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''Soulash'' is a 2022 DarkFantasy survival {{roguelike}} created by Artur Smiarowski and hosted on {{UsefulNotes/Steam}} and itch.io.
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''Soulash'' is a 2022 DarkFantasy survival {{roguelike}} created by Artur Smiarowski and hosted on {{UsefulNotes/Steam}} Platform/{{Steam}} and itch.io.
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* RiversOfBlood: This happens literally if you kill Sangre, the Blood God.
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* WalkingWasteland: The Lich race automatically deals death damage to anything in a 1-tile radius, and even kills grass as you walk.
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* BeeAfraid: Bees in this game attack you as soon as they realize you exist and are somehow ''stronger than humans'' and most mammals, including ''cows''. They also don't drop anything if you kill them, not even a corpse.
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* BeeAfraid: Bees in this game attack you as soon as they realize you exist and are somehow ''stronger than humans'' and most mammals, animals, including ''cows''. They also don't drop anything if you kill them, not even a corpse.
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* BeeAfraid: Bees in this game attack you as soon as they realize you exist and are somehow ''stronger than humans'' and most mammals, including ''cows''. They also don't drop anything if you kill them, not even a corpse.
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/header_678.jpg]]
''Soulash'' is a 2022 DarkFantasy survival {{roguelike}} created by Artur Smiarowski and hosted on {{UsefulNotes/Steam}} and itch.io.
Formerly the TopGod, creator and ruler of the [[HomeOfTheGods Dreamworld]], [[VillainProtagonist you]] were betrayed by your children, the lesser gods, and [[SealedEvilInACan sealed in a can]]. After being in chains for millennia and having your once powerful soul nearly drained to nonexistence, you escaped to the mortal plane of existence and [[GodInHumanForm took a mortal vessel]], known among mortals as [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast The Devourer]]. You then set out for revenge on your traitorous offspring in the form of [[OffingTheOffspring killing them]], and [[OmnicidalManiac everyone else]].
----
!!This game contains examples of:
* AGodIsYou: A GodInHumanForm for most of the game, and a [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence true god]] by the [[HomeOfTheGods final area]].
* AllTheWorldsAreAStage: [[spoiler: The Dreamworld, the final area, is made up of sections each themed around an environment from the mortal world.]]
* ApocalypseHow: [[spoiler: Class X-5. At the end of the game, you can choose to take back the remaining fragments of your soul used to create the mortal world, causing the planet and everyone on it to turn to ash. Afterwards, you presumably destroy the rest of existence offscreen, leaving you alone to contemplate in the void.]]
* ArchnemesisDad: The Devourer to Emil and Ariel, and a nemesis granddad to the rest of the gods.
* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: [[spoiler: After killing one of the godlike mortals and obtaining their respective artifact, you can ascend to the Dreamworld, leaving your mortal vessel and becoming an EnergyBeing with no need to eat or drink and omnidirectional vision.]]
* ASCIIArt: Actual [[{{Retraux}} pixel art]] graphics were added in an update, though you can turn them off and go back to ASCII if you want.
* BlackMage: The Warlock profession. They get their power from enslaved demons, and all of their spells are offensive.
* BloodSplatteredWarrior: Engaging in melee combat covers your character in blood, which turns your sprite a varyingly deep shade of red.
* BossBattle: The gods and the two godlike mortals fill this role, the former showing up to fight you whenever you reach a certain level milestone and the latter you can track down and fight at will.
* BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu: Killing a god causes a corresponding aspect of the world to change or be removed entirely. While this fits with your goal of destroying the world and sometimes works to your advantage, it usually doesn't (e.g. killing the river god removes a primary water source).
* CharacterDevelopment: At first seeing them as no more than insects, obstacles or means to an end, as the Devourer assimilates mortals' souls, they end up growing on him in a strange way. [[spoiler: At the end of the game, he states that he's proud of what Emil and Ariel created, in spite of the circumstances, and wants to remake the world with the children after he wipes the slate clean.]]
--->'''Devourer:''' [[spoiler: I have to say before we end this. I wasn't much into your creations at first. But they grew on me. If nothing else, I'm proud of what you've done. I wish we could've tried that together...]]
* ConstructedWorld: Unlike most roguelikes, ''Soulash'''s open world is completely set in stone rather than [[RandomlyGeneratedLevels randomly generated]], and only [=NPCs'=] items and the player's starting location are different with each run.
* CooperationGambit: The gods attempt this with the Devourer with Dalene the Dream Goddess as the messenger, offering him half of the world in exchange for 200 years of peace so they can continue their Grand Experiment. The Devourer declines out of distrust.
* CosmicHorrorStory: While the gods aren't disinterested in mortals, they're nothing more than an experiment and their well-being is far from a priority. As you gain in power and knowledge, you begin to unravel the true nature of the mortal world, the contradictory and pitiful existence that mortals as a whole lead, working and evolving and suffering in service of an end they will never get to see and that, as you soon realize, doesn't even exist; [[ExistentialHorror their lives were pointless to begin with]]. Even moreso now that you're here to [[OmnicidalManiac snuff out their flame]]. [[ImplacableMan Even in mortal form]], you mow down mortals and gods alike and you only get stronger with each life you take. [[spoiler: Seemingly [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] at the end, where the Devourer's CharacterDevelopment has completed and he expresses a desire to recreate the mortal world with Emil and Ariel after he finishes the job, and he may choose to create it in a more meaningful way as opposed to simply having the mortals suffer for no reason. Though, if you choose not to destroy the world in the end and keep it how it is, the mortals just keep on suffering forever with no meaning while an [[GodIsNeutral uncaring god]] watches on.]]
* CowardlyMooks: The merchants, who run away from you and only attempt to fight back if they have no choice, which they then do while trembling and pleading. Very justified since they're otherwise noncombative humans up against a GodInHumanForm.
* CrapsackWorld: Courtesy of the DarkFantasy setting. By the gods' design, advancement in this world is achieved [[ForeverWar entirely through warfare]]. The diverse array of races all have distrustful relations at best and are genocidal at worst, inter and intraspecies slavery is commonplace, and most races have medieval technology at best, so life is tough regardless. The ExistentialHorror themes don't help either, see above.
* CreateYourOwnVillain: [[spoiler: The Devourer seemingly had no ill intentions in the beginning, and has fond memories with his children, Emil and Ariel. Though, when he wouldn't let the children do their art project of the mortal world, [[BetrayedByOffspring they decided to trap him]] in an AndIMustScream state and forcefully recycle his soul to create the rest of the pantheon as well as the mortal world. The only reason they didn't ''[[{{Patricide}} kill him]]'' is because they didn't know how to create life without his soul. You can see how he'd be upset. Despite this, the Devourer regrets that he has to kill them in the final confrontation, and promises to [[InTheirOwnImage start anew]] after he finishes the job.]]
* {{Cult}}: One of the professions you can choose is a Cultist, and there's an enemy cult that worships the "Snake Goddess" (Sukuna, Goddess of Silence) that performs human sacrifices and practices black magic.
* DemBones: Bone Wraiths, a tribal race that build other members out of bones they scavenge. The better bones a Wraith has, the higher their position in the clan. There are also just regular old undead skeletons with swords and bows as enemies.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Goes both ways: random mortals in the early game are perfectly capable of killing you, a (severely weakened) god, and you, in an empowered mortal vessel, are capable of killing actual gods. Can also be [[JustifiedTrope justified]] both ways, as you're a GodInHumanForm.
* DifficultyLevels: Easy, normal and hard. Easy and hard can both be adjusted for custom EasierThanEasy and HarderThanHard modes. The harder you make it, the higher your score at the end of the run.
* TheDreaded: [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast The Devourer]], [[OmnicidalManiac for]] [[GodInHumanForm good]] [[OneManArmy reason]]. His arrival was apparently prophesized, and some enemies' dialogue has them reacting in fear at your presence.
* DualBoss: Emil and Ariel, also the {{Final Boss}}es.
* DualWielding: You can dual wield anything that counts as a weapon and isn't too big, and it usually works.
* EverythingBreaks: Most objects are pretty sturdy, so it's hard to really wipe structures off the map. Seeing how the environment gets scorched, withered and deteriorated in the aftermath of your battles is meant to increase immersion and make you feel more like a PersonOfMassDestruction without the world feeling like it's made of glass.
* EvilVsEvil: A lot of your enemies are pretty reprehensible, among megalomaniacal immortals, barbarians, cultists and slave owners, and even the gods are [[BlackAndGreyMorality grey]] at best.
* FighterMageThief:
** Fighter: Fallen Knight, Berserker, Nomad.
** Mage: Warlock, Necromancer.
** Thief: Poacher.
** MagicKnight: Inquisitor.
** Thief/Mage: Cultist.
* FishPeople
* FlashStep: The Bull Charge ability lets you move six tiles in a single turn to hit an enemy.
* FogOfWar: Slightly downplayed, in that you can sometimes "hear" other entities moving in foggy terrain via an exclamation point at the tile they're on.
* GodEmperor: Sandaver, the God Pharaoh of the Black Pyramid. While he isn't technically a god, he is immortal and on par with or ''stronger than'' most of the actual gods.
* GodhoodSeeker: Sandaver the [[GodEmperor God Pharaoh]] was experimenting with souls to [[ImmortalitySeeker obtain immortality]] and succeeded, and statistically he's on par with plenty of real gods, though he's still considered a pretender by The Devourer.
* GodInHumanForm: You are this, and all of the other gods take on a physical, humanoid form to fight you.
* {{Golem}}: One of the playable races, a ServantRace made of scrap materials.
* HomeOfTheGods: AnotherDimension called the Dreamworld, though not actually a DreamLand. [[spoiler: It apparently doubles as the {{Afterlife}}, with dozens of souls wandering around for you to murder. There are multiple sections with different flavors of the mortal world, each the residence of a corresponding god, and the last section is a FluffyCloudHeaven with [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angels]] where the [[DualBoss Dual]] FinalBoss, Emil and Ariel await.]]
