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Astral Ascent

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 • 2023

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Quick resume

Choose one of four heroes and explore the Garden, an astral prison guarded by 12 powerful mystical bosses: the Zodiacs. Challenge them with dozens of unique spells and faithful friends by your side to unfold the story of this platform roguelite with lightning fast combat.

Global score

95/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Indie, Platform

Similar games

    Pros

    • Fluid and satisfying combat
    • Beautiful pixel art and animations
    • Deep build customization and synergies
    • Engaging boss fights and variety
    • Frequent developer updates and support

    Cons

    • Some performance issues and frame drops reported
    • Spell rotation system can feel clunky
    • Story and dialogue can be cheesy or weak
    • Some rng elements affect run balance
    • Screen clutter in multiplayer can be confusing

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Violence. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Leadership, Competition.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players have meaningful choices about routes, spell upgrades, and build customization, allowing personal control over playstyle and progression."

    • Competence
      4

      "Combat is skill-based with a high skill ceiling; players learn enemy patterns and improve through repeated runs and mastery of mechanics."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is primarily on personal progression and self-improvement; no mention of ranked modes or leaderboards, though some challenge elements exist."

    • Continuation
      5

      "High replayability with long sessions and habitual play; players report spending dozens to hundreds of hours and eagerly awaiting updates."

    • Cooperation
      3

      "Supports local and online co-op play with shared progression and cooperative combat, though some players note screen clutter in multiplayer."

    • Creativity
      4

      "Extensive build customization through spells, gambits, auras, and weapons; players experiment with synergies and unique combinations."

    • Domination
      -4

      "Interactions emphasize shared experiences and mutual respect; no evidence of power imposition or trash talk."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game for immersive fantasy and stress relief, enjoying the vibrant world, story, and intense combat."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "Players try new builds, spells, and synergies; the game encourages exploration of mechanics and creative problem solving."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Players discover new areas, secrets, and lore through multiple runs; the world and story unfold gradually with exploration."

    • Expression
      3

      "Character customization through spells and weapons allows some self-expression, though no mention of cosmetic personalization."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "Strong fantasy elements with imaginative characters, spells, and mythological zodiac bosses; immersive fictional world."

    • Fellowship
      3

      "Community and social interaction are present through co-op and shared experiences; players form connections around the game."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop skills, learn enemy patterns, and improve build strategies; meta-progression supports personal development."

    • Health
      -4

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; some players note long sessions and potential for fatigue."

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires constant attention and focus due to fast-paced combat and complex mechanics; not suited for passive play."

    • Intimacy
      2

      "Some social interaction through co-op and character relationships, but limited evidence of deep emotional connections."

    • Leadership
      -3

      "Players mostly engage in individual or cooperative roles without explicit leadership or authoritative control."

    • Progression
      5

      "Strong emphasis on accumulating upgrades, spells, and meta-progression; players unlock new content and improve power over time."

    • Relaxation
      2

      "While combat is intense and challenging, some players find the game flow satisfying and cathartic; mixed experience."

    • Sensation
      4

      "Vibrant visuals, fluid animations, and dynamic audio provide strong sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

    • Status
      -3

      "No evidence of social status or recognition systems; focus is on individual achievement and personal mastery."

    • Story
      3

      "Narrative unfolds through character interactions, lore fragments, and boss encounters; story is engaging but not central."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Players plan builds, manage resources, and adapt tactics to enemy patterns; strategic thinking is rewarded."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Combat provides moments of suspense and challenge, especially in boss fights and higher difficulty levels."

    • Value
      4

      "Players perceive strong value for time and money due to frequent updates, deep gameplay, and extensive content."

    • Violence
      4

      "Combat involves defeating enemies and bosses with spells and weapons; destruction and combat are central gameplay elements."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players manage health and resources to avoid failure; difficulty scaling and enemy attacks require strategic defense."

    Last update: 29/04/2026