Cloudheim is the kind of game that first seduces you with its appearance, then gently beats you up around the corner. At first glance, everything looks romantic: misty landscapes, ruins that seem to hide secrets, enemies that look like they’ve jumped out of a textbook on forgotten monsters. But as soon as you step deeper, you realize that Cloudheim is actually a roguelite that laughs in your face every time you die, which happens often. The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch, with each version having its good and somewhat less good moments.
The combat is simple on paper, but in practice, it resembles a dance where you constantly step on your partner's toes. You need to assess when to attack, when to flee, and when to pretend you know what you’re doing. Opponents range from somewhat funny to extremely dangerous, but they often share similar attacking habits, so combat can feel predictable after a while. Nevertheless, weapons and special abilities do a great job of breaking the monotony. If you enjoy experimenting, Cloudheim will give you more than enough reasons to constantly try out new combinations.
The world structure, with randomly generated zones, sometimes seems like it was designed by a factor of luck. One run might offer you a perfectly balanced series of challenges, while the next throws you into chaos that feels like punishment for something you didn’t even do. This certainly adds variety, but can also be frustrating, especially when you feel that the game has taken you down just because it could.
The story is told in fragments, almost as if it was written by someone who loves mystery but not conclusions. It’s intriguing enough to keep your interest, but sometimes leaves you feeling like you’ve read a book with missing chapters. Still, the atmosphere is fantastic. The fog, music, and sense of abandonment create a mood that lingers with you even after you turn off the console.
When it comes to the technical side, Cloudheim can be a bit temperamental. It runs decently on stronger platforms, although there are occasional performance drops just when you’re convinced everything is fine. On the Nintendo Switch, it’s particularly noticeable that the game had to slim down to fit on the device, which results in occasional stutters and a somewhat modest visual presentation. It’s not unplayable, but it is noticeable.
Despite everything, Cloudheim has that something. It makes you want to come back, to try one more time, to prove that you’re not the problem but the layout of the rooms is. It doesn’t revolutionize the genre, but it’s quirky enough, atmospheric, and challenging to stand out from the crowd of similar games. For players who enjoy tactical combat and don’t mind when the game occasionally punishes them without warning, Cloudheim is definitely worth your time.
A copy of the game for review purposes was provided by the development studio Noodle Cat Games
