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Brut@l

Brut@l

Stormcloud Games Limited · released Feb 9, 2017

ActionAdventurePCPlayStation 4

A modern re-imagining of the classic ASCII dungeon crawler. Choose your hero and descend into a procedurally generated world constructed entirely from ASCII letters. Can you survive?

71
VGC Score
·No trend datalow confidence
73%
At launch
76%
Steam all-time
69%
Press
100%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)6911
Creator reviews (2 tracked)861
All-time Steam reviews76%7185
Metacritic user ratings0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)100%971
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 2 reviews sampled · 1 total reviews in window · weighted 1 up / 0 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (46)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 60
    trust 70Feb 14, 2017

    Though not without faults and a little too easy, Brut@l is still a fairly amusing game. It's fun exploring the dungeon while crushing its many denizens. The gear system is clever and works quite well. Anyone seeking a greater challenge should probably refrain from exploiting the special attacks and vampire curse potions. This rogue-like arguably won't go down as the classic that it's inspired by, but it isn't a bad way to pass the time.

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  • 70
    trust 69Aug 2, 2016

    Brut@l is a fun dungeon crawler regardless of whether the historical significance of collecting letters and throwing the @ sign at goblins is lost on you. A distinctive visual style complements simple and enjoyable combat, a satisfying collection of craftable weapons, and a rewarding learning curve. Dungeon runs can get a bit samey, but a co-op mode and robust dungeon creator reward further visits.

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  • 68
    trust 67Mar 3, 2017

    Brut@l has a striking aesthetic that tries to brush up on the ASCII dungeon roguelikes of old and modernize the formula some in the process. In the end, Stormcloud Games gets more right than wrong, though a few frustrating quirks turn the title into a niche title that will not appeal to everyone.

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  • 85
    trust 67Aug 18, 2016

    I really liked Brut@l. It has vivid graphics, good depth, a strong solo mode with its presentation of dungeons and the enemies, and this was topped off with a really intuitive Dungeon Creator. There is plenty on offer here, and it certainly doesn’t restrict itself to fans of the genre.

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  • 70
    trust 65Aug 2, 2016

    Brut@l is certainly a punishing experience for those not used to Rogue-like tropes. Yet it’s a visually attractive game that pays tribute to Rogue in its ASCII style that’s genuinely appealing, as well as having a clean interface and enough flair in the combat to not be devalued as a button masher. A few issues rise when it comes to cooperative play, which make this a harder sell, but Brut@l is otherwise a fitting tribute to Rogue and the genre that came from it that dominates the indie scene.

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  • 90
    trust 64Aug 6, 2016

    Brut@l is one of my favorite dungeon crawling games that I’ve played in a very long time. The visual style of the game is striking and beautiful, the combat is smooth and fluid, and the game has tons of replay value both with it’s level editor and the randomly generated dungeons. If you like trophies the game has a full set including a Platinum to go after as well. The altars in the game feel a little unfair and I wish you could have more than one level created and shared at a time but those are minor nitpicks in this great game. Brut@l is for you if you’re seeking a unique challenging new dungeon crawler.

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  • 50
    trust 63Aug 8, 2016

    The visual look of the game is novel and fun, but underneath it is a shallow and only intermittently enjoyable dungeon crawler.

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  • 70
    trust 63Aug 2, 2016

    Brut@l could use some more content to make runs feel more unique, but the game is pretty fun as it stands. A lovely ASCII-inspired artstyle, entertaining co-op, and some great exploration help carry so-so combat and a lame dungeon creator.

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  • 65
    trust 62Feb 10, 2017

    In case it hasn't become clear, Brut@l is a simple experience. That simplicity isn't necessarily bad, as it allows the game to be very focused on the intended experience. I enjoy the game, and for others your enjoyment of the game will hinge entirely on how much you enjoy the core gameplay: kill/break stuff to get materials for more and better stuff, try to conserve resources, repeat until boss or death. The simplistic combat leaves a little to be desired, but it's an entertaining and mostly gratifying way to unplug and spend a few hours causing a little mayhem.

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  • 50
    trust 62Aug 8, 2016

    Brut@l has visual style to spare, but like a dull book with a beautiful cover, the actual game itself is nothing more than a standard dungeon crawler with divisive rougelike elements.

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  • 90
    trust 62Sep 12, 2016

    Brut@al is a brilliant game. There are 26 random levels which ramp up in difficulty at a steady pace, with the final level pitting you against the Guardian of Dungeon. While the game can be a little repetitive and frustrating due to its nature, you’ll love every minute of it, the game is highly addictive. I had a lot of fun playing it for my Brut@l review as I tried to get all trophies to unlock a new shiny Platinum for my collection.

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  • 75
    trust 62CreatorAug 9, 2016
    read full review ↗

…and 34 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

No patch announcements found on Steam yet.