What would you do if you found yourself trapped in a digital world, a place clearly designed to entertain you, but one where the once jovial systems have been twisted into your deadly prison? This is a concept that has been explored a few times, most notably by the Tron series and, in more recent years, The Amazing Digital Circus. My favorite take on the concept so far is definitely ODDCORE.
ODDCORE is a roguelike FPS shooter in which the player finds themselves randomly pulled into the titular Oddcore, a virtual amusement park capable of generating an infinite number of procedural rooms for the player to explore. Limited to only five minutes per run, the player must enter each room, complete its required task, and move on, getting as far as possible to earn as many tokens as they can by the end of each attempt. Meanwhile, something sinister lurks in the finite spaces between each procedurally generated room, stalking you across an increasingly creepy digital landscape.
ODDCORE was the biggest surprise of the year so far. Considering we are only a week in, that may not sound like much, but I was certainly not expecting to be impressed by this game as much as I was.
While the game is still in Early Access, I feel that the core systems are already in a solid and impressive state. In particular, the game’s FPS combat is already implemented better than in many other titles I have played recently. The gunplay is tight, with a unique arsenal of weapons and very satisfying hit feedback when mowing down enemies, and the game gives you a lot of versatile movement options that allow you to speed through the terrain and your foes alike.
The sense of speed afforded to the player in ODDCORE is especially appreciated because of the game’s unique timed runs. As soon as you start a run, you are on a ticking clock with only five minutes by default. While this timer stops in shop rooms and can occasionally be increased by spending currency collected during a run, you are essentially always in a rush, trying to clear rooms as quickly as possible and move on with minimal delay so that you can optimize your limited time. I often found myself moving through rooms so fast that I later realized I had left behind useful items that could have helped me or that I had barely escaped something sinister before I fully understood what was happening.
If there was one thing you absolutely had to give ODDCORE credit for, it would be the game’s aesthetic.
ODDCORE weaponizes a unique early nineties digital wasteland look, corrupted by its own limitless possibilities. Each room you enter feels like a set piece constructed on the spot with a series of parameters designed to make you feel comfortable, but with a fundamental misunderstanding of what comfort or normalcy actually is. A farmland might feature a floating barn, a hallway might stretch on for far too long, or you might even find yourself in a digital rendition of the poolrooms. Every level is designed to feel adjacent to normal, like everything is just one step away from being correct, which makes it feel all the more wrong.
This unique atmosphere makes the game even more effective when it leans into its horror elements. I will not spoil anything for you, dear reader, but what I will say is that there are some very strong ghost in the machine vibes present in this title.
What is most jaw-dropping to me is that ODDCORE manages to cram all of this content, all of this proficiency in its medium, and an overall great experience into the almost insultingly low price of just $9.99, or $7.99 if you catch it on sale. At this price, the game is what I can only describe as a steal, and I would be surprised if you have made it this far into the review and are still undecided about whether you want to try it for yourself.
“But, Erik,” I hear you say, somehow, even though this was written long before you had the chance to read it, and we exist in different parts of the room, and because you are not actually speaking right now. “The game is in Early Access. Surely that means it is in an unfinished state, right?”
That is correct, and for an unfinished game, ODDCORE is certainly impressive. There is a lot to do in this experience, especially for the price tag, although the incomplete nature does show in a few areas. Most notably, there is a lack of variety in enemy designs and room layouts that, while difficult to notice during the moment-to-moment gameplay due to how fast paced and eerie it is, became more apparent in hindsight. If the game needs anything, it is more variety in its environments and in the enemies encountered within them.
So, what does the game’s store page say about its Early Access run?
“We currently plan to stay in Early Access for around 6 to 12 months, depending on development progress and community feedback.
The Early Access version already includes the core systems that define the ODDCORE experience: fast-paced combat, tight gunplay, and the surreal liminal atmosphere. During Early Access, the bois plan to expand and refine these mechanics based on ongoing development and community feedback. If everything goes well, we’d love to explore adding the following:
– New variants to further expand replayability
– Additional enemy types and combat encounters
– More weapons, upgrades, and progression paths
– Refined visual effects, audio, and overall polish
– Improvements to existing modes and systems
– New features that enhance depth, variety, and long-term progression”
Well, there you have it. Everything I have to criticize about ODDCORE is already being addressed by the development team as planned additions. Time will tell how well they follow through on these promises, but if you ask me, I am fairly confident that ODDCORE will stand out as a unique and incredibly fun title by the time it finishes its Early Access run. It is already both of those things now, and adding more content can only make it better.
Pros:
- An incredible, eerie vibe that makes the game stand out
- Solid, fun-to-play movement shooter mechanics
- A unique time-limit-based twist on the roguelike genre
- Incredible horror subtly woven into the experience
Cons:
- Limited content in Early Access, stated to be added as the game continues development
TryHardGuides reviewed ODDCORE on the PC. Find more detailed looks at popular and upcoming titles on our Game Reviews page!
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