Hades Fans Need to Try 2019’s Co-op Riff on the Roguelike Formula
Children of Morta is presented as a strong recommendation for Hades fans: a dark-fantasy roguelike centred on the Bergson family, who repeatedly venture into a corrupted mountain to save their home. Its appeal lies in combining challenging, repeatable action with an emotional story about family members supporting one another despite conflict, trauma and failure.
Developed by Dead Mage, the game received funding in 2015, entered early access in 2019 and expanded beyond its original plans after its success before leaving early access in 2020. Players rotate between distinct family members, including defender John, archer Linda and powerful but vulnerable young mage Lucy; its procedurally generated maps, random items and varied upgrades reward experimentation in solo play or co-operative play.
- Children of Morta blends roguelike combat with family drama.
- It supports both solo and co-operative play.
- Randomised runs encourage varied character builds.
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Children of Morta is an action game in which players make repeated journeys through changing, dangerous areas, becoming stronger after each attempt. It is set in a dark fantasy world where a spreading corruption threatens the home of the Bergson family.
Each member of the family has a different fighting style, so players can choose between close combat, archery and magic, among other approaches. The game can be played alone or with another person, and its levels and rewards change from run to run.
Dead Mage developed the game after a crowdfunding campaign in 2015, releasing it in early access in 2019 before its full release in 2020. It is notable for pairing the repeatable structure of this type of game with a story focused on the family’s relationships and efforts to protect one another.