* HumanoidAbomination: The aptly named Abomination, a never before seen creature and "hopefully the last time a living soul ever will". It's a [[BodyHorror mass of rotting muscle, tendons and guts]] given life through unknown means, and has to replace its rotting meat with fresh meat as a replacement for hunger and thirst.
* HumansAreAverage: Humans are noted to be extremely adaptable to any situation in the race description In gameplay, the Human race starts with +1 to every stat, levels up 10% faster, and starves 50% slower than other races, and starts with basic survival gear.
* InUniverseGameClock: Day and night cycle consistently, and you have the ability to sleep until certain times of day. If you kill the Sun God then it'll be permanently night time and vice versa for the Moon God, and if you kill both then it'll switch between the two every single turn.
* JustifiedExtraLives: [[ThePhoenix Phoenix]] Feathers, which you can start with on easy mode or obtain during a run by killing a phoenix.
* KilledOffForReal: Contrary to most open world games, everyone you kill is dead forever, and no one will spawn in their place. If you go back to an area you cleared out prior, all you'll find are corpses, equipment or whatever you left behind.
* MoralityPet: [[spoiler: [[OffingTheOffspring Emil and Ariel]] are the only enemies that the Devourer actually feels regret over having to kill, despite them having been the ones who betrayed and overthrew him in the first place.]]
* MultipleEndings: [[spoiler: At the end of the game, you interact with a projection of the mortal world and are given a choice to either go through with destroying it or decide to keep it around.]]
** [[spoiler: If you choose to destroy the world, the Devourer is left alone in the void, and contemplates this with apparent sadness. [[AmbiguousEnding Though at the end, he notices a fragment of his soul is of different origin, and wonders if he isn't alone after all.]] While this goes unexplained and we don't see what happens after, it otherwise seems to be a RayOfHopeEnding, as before this the Devourer expressed a clear desire to recreate the world along with Emil and Ariel after wiping the slate clean.]]
** [[spoiler: If you choose to spare the world, the mortal races simply continue their existence while the Devourer watches. They continue to work, progress, wage wars, and suffer, [[ExistentialHorror all for nothing.]] The semi-benevolent gods are gone, replaced by a sole [[GodIsNeutral neutral god]], you've killed hundreds of mortals during your rampage, and you've caused permanent changes in the world that will certainly screw up the ecosystem. Despite seeming to be the less cruel choice on paper, this one results in much more of a flat DownerEnding than the other option, as the situation is objectively worse than it started and there is no real hope to be had for a brighter future.]]
* MushroomMan: Mushmen, more sentient fungi than humanoid.
* {{Necromancer}}: One of the professions you can choose, often paired with the [[OurLichesAreDifferent Lich]] race. A few historical necromancers have apparently destroyed entire kingdoms.
* NintendoHard: While the game is marketed as a [[EvilIsCool morbid]] PowerFantasy, what you're really in for is a brutal survival roguelike where you'll be lucky to last until the first boss within your first dozen or so runs. Despite your PlayerCharacter being a GodInHumanForm, in practice you're extremely mortal. You have a vision semicircle instead of an omnidirectional view with FogOfWar, and you have to turn to see things at your side or behind you. You're also made practically blind at night time without a torch or candle. On top of this is BreakableWeapons (though they can be repaired), hunger and thirst (replaced with other nutrient systems for certain races), and stamina that drains with every single action. Not only do you have draining stamina and need to rest every now and then, resting gives you fatigue which lowers your maximum stamina amount until you sleep. It's rather easy for you to wander into enemies you aren't strong enough for yet and you can't escape from them because of them using ranged attacks, or just being faster or the same speed as you. Some {{Game Mod}}s were made just to lighten the load, such as removing weapon durability and adding a sprint ability so you can run away from battles you're certain to lose.
* OmnicidalManiac: Your ultimate goal is wiping the slate of existence clean by reclaiming the bits of your soul used to make it, and [[InTheirOwnImage starting over from scratch]]. [[spoiler: However, you have the option of sparing the survivors of your rampage at the end of the game.]]
* OurAngelsAreDifferent: Winged humanoids with {{Flaming Sword}}s, and the servants and guards of Emil and Ariel, and formerly [[TopGod you]].
* OurDemonsAreDifferent: A barbaric mortal species that lives in [[UndergroundCity Underground Cities]], and has a goal of exterminating the surface folk because the tunnels they dig cause disasters in their cities.
* OurGeniesAreDifferent: [[PhantasySpelling Spelled "Djinni/Djinn"]]. They are beings MadeOfMagic who once ruled the deserts, until a war saw them [[SlaveRace enslaved]] for use of their immense power.
* OurGnomesAreWeirder: Short humanoids who experience the flow of time much faster than others, and possess uniquely advanced technology that ''no one'' can comprehend.
