Release Date: September 29th, 2025
Developer: TrueWorld Studios
Platforms: PC
Price: $24.99

Roguelites have seen increasing popularity for years now, and every month sees a plethora of new releases that challenge players (and their mental state) with formidable foes, hazardous levels, frenetic gameplay, and a trove of surprises. It’s admittedly hard to keep up with all the new titles that come out as the genre becomes more and more oversaturated, but thankfully these titles are also fighting for artistic supremacy, which is, to me, increasingly important as every game now tends to blend into each other mechanically. With UNYIELDER, TrueWorld Studios set out to really create a fusion of styles that help it stand out amongst the crowd, and it works to its benefit as it doesn’t just end its creativity visually, but mechanically with forward-thinking progression and a new approach to boss fights.

UNYIELDER is a single-player movement-focused FPS that blends roguelite mechanics with a boss-rush structure. Set in a surreal version of Antarctica, players choose from five distinct character types and battle through over 40 unique bosses using a rotating arsenal of more than 30 weapons. It's aesthetic is a huge driving force in what makes UNYIELDER so special, with neat features and mechanics like its BYOBoss mechanic where it dynamically builds your final boss from the ones you’ve defeated, ensuring each run ends with a personalized crescendo of chaos, keeping things fresh and heavy of anticipation for the player. The aesthetic leans into absurdity, with mechanical monstrosities and explosive environments that feel like a fever dream rendered in high fidelity as UNYIELDER will lead you down a rabbit hole of colorful insanity.

Fans of roguelites in general should find a lot to adore about from UNYIELDER and should feel right at home, but compared to other roguelite shooters like, say, Risk of Rain 2 or Dead Cells (but in first-person form), UNYIELDER is more focused and intense. It strips away the commonly seen metroidvania-esque exploration aspect in favor of pure combat, making it ideal for players who prefer action over narrative and really just want to get into the nitty gritty without much need of a story to drive them forward. This is particularly beneficial here for UNYIELDER because, to be frank, the story is minimal and lacks emotional weight, though the gameplay more than compensates for its narrative shortcomings. It’s especially appealing to fans of Ultrakill, DOOM Eternal, and Hades—those who thrive on speed, skill, and spectacle.

Despite all its bravado and panache, performance-wise, rest assured that UNYIELDER runs incredibly smooth on PC, where we tested on a mid-range laptop, a high-end laptop, and a high-end desktop PC. It provided us with consistent frame rates even during the most chaotic encounters, which made UNYIELDER even more of a spectacle to behold as it held its own with the frenetic nature of its on-screen carnage. The game’s movement system—wall-running, air-dashing, and double-jumping—demands fluid responsiveness, and thankfully it delivers in this regard. Load times are also minimal, and the UI is snappy, though there are occasional stutters during boss transitions, but this is just nitpicking and doesn't impact the game much. The visual effects can be intense at times but overall are well-optimized, and the soundtrack adds a pulse-pounding layer to the action, perfectly complementing the experience where the OST is clearly every bit as important as the game itself, and just wouldn't be the same without it.

In terms of game length, being a rogue lite, UNYIELDER is designed for short, repeatable runs. A single run might last 30–45 minutes, but the roguelite structure encourages dozens of playthroughs. As one can imagine,the difficulty ramps up quickly, with each boss introducing new mechanics and attack patterns to throw off guard and ready you for a skill check. One of my favorite bits, though, is UNYIELDER's loot system—based on cards dropped by defeated bosses—which adds strategic depth, allowing players to tailor builds with perks like faster reloads or increased health. It’s not forgiving, but it’s fair: success hinges on learning patterns, mastering movement, and making smart upgrade choices. As mentioned before, this is typical of most roguelites, I feel, but is especially sophisticated with UNYIELDER.

Despite not being much of a roguelite person myself, I found UNYIELDER to be incredibly engaging and accessible, but there's no denying that UNYIELDER is best suited for hardcore FPS players, speedrunners, and roguelite enthusiasts who enjoy high difficulty and mechanical depth. Casual rogue players like myself admittedly might find the learning curve steep, but those willing to invest the time will discover a game that’s endlessly replayable and deeply satisfying. Overall, if you’re looking for a game that tests your reflexes, creativity, and grit, UNYIELDER is a must-play.

PROS:

Appealing visuals keep UNYIELDER as a feast for the eyes all throughout its gameplay
UNYIELDER is a no-nonsense kind of game that gets straight to the point, giving a rush of adrenaline with encounter.

CONS:

Its difficulty spikes, while expected, can seem a bit outrageous.
Its short duration may be a turn-off for some, despite its replay value.

A massive thank you and show of gratitude to TrueWorld Studios and SHUHEISHA Games for providing us a copy of UNYIELDER for the purposes of this review!

UNYIELDER Review