than the in-game ones. It feels like it was written by someone's 12 year old son and tacked on in the last month of development.
Overall, I recommend Below, but this cutscene has single-handedly prevented me from wanting to replay the game.
6/10, 8.5 without ending