* OurGodsAreDifferent: The Devourer [[TheMaker created]] and [[TopGod ruled]] the [[HomeOfTheGods Dreamworld]], and everything, including the other gods, are made from his soul. Polytheistic, agelessly immortal, human morality, much more powerful than most mortals but not at all untouchable. Their true forms are ethereal glowing spheres that can see in all directions and only need sleep to function, though they can take on a physical, usually humanoid form as well. When a god dies, the property of reality associated with that god either disappears or is drastically modified in some way.
* OurLichesAreDifferent: Powerful mages who've cheated death and gained eternal life, and appear as {{Scary Skeleton}}s. Instead of hunger or thirst, they feed on life essence, which is replenished using their Death Aura that slowly kills anyone and anything in a 1-tile radius. [[GodEmperor God Pharaoh]] [[BossBattle Sandaver]] is a lich who rules over the intelligent undead.
* OurSoulsAreDifferent: Represented by ethereal skulls when you [[YourSoulIsMine absorb them from enemies]], [[spoiler: and wandering souls appear in the [[{{Afterlife}} Dreamworld]] as enemies]]. Taking someone's soul chars their corpse, and you gain the power and knowledge of each soul you take. Everything and everyone in existence is actually made from [[TopGod the Devourer's]] soul.
* OurVampiresAreDifferent: Immortal, [[TheUndead undead]] bloodsuckers with InnateNightVision [[DaywalkingVampire who can survive in the daylight]]. They reside in the Black Pyramid and are conspiring to TakeOverTheWorld and turn the living into livestock.
* ReducedToDust: [[spoiler: [[ApocalypseHow The ultimate fate of the world]], if you choose to destroy it.]]
* SealedEvilInACan: The Devourer.
* ShoutOut:
** The [[Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus Goblin Inquisitor]] in the Steam description.
** One of the Devourer's (unused?) lines, "[[Film/AvengersEndgame I am inevitable.]]"
** "[[Series/GameOfThrones Winter has come!]]" achievement for killing Zima.
** "[[Manga/TheSevenDeadlySins Lion Sin]]" achievement for casting Burning Sun while wielding The Divine Axe.
** "[[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi Unlimited power!!]]" achievement for casting Unlimited Lightning at [[TheEmperor Emperor Alexander.]]
* StandardFantasyRaces: Some have DarkerAndEdgier variants to fit the atmosphere. Dwarves? Nah, DARK DWARVES. Elves? DARK ELVES, ''ONLY''. Humans? ''DARK HUMANS'', not really. Otherwise, Orcs, Trolls, Goblins, Dragons, LizardFolk, TheUndead, Angels, Demons, Gnomes, CatFolk, Gnolls, Centaurs, and so on.
* StockGods:
** TopGod: Formerly the Devourer, now shared by Emil and Ariel.
** Harvest God: Amir. He's the weakest and lamest of the gods and The Devourer makes fun of him during the BossBanter.
** LordOfTheOcean: Ezotl, River God, and Illuvia, Rain Goddess, both have a water theme. The former is also god of the FishPeople.
** [[NatureSpirit Nature Goddess]]: Edona.
** Hunting God: Turdon.
** GodOfLight: Rhaaos, the Sun God.
** UltimateBlacksmith: Smid.
** GodOfTheMoon: Ulnos, combined with GodOfDarkness.
** Dreamweaver: Dalene, also the Messenger.
** God of Knowledge: Vedna, the Goddess of Magic who taught mortals how to bend reality.
** WarGod: Crastos, though currently unfightable.
** Other: Swamp God Qdur, Rot/Medicine God Othos, Mountain/Dwarf God Gramdar, Blood/Vampire God Sangre, Silence Goddess Sukuna, Destiny God Vyber, and Winter God Zima.
* SummoningRitual: You can summon gods at altars with a magical substance (e.g. a dead incorporeal being's ashes) to fight them whenever you want. It's implied that [[ApocalypseCult you were actually summoned]], since you can sometimes spawn by a forgotten or broken altar and/or with a bunch of corpses nearby, who would presumably be sacrifices for the ritual.
* SurvivalSandbox: Hunger, thirst and stamina management, crafting, destructible environment, and a wide-open world with EverythingTryingToKillYou. You can go wherever and do whatever you please, and progression is inevitable due to the nature of the game.
* TankControls: By default, Q and E turn the direction your character is facing (and their vision semicircle), W moves forward, S backward, A and D to the left and right. You can change to more orthodox movement controls, though the facing mechanic is still present.
* TomTheDarkLord: The random name generation can give you rather mundane names, and you can of course [[HelloInsertNameHere choose them yourself]].
* UnitsNotToScale: Can probably be expected for a grid-based roguelike. Dwarves are the same size as dragons, for example.
* VampireHunter: An enemy type. They carry stakes and HolyWater, and they'll try to kill you whether you're actually a vampire or not.
* VillainProtagonist: You play as a vengeful fallen god on a mission to destroy the world.
