There are plenty of roguelike deckbuilders around these days, but Menace from the Deep: Complete Edition is clearly aiming for a very different mood than most. Forget colourful fantasy worlds or light-hearted strategy battles – this one drags players into a grim universe inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos, where every run risks both death and complete psychological collapse.
Now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC with Xbox Play Anywhere support, Feardemic and Flat Lab bring the full experience to console players, including “The Rift of Sanity” DLC content as part of the package.
At A Glance
- Game: Menace from the Deep: Complete Edition
- Developer: Flat Lab
- Publisher: Feardemic
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Play Anywhere
- Price: £16.74
- Genre: Roguelike Deckbuilder
Descend Into Madness One Run At A Time
Menace from the Deep mixes card-based combat with roguelike progression, challenging players to survive repeated runs through a world filled with strange events, lost memories and supernatural horrors.
The goal is not simply to win battles either. Throughout each run, players collect memory fragments and uncover clues surrounding a hidden secret society lurking beneath the surface of the world. Naturally, the deeper you go, the worse things seem to become.
Sanity also plays a major role in the experience, fitting perfectly with the Lovecraft-inspired setting. Surviving physically is only part of the challenge when the world itself appears determined to break your mind apart piece by piece.
Four Heroes, Four Different Playstyles
One of the game’s biggest strengths is the sheer variety of playable characters. Menace from the Deep includes four heroes, each with their own unique decks, abilities and combat approaches, including one known simply as The Abomination.
And as with most strong roguelikes, experimentation looks to be a huge part of the appeal.
This console release also arrives as the Complete Edition, bundling in “The Rift of Sanity” DLC. Find it on the Xbox Store.
That expansion introduces an additional game act alongside a brand-new playable character, extra allies and more items, expanding the already sizeable amount of replayability the game appears built around.
The PC version first launched on Steam back in 2024, where it currently holds Very Positive user reviews, suggesting the combination of dark atmosphere, deckbuilding strategy and replayable structure has already found a strong audience.
A Darker Take On The Roguelike Formula
There is no shortage of deckbuilders competing for attention, but Menace from the Deep separates itself through its oppressive atmosphere and heavy Lovecraftian inspiration.
Between the sanity mechanics, shifting runs and unsettling world design, this feels far more interested in creating dread than simply delivering another numbers-heavy strategy game.
For Xbox players looking for a roguelike with a darker edge, Menace from the Deep: Complete Edition may be worth descending into. Just try not to stare too long into the abyss while you are down there.
