Raiders of Blackveil is a top‑down multiplayer roguelite ARPG about rebelling against a corrupt mega‑corporation, mixing MOBA‑style heroes, ARPG loot, and extraction mechanics into fast, replayable runs. It is absolutely worth watching for fans of Hades‑style roguelites, Diablo‑like loot grinders, and co‑op extraction games, especially if you enjoy pushing builds to the limit and chasing high‑risk, high‑reward runs.
What Raiders of Blackveil Is About
Raiders of Blackveil is set in a dystopian world where the evil corporation Blackveil controls a massive factory complex, exploiting resources and people for profit. You play as part of a rebellion, infiltrating these industrial zones to sabotage operations, steal valuable loot, and slowly build enough power to strike back harder with each raid.
Each run sends you into different parts of the factory, filled with enemy patrols, traps, elite units, and bosses guarding deeper layers of the complex. The tone leans into anti‑corporate revolution: you are not just dungeon‑crawling for treasure, you are actively dismantling a ruthless organization one raid at a time.
Core Gameplay And Mechanics
At its core, Raiders of Blackveil is a real‑time, run‑based roguelite: you get one life per raid, push as far as you can through multiple biomes, and when you die you lose the run but keep long‑term progress and gear for the next attempt. Combat is skill‑based and top‑down, built around timing dodges, positioning, aiming your attacks, and managing cooldowns, similar to modern action roguelites and ARPGs.
The twist is its extraction layer: runs are not just about reaching the end, but choosing when to escape with your haul before the game overwhelms you. You infiltrate, grab loot and perks, then look for extraction opportunities; leaving alive lets you bank gear and currency for future raids and account progression, while getting greedy and dying can cost you hard‑earned rewards.
Champions, Classes, And Builds
Instead of faceless characters, Raiders of Blackveil uses distinct “champions” inspired by MOBA design, each with their own theme, skills, and playstyle. Examples shown so far include heavily armored tank‑type characters with rocket‑propelled shields, agile assassin‑style raiders with mobility and stealth, and mage‑like characters who control space with AoE effects and damage‑over‑time.
Every champion has a basic attack pattern plus several active abilities on cooldowns that define their combat rhythm. During a run you build out your power through a mix of class‑specific perks, duo perks that create synergies between classes, and over 300 possible perks that can dramatically change how a build functions. Because of this, even the same champion can feel wildly different depending on whether you lean into bleed, burn, crit, defense, or crowd control effects.
Loot, Progression, And Replay Value
Loot is central to Raiders of Blackveil: enemies, chests, and events constantly drop equipment that upgrades your damage, survivability, and utility. Gear pieces often come with modifiers that stack with your perks, letting you create ridiculous combinations such as burn builds that trigger chain explosions or crit builds that snowball with every dash or dodge.
Outside of individual runs, you can invest what you extract into improving your roster and starting power for future raids. This meta‑progression system helps soften the sting of permadeath while encouraging “just one more run” to see how far your next optimized build can go. Multiple biomes, escalating difficulty, and bosses with multi‑phase patterns give plenty of room to master enemy behavior and experiment with new strategies.
Co‑op And Multiplayer Experience
Raiders of Blackveil supports 1–3 players, and the design clearly leans into co‑op synergy. In multiplayer, champions can cover each other’s weaknesses: tanks can taunt and control crowds, assassins dive backlines, and mages or ranged characters burn down clustered enemies from a safe distance.
The game’s extraction and loot systems also create interesting social decisions between friends, such as who takes certain pieces of gear and when the group decides to risk pushing further instead of extracting safely. For players who enjoy co‑op ARPGs and roguelites like Risk of Rain‑style experiences, this blend of shared risk and reward is a big part of the appeal.
Visuals, Style, And Atmosphere
Visually, Raiders of Blackveil uses a clean top‑down perspective with stylized environments and clear telegraphs for enemy attacks, which is important in a fast‑paced roguelite. The factory zones mix industrial corridors, assembly lines, and open arenas full of mechanical hazards, giving the game a gritty but colorful sci‑fi tone rather than a dark, muddy look.
Enemy designs, bosses, and champions lean into exaggerated silhouettes and flashy effects so threats remain readable even when the screen fills with projectiles, explosions, and status effects. This helps the game stay visually satisfying and understandable even in hectic late‑run situations where you are juggling multiple abilities and enemies at once.
Is Raiders of Blackveil Worth Buying?
For players who love roguelites, ARPG loot systems, and co‑op, Raiders of Blackveil looks very worthy of a buy, especially if priced in the usual indie range. Early impressions from gameplay showcases and first‑look videos highlight fun build variety, impactful loot, and fast, crunchy combat that keeps runs fresh.
You should strongly consider buying Raiders of Blackveil if:
You enjoy games like Hades, Risk of Rain, Vampire Survivors‑style builds, or extraction shooters but want a top‑down ARPG twist.
You have friends to play with and want a co‑op game where build synergy and shared decision‑making on when to extract matter.
You like experimenting with different classes, perks, and loot combinations rather than just following one optimal build.
On the other hand, it may not be ideal for players who dislike repeating runs, learning enemy patterns, or losing progress when they die, since it is firmly a roguelite at heart with permadeath runs and high difficulty spikes. If you prefer straightforward story‑driven campaigns without resets or heavy build tinkering, you might want to try a demo or watch extended gameplay first before committing.
Overall, Raiders of Blackveil stands out as a promising indie roguelite ARPG that meaningfully mixes MOBA‑style heroes, extraction elements, and deep build crafting, making it a compelling purchase for fans of the genre looking for something fresh yet familiar.