* VillainsOutShopping: When you're not slaughtering the mortal populace, you can go fishing, farm crops, milk cows, and go camping in the woods.
* YourSoulIsMine: Whenever you kill an enemy, you absorb its soul and gain its strength, knowledge and memories, which is the in-universe explanation for ExperiencePoints and [[CharacterLevel leveling]]. Though, technically, you're taking back what was always yours.
* ZergRush: The optimal strategy for {{Necromancer}}s, especially since you can raise infinite units (at the cost of performance).
* ZombieApocalypse: Invoked if you play as a {{Necromancer}}, where zombies are the first unit you can raise.
----
''Soulash'' is a 2022 DarkFantasy survival {{roguelike}} created by Artur Smiarowski and hosted on {{UsefulNotes/Steam}} and itch.io.
Formerly the TopGod, creator and ruler of the [[HomeOfTheGods Dreamworld]], [[VillainProtagonist you]] were betrayed by your children, the lesser gods, and [[SealedEvilInACan sealed in a can]]. After being in chains for millennia and having your once powerful soul nearly drained to nonexistence, you escaped to the mortal plane of existence and [[GodInHumanForm took a mortal vessel]], known among mortals as [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast The Devourer]]. You then set out for revenge on your traitorous offspring in the form of [[OffingTheOffspring killing them]], and [[OmnicidalManiac everyone else]].
----
!!This game contains examples of:
* AGodIsYou: A GodInHumanForm for most of the game, and a [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence true god]] by the [[HomeOfTheGods final area]].
* AllTheWorldsAreAStage: [[spoiler: The Dreamworld, the final area, is made up of sections each themed around an environment from the mortal world.]]
* ApocalypseHow: [[spoiler: Class X-5. At the end of the game, you can choose to take back the remaining fragments of your soul used to create the mortal world, causing the planet and everyone on it to turn to ash. Afterwards, you presumably destroy the rest of existence offscreen, leaving you alone to contemplate in the void.]]
* ArchnemesisDad: The Devourer to Emil and Ariel, and a nemesis granddad to the rest of the gods.
* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: [[spoiler: After killing one of the godlike mortals and obtaining their respective artifact, you can ascend to the Dreamworld, leaving your mortal vessel and becoming an EnergyBeing with no need to eat or drink and omnidirectional vision.]]
* ASCIIArt: Actual [[{{Retraux}} pixel art]] graphics were added in an update, though you can turn them off and go back to ASCII if you want.
* BlackMage: The Warlock profession. They get their power from enslaved demons, and all of their spells are offensive.
* BloodSplatteredWarrior: Engaging in melee combat covers your character in blood, which turns your sprite a varyingly deep shade of red.
* BossBattle: The gods and the two godlike mortals fill this role, the former showing up to fight you whenever you reach a certain level milestone and the latter you can track down and fight at will.
* BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu: Killing a god causes a corresponding aspect of the world to change or be removed entirely. While this fits with your goal of destroying the world and sometimes works to your advantage, it usually doesn't (e.g. killing the river god removes a primary water source).
* CharacterDevelopment: At first seeing them as no more than insects, obstacles or means to an end, as the Devourer assimilates mortals' souls, they end up growing on him in a strange way. [[spoiler: At the end of the game, he states that he's proud of what Emil and Ariel created, in spite of the circumstances, and wants to remake the world with the children after he wipes the slate clean.]]
--->'''Devourer:''' [[spoiler: I have to say before we end this. I wasn't much into your creations at first. But they grew on me. If nothing else, I'm proud of what you've done. I wish we could've tried that together...]]
* ConstructedWorld: Unlike most roguelikes, ''Soulash'''s open world is completely set in stone rather than [[RandomlyGeneratedLevels randomly generated]], and only [=NPCs'=] items and the player's starting location are different with each run.
* CooperationGambit: The gods attempt this with the Devourer with Dalene the Dream Goddess as the messenger, offering him half of the world in exchange for 200 years of peace so they can continue their Grand Experiment. The Devourer declines out of distrust.
* CosmicHorrorStory: While the gods aren't disinterested in mortals, they're nothing more than an experiment and their well-being is far from a priority. As you gain in power and knowledge, you begin to unravel the true nature of the mortal world, the contradictory and pitiful existence that mortals as a whole lead, working and evolving and suffering in service of an end they will never get to see and that, as you soon realize, doesn't even exist; [[ExistentialHorror their lives were pointless to begin with]]. Even moreso now that you're here to [[OmnicidalManiac snuff out their flame]]. [[ImplacableMan Even in mortal form]], you mow down mortals and gods alike and you only get stronger with each life you take. [[spoiler: Seemingly [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] at the end, where the Devourer's CharacterDevelopment has completed and he expresses a desire to recreate the mortal world with Emil and Ariel after he finishes the job, and he may choose to create it in a more meaningful way as opposed to simply having the mortals suffer for no reason. Though, if you choose not to destroy the world in the end and keep it how it is, the mortals just keep on suffering forever with no meaning while an [[GodIsNeutral uncaring god]] watches on.]]
