Into the Grid by Flatline Studios (Early Access Preview)
I’ll be the first to admit that I think the Rogue-like deck-builder genre is getting oversaturated, thanks in no small part to success stories like Slay the Spire and Monster Train.
However, when I had the opportunity to try out Into the Grid, a Rogue-like deck-builder that has you hacking security systems straight out of a William Gibson novel, I couldn’t pass it up, as that aesthetic will get me to play pretty much anything.
And I’m glad that I took that plunge! While it still has a ways to go before launch and a few rough ends to sand down, this game has enough to chew on that I could see it being a real contender in the genre.
Bluelight Sonata
Into the Grid is a run-based game more than a story-based one, and that’s reflected in how it starts. After a tutorial that explains the game’s mechanisms, starting a run is simple: pick your hacker (each of which has unique abilities), choose how hard you want the run to be, and off you are into cyberspace.
Your mission? Steal corporate secrets and make it out without getting your brain fried by security.
Into the Grid distinguishes itself from other deck-builders by making the exploration of the area’s map a key part of the action. Every room you enter provides new opportunities to get things you need to survive, and often forces you to make tough choices in the process.
Do you want to extract money from a security node for later use in a shop? Or do you want to use it now to upgrade one of your existing cards?
Couple this with the fact that most actions you do add to your ever-increasing alarm status. Fiddle around for too long, and the server’s security alarm will increase, spawning more enemies and making existing ones stronger.
There’s a constant risk vs. reward aspect to exploration that can initially be overwhelming, but I found it made runs a constant stream of interesting decisions.
Cyberwaste
Of course, at some point, you’re going to have to fight some security programs, and this is where the game enters familiar territory. If you’ve played a modern deck-building Rogue-like, Into The Grid’s combat will feel very familiar.
However, that’s not to say it’s derivative. It still has its own tricks up its sleeve, like its ingenious VIM (Virtual Memory) system, where playing cards – even ones that don’t end up doing anything – generates a resource you can use for special abilities like drawing more cards, allowing you to use more of them in a turn, and others.
It’s a game that wants you to have lots of decisions available at a given time, with none of them being a correct or incorrect one. That’s a tough balance to reach for any game, and I find Into the Grid does it better than most. Oh, and its art and animations are gorgeous too.
In terms of negatives, there are a few that I could see being ironed out as time goes on. The game is in need of a better glossary, and currently, the cards available lack variety.
Also, I do think that it could stand to have some more meta-progression outside of just unlocking other hackers, though that’s more a personal wish than a complaint.
The Verdict:
I’ll be keeping a close eye on Into the Grid as it develops, and if it manages to polish its strengths and iron out its wrinkles, this has the chance to be a deck-building classic.
Into the Grid is available via Steam.
Watch the trailer for Into the Grid below:
