PROJECT.98 is an action roguelike developed for PC that blends fast-paced survival combat with retro-inspired presentation. Players control a character through waves of enemies in short sessions that emphasize quick decisions and incremental power growth. The game draws from classic roguelike structures while layering on visual cues reminiscent of older operating systems and interfaces.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on surviving enemy hordes while collecting experience points. Destroying foes grants XP that triggers level-ups, each granting a random upgrade chosen from available options. These upgrades fall into four rarity tiers and include new weapons, stat boosts to the character, or modifications that alter how existing weapons function or behave in combat.
Boss encounters appear at set intervals and reward chests with access to a higher-rarity selection pool. Runs are structured around a twenty-minute timeframe that incorporates timed events alongside the bosses. Upon completing a run, the game advances to a new game plus state that applies one random boon and one random bane to the next attempt, creating a cycle of risk and reward across multiple sessions.
Combat focuses on positioning, timing, and adapting to the upgrades acquired during each attempt. The system encourages experimentation with different weapon and augmentation combinations rather than relying on a single build path.
Game Modes
PROJECT.98 operates as a single-player experience built around repeated roguelike runs. Each session follows the same core structure of enemy waves, leveling, and boss fights, with progression carrying forward only through the NG+ system that modifies subsequent attempts with boons and banes.
There are no separate multiplayer options or distinct named modes beyond the standard run format. The emphasis remains on solo survival and incremental improvement across successive playthroughs, where the random elements of upgrades and post-run modifiers keep each attempt distinct.
Nostalgic Visuals and Atmosphere
The presentation draws heavily from the look and feel of 1990s and early 2000s games, user interfaces, and operating systems. A CRT shader effect is applied to enhance the retro aesthetic, simulating the scan lines and color characteristics common to older displays. This stylistic choice extends to UI elements and overall visual design, creating a consistent throwback atmosphere without altering the underlying gameplay systems.
The visuals serve as a deliberate nod to the era while supporting the action-roguelike mechanics. Players who appreciate pixel-adjacent or interface-driven art styles will find the presentation reinforces the survival focus rather than distracting from it.
Is It Worth Playing?
PROJECT.98 remains in a pre-release state with a coming-soon listing on its primary distribution platform. No user reviews or aggregated ratings are available yet, so direct player feedback on balance, difficulty curve, or long-term engagement does not exist at this time. The confirmed features center on the roguelike loop of short runs, random upgrades, and NG+ modifiers in a single-player format.
Those drawn to action roguelikes with strong emphasis on upgrade variety and retro visual styling may find the described systems appealing once the game launches. The absence of additional modes or confirmed post-launch support details means interest should be weighed against the core twenty-minute run structure and nostalgia-driven presentation alone. Availability will be limited to PC at launch, with system requirements listed for both Windows and Linux distributions.