* CowardlyMooks: The merchants, who run away from you and only attempt to fight back if they have no choice, which they then do while trembling and pleading. Very justified since they're otherwise noncombative humans up against a GodInHumanForm.
* CrapsackWorld: Courtesy of the DarkFantasy setting. By the gods' design, advancement in this world is achieved [[ForeverWar entirely through warfare]]. The diverse array of races all have distrustful relations at best and are genocidal at worst, inter and intraspecies slavery is commonplace, and most races have medieval technology at best, so life is tough regardless. The ExistentialHorror themes don't help either, see above.
* CreateYourOwnVillain: [[spoiler: The Devourer seemingly had no ill intentions in the beginning, and has fond memories with his children, Emil and Ariel. Though, when he wouldn't let the children do their art project of the mortal world, [[BetrayedByOffspring they decided to trap him]] in an AndIMustScream state and forcefully recycle his soul to create the rest of the pantheon as well as the mortal world. The only reason they didn't ''[[{{Patricide}} kill him]]'' is because they didn't know how to create life without his soul. You can see how he'd be upset. Despite this, the Devourer regrets that he has to kill them in the final confrontation, and promises to [[InTheirOwnImage start anew]] after he finishes the job.]]
* {{Cult}}: One of the professions you can choose is a Cultist, and there's an enemy cult that worships the "Snake Goddess" (Sukuna, Goddess of Silence) that performs human sacrifices and practices black magic.
* DemBones: Bone Wraiths, a tribal race that build other members out of bones they scavenge. The better bones a Wraith has, the higher their position in the clan. There are also just regular old undead skeletons with swords and bows as enemies.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Goes both ways: random mortals in the early game are perfectly capable of killing you, a (severely weakened) god, and you, in an empowered mortal vessel, are capable of killing actual gods. Can also be [[JustifiedTrope justified]] both ways, as you're a GodInHumanForm.
* DifficultyLevels: Easy, normal and hard. Easy and hard can both be adjusted for custom EasierThanEasy and HarderThanHard modes. The harder you make it, the higher your score at the end of the run.
* TheDreaded: [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast The Devourer]], [[OmnicidalManiac for]] [[GodInHumanForm good]] [[OneManArmy reason]]. His arrival was apparently prophesized, and some enemies' dialogue has them reacting in fear at your presence.
* DualBoss: Emil and Ariel, also the {{Final Boss}}es.
* DualWielding: You can dual wield anything that counts as a weapon and isn't too big, and it usually works.
* EverythingBreaks: Most objects are pretty sturdy, so it's hard to really wipe structures off the map. Seeing how the environment gets scorched, withered and deteriorated in the aftermath of your battles is meant to increase immersion and make you feel more like a PersonOfMassDestruction without the world feeling like it's made of glass.
* EvilVsEvil: A lot of your enemies are pretty reprehensible, among megalomaniacal immortals, barbarians, cultists and slave owners, and even the gods are [[BlackAndGreyMorality grey]] at best.
* FighterMageThief:
** Fighter: Fallen Knight, Berserker, Nomad.
** Mage: Warlock, Necromancer.
** Thief: Poacher.
** MagicKnight: Inquisitor.
** Thief/Mage: Cultist.
* FishPeople
* FlashStep: The Bull Charge ability lets you move six tiles in a single turn to hit an enemy.
* FogOfWar: Slightly downplayed, in that you can sometimes "hear" other entities moving in foggy terrain via an exclamation point at the tile they're on.
* GodEmperor: Sandaver, the God Pharaoh of the Black Pyramid. While he isn't technically a god, he is immortal and on par with or ''stronger than'' most of the actual gods.
* GodhoodSeeker: Sandaver the [[GodEmperor God Pharaoh]] was experimenting with souls to [[ImmortalitySeeker obtain immortality]] and succeeded, and statistically he's on par with plenty of real gods, though he's still considered a pretender by The Devourer.
* GodInHumanForm: You are this, and all of the other gods take on a physical, humanoid form to fight you.
* {{Golem}}: One of the playable races, a ServantRace made of scrap materials.
* HomeOfTheGods: AnotherDimension called the Dreamworld, though not actually a DreamLand. [[spoiler: It apparently doubles as the {{Afterlife}}, with dozens of souls wandering around for you to murder. There are multiple sections with different flavors of the mortal world, each the residence of a corresponding god, and the last section is a FluffyCloudHeaven with [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angels]] where the [[DualBoss Dual]] FinalBoss, Emil and Ariel await.]]
* HumanoidAbomination: The aptly named Abomination, a never before seen creature and "hopefully the last time a living soul ever will". It's a [[BodyHorror mass of rotting muscle, tendons and guts]] given life through unknown means, and has to replace its rotting meat with fresh meat as a replacement for hunger and thirst.
* HumansAreAverage: Humans are noted to be extremely adaptable to any situation in the race description In gameplay, the Human race starts with +1 to every stat, levels up 10% faster, and starves 50% slower than other races, and starts with basic survival gear.
