Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core

[b]This is my opinion as of 08/05/2026 after 20-ish playing hours, game version is 1.2[/b] I'm going to compare it a lot to OG DRG because that's why I bought the game. [h2]TL;DR[/h2] [list] [*]I like the game[/*] [*]I would recommend it to people who enjoy at least a bit of fast-paced extraction FPS and dwarves[/*] [*]I would not recommend it to casual DRG players who usually play to have a bit of fun and relax in haz2 - haz3[/*] [*]I believe the game currently needs two things: more fun / sillyness and shorter missions[/*] [/list] [h2]What I like[/h2] [list] [*]I feel much more implicated in the missions than I did in OG DRG (deep dives were a step in this direction but felt artificial and goal - less aka just do the same missions as usual but 3 in a row). Reclaiming feels satisfying, gives me a tiny sense of achievement[/*] [*]I'm enjoying the roguelite elements a lot - I really want to mine every last bit of expenite, while I didn't care about nitra as long as I had enough for the next resupply. There is enough upgrades variety for me to almsot always have something nice to pick.[/*] [*]I'm happy with the classes system, I'll need to play more to form an opinion about them and their balance[/*] [*]Upgrades are unbalanced, giving a nice RNG element but still rarely making a run fail just because of tough luck (at least upt to D04 - complexity 2 - cautious or standard, I haven't played harder modes) while sometimes making a run really easy[/*] [*]I like the negociation system, it's been working fine in most games I played with strangers (I'm quite chill about not getting the one I wanted, it probably helps and usually people are respectful and helpful)[/*] [*]The risk vector really works for me too, I get the impression that I have to choose a way to die faster which is fun[/*] [*]Most expenite events are ok[/*] [*]Ennemy weakpoints actually matter (my aim has not gotten better but now I have a reason to try and get better)[/*] [*]I'm very happy we got classes, I haven'd played enough to have a meaningful opinion on them yet[/*] [/list] [*]There are no horror / creepy elements (blood writing on the walls from fallen miners, corpses etc.), I couldn't play the game if there were[/*] [*]The timer puts a welcome pressure on the mission - and it makes sense lore-wise, knowing when waves are coming also allows for strategy / decision making which gives the illusion of control and I like it[/*] [*]The new difficulty setting (via pacing) made it much more enjoyable - I'm not good at aiming or situational awareness so having more time before the worms come is a really great comfort[/*] [*]The beer license system is more fun than the resource collection in DRG, and I do not miss buff beers[/*] [*]The ascension feels much more epic than promotions ever did, we can do them together and we don't have to spawn back in our bunk. It also feels like something useless and nice to do together after a run, which was a good part of DRG's appeal for me[/*] [*]Toilet joining and related Omega lines are fun :)[/*] [*]Auto sprint? yes please, finally![/*] [*]There are (sad) cameos of Molly and Dotty in most missions[/*] [/list] [h2]What I hope will change and make the game better[/h2] [list] [*][b]Accessibility[/b]: please change the way data terminal work - they are an easy one for me but hell for dyslexic people[/*] [*]I like the current missions, but I miss being able to pop a quick game in 20-25 minutes between coming back from work and going to get the kids. I don't really want the same missions shortened, I'd rather see new objectives that make sense in a smaller timespan: going back to a reclaimed site to get some equipment that the strike team forgot, portecting a repair crew from a few corespawn waves while they get new defenses online, doing reckon to get to the next grayed out site, going to give a hand to a Rig17 crew stuck on a DRG regular mission...[/*] [*]The expenite events often feel random and they usually just add pressure. I'd like to see new ones that are connected from level to level (you need to unlock all the storage vaults on the first levels to get a ton of upgrades on the last one, you need to repair rock crackers propulsors so they can get one level down where the expenite rock actually is...) and/or have a fun vibe (repair something that's been broken by careless dwarves instead of corespawn, interact with hazardous stuff that has random silly effects like voice change, dwarve lighting up like a christmas tree, weapon projectiles looking like something stupid - yes, I want a poop gun from time to time)[/*] [*]The ship currently feels very empty and far too large, I guess it's not a priority but I'll be happier when we get signs to know how to navigate the rooms / hallways, when there are stupid things we can do with its environment, "accidentally" fire missiles that fly far too close to Rig17 and have mission control go on a rant on the radio...[/*] [*]I do not find Omega fun at all - mission control had fun lines, omega is too serious by far - be it as a bartender or as a handler. It could have uncanny lines, weird gimmicks, have a gladOS vibe where we don't know how much it wants us to come back alive, be unavailable from time to time with mission control filling in and having no idea what they got themselves into...[/*] [*]While the beer license system is original, I'd much rather we can buy the drinks without pumping iron first: on of the best parts (according to me) of DRG was chilling on the dancefloor, drinking stupid beers and eventually diving into a ring of fire - having to burn the calories first makes it impossible to do spontaneously[/*] [*]We could have a dance move unlock mechanism that works the same way as beer license : new moves can be unlocked by succedding in dancing challenges[/*] [/list] Rock and Stone !