33 Immortals Review – Chaotic 33-Player Roguelike Raids
A lively look at Thunder Lotus' bold experiment: drop-in 33-player co-op raids that mix Hades-like combat with MMO boss fights. I share what works, what trips up, and whether the loop hooks you.
33 Immortals immediately grabs attention by promising something you don’t see every day: 33 players in one roguelike raid. I jumped in curious if Thunder Lotus could marry tight, Hades-like combat with MMO-style boss mechanics — and mostly, it does. The pick-up-and-play matchmaking is brilliant in theory: no lobbies, no waiting, just chaos. What follows is a wild, often rewarding loop, though it occasionally stumbles on performance and player-scaling quirks.
33-Player Mayhem, Nicely Packaged
Playing a run in 33 Immortals is like joining a frantic party where everyone forgot the instructions — and then figuring them out together. The core loop has you roaming maps with up to 32 other damned souls, clearing hordes, taking on elites, and collecting resources for upgrades. Movement and attacks feel weighty but responsive; timing a parry, layering a special, or chaining a dagger combo with someone else lands with a satisfying clack. Runs segment into phases: open-world farming, smaller objective chambers where groups split up, then a climactic ‘Ascension’ that funnels survivors into a boss arena. Sessions are designed to be relatively compact — often 30–45 minutes once you know what you're doing — and the drop-in matchmaking makes it easy to hop into that loop at any time.
Cooperation Without the Mic: Practical Design
What sets 33 Immortals apart is how it forces emergent teamwork without voice chat. The emote, ping, and cooperative-ability toolkit works better than I expected; you’ll gasp-laugh when a perfectly-timed revive saves the run. There are true moments of improvisational raiding: saving teleport stones, stacking debuffs, or coordinating puddle placement so you don’t wipe the whole group. The game encourages builds and synergy — relics and weapon modifiers interact in ways that reward experimentation — but it also punishes poor positioning ruthlessly. If only a handful of players make it to the final fight, the boss feels brutal and occasionally insurmountable; that’s both part of the challenge and a design sore spot when player counts dip.
Hand-Drawn Carnage and Performance
Visually, Thunder Lotus’ hand-drawn aesthetic is delightful: character art, boss designs, and splashy spell effects all look lovingly detailed. The soundtrack and sound effects push the combat forward — hits have punch, bosses announce mechanics audibly, and the hub area has real personality. On the flip side, performance can wobble in the thickest fights; I noticed frame drops and occasional disconnects reported by other players too. Accessibility is decent: simple input, clear ability icons, and meta-progression that eases newer players into higher difficulties. Still, the long-term health of the game depends on content cadence and how well the devs smooth out server issues and the occasional matchmaking oddities.
33 Immortals is a bold and mostly successful experiment: a roguelike that borrows MMO raid thrills and packages them into quick, chaotic sessions. If you enjoy cooperative PvE, satisfying weapon combos, and a strong art direction, this is well worth trying — especially with friends. Be prepared for some technical rough edges and the reality that the game hums brightest when many actual players are online.
Pros
- Addictive drop-in co-op loop that creates memorable raid moments
- Distinct weapon feels and satisfying, Hades-like combat timing
- Beautiful hand-drawn art and punchy sound design
- Smartly designed cooperation tools (pings/emotes) — no mic needed
Cons
- Server hiccups, occasional disconnects and performance drops
- End-boss scaling can feel unfair if too few players reach it
- Content feels limited at launch — more maps and relics would help
Player Opinion
Players largely praise the combat loop, the art, and the novelty of 33-player drop-in raids. Many comments point out the satisfying weapon variety and progression — unlocking weapons and perks feels rewarding and keeps runs engaging. The community vibe is often highlighted: people help each other, share strategies, and celebrate clutch revives. On the negative side, frequent mentions include server disconnects, occasional lag, and complaints that the final boss is unbeatable when only a handful of players survive. A recurring theme is the worry about long-term player retention and a desire for steady content updates, though most early adopters are enthusiastic and forgiving, especially given the game's approachable price point.