* InUniverseGameClock: Day and night cycle consistently, and you have the ability to sleep until certain times of day. If you kill the Sun God then it'll be permanently night time and vice versa for the Moon God, and if you kill both then it'll switch between the two every single turn.
* JustifiedExtraLives: [[ThePhoenix Phoenix]] Feathers, which you can start with on easy mode or obtain during a run by killing a phoenix.
* KilledOffForReal: Contrary to most open world games, everyone you kill is dead forever, and no one will spawn in their place. If you go back to an area you cleared out prior, all you'll find are corpses, equipment or whatever you left behind.
* MoralityPet: [[spoiler: [[OffingTheOffspring Emil and Ariel]] are the only enemies that the Devourer actually feels regret over having to kill, despite them having been the ones who betrayed and overthrew him in the first place.]]
* MultipleEndings: [[spoiler: At the end of the game, you interact with a projection of the mortal world and are given a choice to either go through with destroying it or decide to keep it around.]]
** [[spoiler: If you choose to destroy the world, the Devourer is left alone in the void, and contemplates this with apparent sadness. [[AmbiguousEnding Though at the end, he notices a fragment of his soul is of different origin, and wonders if he isn't alone after all.]] While this goes unexplained and we don't see what happens after, it otherwise seems to be a RayOfHopeEnding, as before this the Devourer expressed a clear desire to recreate the world along with Emil and Ariel after wiping the slate clean.]]
** [[spoiler: If you choose to spare the world, the mortal races simply continue their existence while the Devourer watches. They continue to work, progress, wage wars, and suffer, [[ExistentialHorror all for nothing.]] The semi-benevolent gods are gone, replaced by a sole [[GodIsNeutral neutral god]], you've killed hundreds of mortals during your rampage, and you've caused permanent changes in the world that will certainly screw up the ecosystem. Despite seeming to be the less cruel choice on paper, this one results in much more of a flat DownerEnding than the other option, as the situation is objectively worse than it started and there is no real hope to be had for a brighter future.]]
* MushroomMan: Mushmen, more sentient fungi than humanoid.
* {{Necromancer}}: One of the professions you can choose, often paired with the [[OurLichesAreDifferent Lich]] race. A few historical necromancers have apparently destroyed entire kingdoms.
* NintendoHard: While the game is marketed as a [[EvilIsCool morbid]] PowerFantasy, what you're really in for is a brutal survival roguelike where you'll be lucky to last until the first boss within your first dozen or so runs. Despite your PlayerCharacter being a GodInHumanForm, in practice you're extremely mortal. You have a vision semicircle instead of an omnidirectional view with FogOfWar, and you have to turn to see things at your side or behind you. You're also made practically blind at night time without a torch or candle. On top of this is BreakableWeapons (though they can be repaired), hunger and thirst (replaced with other nutrient systems for certain races), and stamina that drains with every single action. Not only do you have draining stamina and need to rest every now and then, resting gives you fatigue which lowers your maximum stamina amount until you sleep. It's rather easy for you to wander into enemies you aren't strong enough for yet and you can't escape from them because of them using ranged attacks, or just being faster or the same speed as you. Some {{Game Mod}}s were made just to lighten the load, such as removing weapon durability and adding a sprint ability so you can run away from battles you're certain to lose.
* OmnicidalManiac: Your ultimate goal is wiping the slate of existence clean by reclaiming the bits of your soul used to make it, and [[InTheirOwnImage starting over from scratch]]. [[spoiler: However, you have the option of sparing the survivors of your rampage at the end of the game.]]
* OurAngelsAreDifferent: Winged humanoids with {{Flaming Sword}}s, and the servants and guards of Emil and Ariel, and formerly [[TopGod you]].
* OurDemonsAreDifferent: A barbaric mortal species that lives in [[UndergroundCity Underground Cities]], and has a goal of exterminating the surface folk because the tunnels they dig cause disasters in their cities.
* OurGeniesAreDifferent: [[PhantasySpelling Spelled "Djinni/Djinn"]]. They are beings MadeOfMagic who once ruled the deserts, until a war saw them [[SlaveRace enslaved]] for use of their immense power.
* OurGnomesAreWeirder: Short humanoids who experience the flow of time much faster than others, and possess uniquely advanced technology that ''no one'' can comprehend.
* OurGodsAreDifferent: The Devourer [[TheMaker created]] and [[TopGod ruled]] the [[HomeOfTheGods Dreamworld]], and everything, including the other gods, are made from his soul. Polytheistic, agelessly immortal, human morality, much more powerful than most mortals but not at all untouchable. Their true forms are ethereal glowing spheres that can see in all directions and only need sleep to function, though they can take on a physical, usually humanoid form as well. When a god dies, the property of reality associated with that god either disappears or is drastically modified in some way.
