The Legend of Bum-Bo

The Legend of Bum-Bo starts from a strange place even by roguelike standards: it is a puzzle-heavy dungeon run built around matching tiles and managing the little pile of resources each turn leaves behind. By our assessment, that gives it a distinct identity, because the game is less about pure action and more about turning each room into a small chain of decisions. The downside is that its look and tone can be off-putting if someone expects a straightforward fantasy adventure, and the puzzle layer can feel awkward before the system clicks. In play it has the stop-start rhythm of a puzzle game dressed in dungeon clothing, with a lot of planning and a fair amount of recovery from bad turns. It sits apart from cleaner, simpler roguelites by being more idiosyncratic and less immediately welcoming. That makes it interesting to people who like oddball systems and less appealing to players who want an easy read from the first minute.