BloodDome99 is a game about nostalgia, capitalism, violence, and over-the-top absurdist fun. 80s arcade meets modern horde-survival roguelike. Create unique builds, master dozens of weapons, and kill ever-growing hordes of contestants in the retro-futuristic gladiator gameshow BLOODDOME99
The game casts players as contestants in a retro-futuristic gladiator gameshow, where they must fight off increasingly difficult waves of enemies in an arena setting. The core loop involves earning money by killing foes and using those funds to unlock new weapons and abilities, with the ultimate goal of accumulating $300,000 to spawn and defeat a final boss.
A distinguishing aspect of the gameplay is the need to carefully balance short-term power and long-term score. Killing enemies grants money, but players must decide whether to immediately spend those funds on upgrades or save them to reach the $300,000 boss threshold. This creates an engaging tension, as players weigh the benefits of becoming more powerful in the moment versus optimizing for a high-score run.
The game offers a wide variety of unconventional armaments for players to experiment with, from paper planes and snow blowers to flamethrowers and "bee guns." These unique weapons can be freely mixed and matched, enabling players to craft highly customized, "gamebreaking" builds that suit their preferred playstyle.
At its core, the gameplay demands skilled shooting and enemy management, as players must deftly navigate dense bullet patterns and hordes of foes. Reviewers have praised the tight, responsive controls and satisfying "feel" of the combat, creating an engaging loop of shooting, looting, and upgrading.
The game's roguelike structure, with random enemy spawns and a vast array of unlockable items, provides considerable replayability. As players progress, they can continually work towards unlocking new weapons, perks, and other customization options, adding depth and longevity to the core gameplay loop.