* OurLichesAreDifferent: Powerful mages who've cheated death and gained eternal life, and appear as {{Scary Skeleton}}s. Instead of hunger or thirst, they feed on life essence, which is replenished using their Death Aura that slowly kills anyone and anything in a 1-tile radius. [[GodEmperor God Pharaoh]] [[BossBattle Sandaver]] is a lich who rules over the intelligent undead.
* OurSoulsAreDifferent: Represented by ethereal skulls when you [[YourSoulIsMine absorb them from enemies]], [[spoiler: and wandering souls appear in the [[{{Afterlife}} Dreamworld]] as enemies]]. Taking someone's soul chars their corpse, and you gain the power and knowledge of each soul you take. Everything and everyone in existence is actually made from [[TopGod the Devourer's]] soul.
* OurVampiresAreDifferent: Immortal, [[TheUndead undead]] bloodsuckers with InnateNightVision [[DaywalkingVampire who can survive in the daylight]]. They reside in the Black Pyramid and are conspiring to TakeOverTheWorld and turn the living into livestock.
* ReducedToDust: [[spoiler: [[ApocalypseHow The ultimate fate of the world]], if you choose to destroy it.]]
* SealedEvilInACan: The Devourer.
* ShoutOut:
** The [[Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus Goblin Inquisitor]] in the Steam description.
** One of the Devourer's (unused?) lines, "[[Film/AvengersEndgame I am inevitable.]]"
** "[[Series/GameOfThrones Winter has come!]]" achievement for killing Zima.
** "[[Manga/TheSevenDeadlySins Lion Sin]]" achievement for casting Burning Sun while wielding The Divine Axe.
** "[[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi Unlimited power!!]]" achievement for casting Unlimited Lightning at [[TheEmperor Emperor Alexander.]]
* StandardFantasyRaces: Some have DarkerAndEdgier variants to fit the atmosphere. Dwarves? Nah, DARK DWARVES. Elves? DARK ELVES, ''ONLY''. Humans? ''DARK HUMANS'', not really. Otherwise, Orcs, Trolls, Goblins, Dragons, LizardFolk, TheUndead, Angels, Demons, Gnomes, CatFolk, Gnolls, Centaurs, and so on.
* StockGods:
** TopGod: Formerly the Devourer, now shared by Emil and Ariel.
** Harvest God: Amir. He's the weakest and lamest of the gods and The Devourer makes fun of him during the BossBanter.
** LordOfTheOcean: Ezotl, River God, and Illuvia, Rain Goddess, both have a water theme. The former is also god of the FishPeople.
** [[NatureSpirit Nature Goddess]]: Edona.
** Hunting God: Turdon.
** GodOfLight: Rhaaos, the Sun God.
** UltimateBlacksmith: Smid.
** GodOfTheMoon: Ulnos, combined with GodOfDarkness.
** Dreamweaver: Dalene, also the Messenger.
** God of Knowledge: Vedna, the Goddess of Magic who taught mortals how to bend reality.
** WarGod: Crastos, though currently unfightable.
** Other: Swamp God Qdur, Rot/Medicine God Othos, Mountain/Dwarf God Gramdar, Blood/Vampire God Sangre, Silence Goddess Sukuna, Destiny God Vyber, and Winter God Zima.
* SummoningRitual: You can summon gods at altars with a magical substance (e.g. a dead incorporeal being's ashes) to fight them whenever you want. It's implied that [[ApocalypseCult you were actually summoned]], since you can sometimes spawn by a forgotten or broken altar and/or with a bunch of corpses nearby, who would presumably be sacrifices for the ritual.
* SurvivalSandbox: Hunger, thirst and stamina management, crafting, destructible environment, and a wide-open world with EverythingTryingToKillYou. You can go wherever and do whatever you please, and progression is inevitable due to the nature of the game.
* TankControls: By default, Q and E turn the direction your character is facing (and their vision semicircle), W moves forward, S backward, A and D to the left and right. You can change to more orthodox movement controls, though the facing mechanic is still present.
* TomTheDarkLord: The random name generation can give you rather mundane names, and you can of course [[HelloInsertNameHere choose them yourself]].
* UnitsNotToScale: Can probably be expected for a grid-based roguelike. Dwarves are the same size as dragons, for example.
* VampireHunter: An enemy type. They carry stakes and HolyWater, and they'll try to kill you whether you're actually a vampire or not.
* VillainProtagonist: You play as a vengeful fallen god on a mission to destroy the world.
* VillainsOutShopping: When you're not slaughtering the mortal populace, you can go fishing, farm crops, milk cows, and go camping in the woods.
* YourSoulIsMine: Whenever you kill an enemy, you absorb its soul and gain its strength, knowledge and memories, which is the in-universe explanation for ExperiencePoints and [[CharacterLevel leveling]]. Though, technically, you're taking back what was always yours.
* ZergRush: The optimal strategy for {{Necromancer}}s, especially since you can raise infinite units (at the cost of performance).
* ZombieApocalypse: Invoked if you play as a {{Necromancer}}, where zombies are the first unit you can raise.
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