Cogmind is a sci-fi roguelike epic in which you play a robot building yourself from components found or salvaged from other robots. Explore a living, breathing world through turn-based tactical combat, or sneak, hack, and fly your way to victory.
Players can salvage and equip a wide variety of components from defeated enemy robots, allowing them to assemble their ideal build from over 1,000 possible items across four main equipment categories - power, propulsion, utility, and weapons. This flexibility enables players to switch between playstyles on the fly, transitioning from a slow, heavily-armored combat bot to a fast-moving, stealthy hacker as the situation demands.
The turn-based combat system forces players to constantly assess the condition of their equipped parts, as taking damage can quickly cripple their robot's capabilities. Players must carefully weigh the risks and benefits of engaging enemies, utilizing their available weapons, stealth, and hacking tools to overcome challenges. Losing key components mid-battle can have devastating consequences, creating a tense and unforgiving experience where every fight matters.
The game's world is designed with interconnected systems that create emergent gameplay. Factors like alarms, robot patrols, and environmental hazards all work together in a living, breathing simulation. Players who understand these systems can leverage them to their advantage, luring enemies into traps or distracting patrols to sneak past. Mastering the game's mechanics and navigating this complex world is key to successful runs, offering substantial depth and replayability with a wide variety of builds, challenges, and approaches.
A core part of the gameplay loop is gathering information about the environment and enemies. Items like sensor arrays and terrain scanners allow players to monitor the positions and activities of nearby robots, informing their decisions about when to engage or evade. Managing visibility, using stealth and hacking to avoid detection, and carefully maneuvering through environments are all crucial skills, encouraging a thoughtful, tactical playstyle.
The game's interconnected systems work together seamlessly, supported by a well-designed user interface that provides players with the information they need without overwhelming them. Both keyboard-centric and mouse-driven control schemes are available, allowing players to choose their preferred input method. Additionally, difficulty options adjust the game's challenge level, making it accessible to both seasoned roguelike veterans and newcomers to the genre.