Zengeon

Zengeon is a curious blend of action RPG and roguelite design, developed by IndieLeague Studio and published by 2P Games. Drawing heavy inspiration from Chinese mythology and anime aesthetics, the game delivers a vibrant world that looks striking from the very beginning. Set in a universe where the Celestial Academy trains gifted students to protect the realm, the story kicks off when an ancient seal breaks during a lunar eclipse, unleashing dark forces that threaten the world. Though this narrative framework sounds grand, it mostly serves as a background to the gameplay. The story isn't deeply developed, and while each character has some backstory, the narrative rarely takes center stage during play, which might disappoint players hoping for a richer, more integrated lore experience.
The core gameplay loop centers on selecting one of several playable characters—each with unique skills, stats, and associated Guardian spirits—and battling through procedurally generated levels teeming with monsters and bosses. Combat is fast-paced and centered on dodging, basic attacks, and triggering power-ups that you collect throughout each run. The power-up system adds some variety, with random abilities like chain lightning, healing fields, or elemental effects adding flavor to the otherwise straightforward combat. However, the responsiveness of combat is inconsistent. Attacks often feel floaty, and character movement can be sluggish, especially in tight situations where reaction time should be critical. There's a noticeable input delay on some actions, and enemy attacks can feel cheap, often interrupting your flow with minimal counterplay.
Zengeon’s roguelite elements emphasize randomness and repetition. Every run resets your character's progress, with only a few collectible story fragments contributing to minor permanent improvements. While this design aligns with genre standards, the lack of deeper meta-progression makes the experience feel hollow after several runs. Leveling within a session only increases base stats like attack and health, without introducing new skills or abilities that meaningfully change your combat approach. The randomness of the power-ups offers some build variety, but over time, these options start to feel repetitive due to limited synergy and shallow customization. Enemy types also lack diversity, often recycled with new color palettes or slightly altered behavior, which further contributes to the game’s sense of repetition.
Despite these gameplay limitations, Zengeon does stand out visually. The art direction leans heavily into anime styling, with colorful spell effects, vibrant environments, and distinctive character designs. Every attack lights up the screen with flair, and the overall presentation is polished for an indie title. The design is clearly aimed at fans of action-heavy anime and stylish combat games. Audio design is serviceable, with decent voice work and a soundtrack that complements the action, though none of the music tracks leave a lasting impression. There’s a certain charm in how the game presents itself, even when the underlying systems don’t fully deliver on their potential.
One of the stronger aspects of Zengeon is its cooperative play. The game supports up to four players in online multiplayer, and the experience becomes noticeably more enjoyable when tackled as a group. The chaotic action feels more forgiving, the pacing picks up, and the sheer spectacle of elemental effects and Guardian abilities overlapping on screen can be genuinely fun. Playing solo, by contrast, highlights the game’s shortcomings—particularly the sluggish movement, enemy imbalance, and the grindy nature of character progression. Co-op helps mask these flaws to an extent, but it doesn’t eliminate them.
On the technical side, performance varies. On PC via Steam, the game generally runs well and supports features like Steam Deck compatibility, achievements, and trading cards. Console versions, particularly on the Nintendo Switch, have been reported to suffer from occasional frame drops and crashes during more intense sequences. These performance issues, while not game-breaking, are worth noting for players who prefer smoother gameplay, especially in a genre that often demands quick reflexes and constant movement.
Reception to Zengeon has been mixed. Steam reviews hover in the middle range, with many players praising its aesthetic and cooperative potential, but criticizing its gameplay depth and control responsiveness. Professional reviews share similar concerns, with some noting that the game offers a solid foundation but fails to build upon it meaningfully. The overall consensus is that Zengeon is a game that looks better than it plays—its style and premise are strong, but its mechanics don’t fully realize the potential of its genre mix. It’s the kind of title that might be appreciated by a niche audience, particularly those who enjoy casual roguelites with anime presentation, but it’s unlikely to satisfy players looking for deeper, more refined gameplay.
Ultimately, Zengeon is a decent but flawed experience. Its visual appeal and mythological themes set it apart from many indie roguelites, but the game’s moment-to-moment gameplay doesn’t quite measure up. Combat lacks polish, progression feels shallow, and enemy design is too repetitive to sustain long-term engagement. It’s an enjoyable ride in short bursts, especially with friends, but it struggles to hold attention in extended sessions. For fans of the genre, it might be worth picking up during a sale or as part of a bundle. Otherwise, it serves more as a stylistic experiment than a fully realized roguelite experience.
Rating: 6/10

I'm not sure why Anime inspired games always have this crazy focus on making things flashy. The level design is a bit dull, but combat is entertaining for a bit. The whole thing feels pretty lackluster though, so I recommend this with the most average of recommendations.

The overal aesthetic of the game is really nice, The gameplay is similar to that of a moba. It's actually kinda fun.
Online Co-op and Private rooms do not work as of this review. From the looks of things these two functions have not been working for a few years now. Whenever I've tried to create a lobby it does not work.
I kind of wish there was a neutral option so I'll give it a recommendation, But just don't expect the coop portion to work unless you use Lan(Hamachi/ Radmin)

fun game