Belkar: The Black Hunter

Yoon Siwoo was a porter, left to die in a sealed rift by his own raid party. At the edge of death he makes a pact with Belkar, an exiled demon: "Feed me your enemies. I will give you their power." A top-down pixel action roguelite. Attacks are automatic; you move and fight with three buttons: dodge, skill and pact (your ultimate). One purchase, the whole game: no ads, no in-app purchases, plays offline.

■ A 7-act story The three traitors of the raid that abandoned him → awakened criminals branded with sin → the dukes and lords of hell → the Gate of Heaven. Three endings, and you can redeploy to cases you've closed.

■ After the ending Part 2: chase three incidents caused by human awakened. Part 3: reunite with Belkar, fuse, take a lord's form and fight those who covet hell's empty throne.

■ Every boss fights differently Traitors, sinners and dukes take three stages (Infiltrate, Hunt, Showdown); lords take two. Before the showdown every boss shows up in its own way (duel, chase, command, ambush, siege or harass) and then retreats. Drive it off fast and its weakness grows in the final fight. Every boss has a signature move: the Butcher hooks you in, the Jailer builds a chain cage, the Broker lays debt seals, the Prophet opens a ritual with sacrificed followers. Each rift fields grunts shaped by its target. Nine terrain layouts, five hazards, rift mutators and Belkar's deals change every run.

■ 4 weapons · 18 boss powers Greatsword, grimoire, twin daggers, chain scythe, each with three mastery tiers bought with souls. Level up into abilities like Blood Blades, Dark Meteor and Crow Swarm and evolve them, then devour the powers of the bosses you kill with your ultimate, equip them as authorities and upgrade them at the altar. Swift, iron, splitting and volatile elites join as the waves rise.

■ The hideout Purify, deepen the pact, collect records and earn 33 achievements. Your companions hand you a request each time you return. Fulfil it and they let slip a clue next time. From Act 3, challenges unlock that raise the difficulty for bigger rewards. Your kills stand as statues in the Trophy Hall. Rematch them in the Rift of Memory, or take on Today's Bounty.

■ Erosion Every time you die, Belkar rewinds your heart, and the cost builds up as Erosion. Black cracks climb your body, and your ending changes.

English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, Korean. Music: Scott Buckley (scottbuckley.com.au), CC BY 4.0

Discovery signals