Roguelike adventures and dungeon crawlers are popular as ever; standing out in the that crowded field can be difficult, but Children of Morta accomplishes that rare feat with aplomb. What otherwise would have been an enjoyable yet forgettable roguelike game transforms into a compelling narrative with a cast of characters that will command your loyalty. It’s a story about family, and that central pillar of the game elevates the entire experience to a higher plane. Children of Morta invites players to explore the world as different members of the Bergsons—warrior family that fiercely protects the surrounding land. And that tight knit clan shines bright in the world of darkness.

STORY

The setting of Children of Morta is standard fantasy fare. The Corruption has returned to the land and it’s decimating everything. Wildlife are being killed or corrupted. Pilgrims are being slaughtered. The world is tainted, and darkness threatens to devour all. And the only ones who can stand in the way of that—the Bergsons. The elderly sage Margaret. The strong father figure and sword-wielding John. His pregnant wife Mary who supports the family and cares for the wounded. Uncle Ben and his workshop full of wonderful contraptions. And the children of the Bergson clan. The older brother Mark and his martial arts. The eldest daughter Linda and her archery prowess. Young Kevin with the lightning-fast daggers. The little one Lucy and her frenzied waves of fireballs. And Joey with his crushing Warhammer.

These are the characters that will evolve and grow in front of you. Their lives are spent protecting the land from the Corruption, and the family bonds deepen when confronted by the burden of their heritage.

Cleansing the Corruption means visiting the dark and dangerous parts of the land, but the divine entity of the land bestowed upon the Bergson family a powerful crystal that can channel energy and open portals to these dungeons and locales. Shards from the same crystal also allow the sojourning members of the family to teleport back home when they are in need of rest and companionship.

It’s a long road to bring light and purity back to the world.

GAMEPLAY

As with any roguelike, Children of Morta requires iterative play. Dungeons consist of multiple levels, and it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to complete a full dungeon on your first run. Exploring the caverns and tainted wastelands will reveal side quests, enhancements, and other buffs, as well as the monsters that dwell within the depths. So you’ll need to venture into a dungeon more than once to fully discover everything that’s there.

In a normal roguelike, repetition enables players to upgrade, modify, and enhance their way to success. It’s a grind, but the best games find a way to entice gamers and make the progression a rewarding and exciting experience. Children of Morta alters that method by encouraging gamers to play as different members of the Bergson family. Each character has their own unique blend of melee combat or ranged attacks. And strengthening each individual also bolsters the entire family. The skill trees grant abilities that will improve the efficiency of the lone Bergson family member, but there are also family-wide buffs. That interconnectedness alleviates the fatigue one might suffer from the grind but it also heightens the desire to improve. Everyone is getting stronger. It’s a clever mechanic that makes the roguelike addicting and reinforces the strong narrative focus on the Bergsons.

At the end of each dungeon, a boss awaits. These challenges will test the vitality and strategy of the characters. You might prefer an aggressive melee approach when dealing with the hordes of creatures, but the final encounter could require a deft hand and a ranged fighter. So even for the bosses, you have to adapt and switch between the family members.

Beyond the base stats of each character, though, there are a lot of ways to augment your play. The Bergsons benefit from specific abilities that they are able to channel while fighting. Swords raining down from above. Exploding arrows. Stunning whips. Fireballs and rage-filled whirlwind attacks. But there’s more.

Obelisks throughout the dungeons imbue the fighter with a temporary buff that runs out. Other divine enchantments can be picked up from chests and safe rooms that will offer the Bergsons an additional benefit until they die or vanquish a boss. And multiple buffs can be active at the same time. So it’s possible to run through a dungeon with enhanced speed while a floating orb shoots ranged attacks at the enemies, who are attacking a Bergson with greater maximum health and poison-laced weapons. All of that is before you even attack.

That kind of power feels great when you can wipe out waves of enemies and vacuum up the health potions and gold that are dropped from their corpses.

With all of that combining into a satisfying combat experience, the roguelike gameplay in Children of Morta works wonders. It’s an intoxicating ride.

VISUALS

In addition to the excellent story anchored around the Bergsons, the beautiful pixelated art really makes Children of Morta come alive. The family’s home is a mosaic of rich blues, greens, and the stained-glass windows reveal the colorful rooms inside. The contrast between the natural landscape and the spread of the Corruption is stark, and each dungeon reflects a captivating setting with interesting visual details.

Pixelated graphics can seem lacking in many games, but I felt the same connection to the world as I did to the Bergsons. Cool animations for character abilities and a distinct appearance for each of the Bergson clan both craft an authentic adventure with stylish pixel art and considerable charm.

REPLAYABILITY

You can play Children of Morta many different ways. It’s possible to lean more heavily toward melee or ranged fighting, and you can customize the skill tree in different ways to accentuate separate strengths or abilities. And the intriguing narrative centered around the family might pull you back into the world for more glorious grinding.

WHAT IT COULD HAVE DONE BETTER

Another ranged fighter would have improved the rotation of characters. The game’s melee-heavy at the moment, but enough variety between the six family members prevents that from becoming burdensome.

VERDICT

Children of Morta is a superb roguelike that features an engaging fantasy narrative and one of the best families in video games. The Bergsons are a wild bunch of charismatic warriors, and you’ll come to care about them all before your adventure ends. An indie game with gore, guts, and good stuff. You don’t want to miss out.