Netherworld Covenant Review – Precision Roguelike with Soul Companions
Netherworld Covenant mixes methodical, isometric action with a unique Soul Companion system. The 1.0 update fills out classes, modes and the story — great for players who love tight combat, but expect a learning curve and some repetition.
I came for the Nether Lantern and stayed for the parries. Netherworld Covenant feels like a lovechild of Hades’ runloop and a Souls-lite combat system — but played from a 3D isometric angle. The finished 1.0 brings a lot of new toys, though you’ll still grind to master its timing.
Core gameplay is all about precision: parry, dodge and punish. You control a survivor who wields the Nether Lantern, forging pacts with dead allies — the Soul Companion system lets you summon spectral roles (Swordsman, Ranger, Guardian, Rogue) that change how encounters play out. Runs take you through procedurally generated labyrinths full of corrupted heroes and demonic lords; boss fights are deliberate, meaty and often unforgiving. The 1.0 update adds five new classes (including the delightfully named Useless Person), four new weapons, Boss Rush and Chaos modes plus tougher difficulty options like Iron Crown Frenzy and Corruption Mode. There’s a camp hub between runs to upgrade, trade and piece together the narrative across the completed Chapters 5 and 6. Systems like Aura and Relics received an overhaul, giving more build variety, and mobility tweaks make movement feel snappy. That said, the game rewards patience and muscle memory more than button-mashing — expect to learn bosses rather than brute-force them. Visuals and sound do a solid job at selling the dark fantasy vibe, though some runs can loop a bit too similarly until you unlock more relic synergies.
Netherworld Covenant is a confident, combat-first roguelike with smart companion ideas and a much-improved 1.0. It’s not perfect — expect repetition and a learning curve — but fans of tactical, Souls-lite action should find a lot to love.
Pros
- Satisfying, precision-focused combat with rewarding parry/dodge timing.
- Soul Companion system adds tactical variety and cool synergies.
- Major 1.0 content boost: new classes, modes, completed story and system overhauls.
Cons
- Runs can feel repetitive until you unlock deeper relic/aura combos.
- Steep learning curve and occasional balance quirks (some builds dominate).
Player Opinion
Players praise the tight combat, the atmosphere and the new 1.0 additions — many say fights feel meaningful and the Soul Companions are a highlight. Criticisms focus on a lack of long-term activities and repetition between runs; one player bluntly asked for more to do, which is fair. If you enjoy Hades-style runs with Souls-like discipline, or like fine-tuning builds and combos, this will likely click for you.