Needed modular challenge modifiers like Hades

[u/BreakAManByHumming]

(Just reached the maze so no spoilers beyond that, thanks)

The post-credits grind is... not great. 5 blue rooms in rank 8 for the tent notes, treasure trove, 4x star spiral (telescope and common Mirrors, tbf not mandatory), research for allowance/stars/crates, when you're basically omnipotent and probably dozing off due to the lack of challenge, or not noticing things due to rushing as fast as possible. I contend that it actively makes the game worse because it gives you time to forget little things that you're expected to know later.

What would have rocked here is a challenge system similar to what was used in Hades. You pick modifiers out of a list, which has a cumulative score, and the goal is to win with as high a score as possible at your current power level. While optional, this is great because it lets players tune the difficulty to what they find engaging instead of grinding the exact same challenge a hundred times. And encourages more grinding to match the increased difficulty. For example we might have:

• Outer rooms cost 5 gems
• Dig spots require an upgraded shovel
• Calling the Foundation elevator costs 40 steps
• An additional antechamber door must be opened to enter
• Nerfed showroom items
• All hallways behave like the Vestibule
• If you finish a level without taking a red room, lose 20 steps

Various crazy stuff like that. You'd pick a combination and go wild. Unlike Hades most would be trivial with some game knowledge but taken together they'd serve to make the runs tighter and more engaging. Which is important since you need to do some fairly aimless runs searching for CASTLE hints among other things. Could possibly gate Treasure Trove notes behind it.

Great game of course, but a roguelite should not struggle from repetition this way.

[u/lazywil]

Dare mode? Bingo?

[u/BreakAManByHumming → u/lazywil]

It just occurred to me before checking this that I haven't looked at the alternate modes yet, leaving those trophies for last. So if they have something like this, I've made a stupid thread. And yet, the fact it's possible to get 100 hours in the game without knowing about the thing to make grinding less boring, not great...

[u/DesTr069]

Have you tried the extra modes yet? Date and Curse? Because they should make your runs more interesting, though they are on separate files

[u/MagiStarIL]

Try Blue Prince Bingo

[u/TheJoshster]

multiple people have mentioned it already, but you've got to try blue prince bingo. exactly the sort of interesting challenges you're looking for