Skelly Selest

a real game, old school and done well.

[h1] DISCLAIMER: This is a first impressions review, and NOT a full review [/h1] Skelly Selest is a game developed and published by caiys The game offers some nice graphics and a beautiful aesthetic which is pleasant all the same and has some amazing attention to detail even though it is a little rough around the edges The game does suffer with some repetitiveness at certain areas of the game but a fun game nonetheless and ends just at the right time Skelly Selest overall, however, is a fun game to play, yet sometimes repetitive and it does get boring if being played for a long time, but is a good action roguelike game to play in short bursts! [h1] RECOMMENDED :) [/h1] [b] REVIEW SOURCES: [/b] [list] [*] None

Skelly Selest is a fast-paced roguelite action game developed by caiys and published by caiysware that successfully captures the spirit of classic arcade experiences while blending it with modern procedural progression systems. Set in a dark fantasy world where skeletal warriors descend into the depths of Hell to prevent demonic corruption from spreading beyond its borders, the game focuses less on storytelling and more on delivering a highly replayable combat-driven adventure. Its simple premise serves as an effective foundation for a game that prioritizes action, challenge, and constant improvement through repeated runs. At its core, Skelly Selest revolves around surviving increasingly dangerous encounters across randomly generated regions filled with monsters, hazards, and powerful bosses. Combat is immediate and responsive, combining close-range attacks with ranged weaponry to create encounters that reward quick reflexes and smart positioning. Every run feels unpredictable thanks to procedural layouts, enemy variations, and randomized rewards. The game constantly pushes players to adapt, ensuring that no two attempts play out exactly the same way. This unpredictability helps maintain excitement even after many hours of play. One of the most impressive aspects of the game is the variety packed into its relatively modest scope. Rather than relying on a single gameplay mode, Skelly Selest offers several distinct ways to play. Players can battle through traditional roguelite-style runs, survive escalating enemy waves, challenge dangerous bosses directly, or take on specialized trials that test specific skills. These options prevent the experience from becoming repetitive and provide different types of challenges depending on the player's mood. The result is a game that feels larger and more versatile than its retro presentation might initially suggest. Progression is handled through a collection of unlockable characters, equipment, and upgrades that gradually expand gameplay possibilities. Discovering new items becomes a major incentive for continued play, especially since many upgrades can dramatically alter combat strategies. Experimentation is encouraged, and finding powerful combinations of abilities often leads to some of the game's most satisfying moments. The steady flow of rewards creates a compelling sense of advancement even when individual runs end in failure. Visually, Skelly Selest embraces pixel-art aesthetics with confidence and style. The environments are colorful despite the grim setting, and each area possesses a distinctive identity that keeps exploration visually engaging. Enemy designs are memorable, animations are smooth, and combat effects remain clear even during moments of intense chaos. The art direction balances dark fantasy themes with a playful charm that prevents the game from feeling overly serious. Combined with its retro-inspired presentation, the visuals give the game a strong and recognizable personality. The audio design complements the action exceptionally well. Energetic retro-inspired music drives the pace of each encounter, while satisfying sound effects reinforce every attack, defeat, and reward. The soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's addictive arcade atmosphere, encouraging players to dive back into another run after every defeat. While the presentation may not be technically ambitious compared to larger productions, it succeeds because every audiovisual element supports the fast and engaging gameplay loop. A particularly unique feature is the inclusion of a collectible card game inspired by classic side activities found in older role-playing games. This mode provides an unexpected layer of depth and offers a welcome change of pace from the relentless action. Collecting cards and engaging with this separate system adds another reason to keep playing and demonstrates a level of ambition that is uncommon in indie roguelites of this scale. The game is not without its challenges. Its difficulty can be intimidating, especially for newcomers unfamiliar with arcade-style action games. Enemies become overwhelming quickly, and success often depends on learning attack patterns, mastering movement, and understanding how different upgrades interact. Some players may find the learning curve demanding during the early hours. However, those willing to invest the time will likely discover a rewarding experience built around skill development and mastery. Overall, Skelly Selest stands out as a polished and highly replayable indie roguelite that combines responsive combat, meaningful progression, multiple game modes, and charming retro presentation into a cohesive package. Its blend of arcade intensity and procedural variety creates an experience that remains engaging long after the first few runs. While its challenging nature may not appeal to every player, fans of action-focused roguelites and score-chasing arcade games will find plenty to enjoy. The game proves that strong design, replayability, and creativity can often be more important than sheer scale. Rating: 9/10

It a pretty simple but fun game I enjoyed.

First Impressions! Music: A. Great tracks, not distracting, with good energy so they suit the game. Graphics: A+. They exist in that pseudo-blurry 16bit space that my old Genesis games did. Love the detail work. Controls: C and then B. I consider it borderline unplayable on keyboard, slightly better on X-box controller, but really felt comfortable and smooth with an SNES controller. Built 16bit so it makes sense to play it like 16bit. Gameplay: A. Once you get over the learning curve on the controls it is an excellent throwback experience. Not an auto attacker like some other titles in this genre so you have to be a little more careful about your timing. I'm still digging into drops, bosses, and unlockables but I can see some legs with this game the way it is. Do not expect it to be nice to you and I think you'll have a great time. Recommend??? Yes. Great game for the price, with the biggest caveat being that you NEED the right controller for it to feel natural.

Although it is a great game, it has some really heavy underlying issues that require improvement upon asap. I've written this review after 100%-ing the game, and boy was it painful. First off: The controls would heavily benefit from being switched to a twin-stick shooter layout instead of the way it currently works. I've plenty of times died because the controls are quite frankly jank as hell. The player character sometimes dashing into a direction you're not holding, attacks not being cancelled when you try to dash, movement/attacks sometimes seemingly being placed in an input buffer and causing you to execute things you're no longer trying to do, as you're currently trying to escape damage at all costs, and the character often facing the wrong direction when attacking. Second off: There's only two viable characters in the game: Blighted Host and Exalt Husk. Blighted because ranged and infinite ammo is very strong, Exalt because they do the most damage to bosses, making them the only viable character for Boss Rush, due to how that mode works. Thirdly: Several QoL improvements are needed. Like the banishing of certain items from the upgrade pool, because frankly holy hell are some of them META-tier, while others are very useless, or have a hidden drawback, like orbs not counting as axe or bullet damage, making them cause you to lose out on the benefits of other upgrades that require axe/bullet damage to be dealt. Another QoL that's needed is the boss rush and certain Penitance Trials really need to be made less RNG reliant. I only managed to beat the boss rush thanks to the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ stars aligning in my favour, and I managed to have enough skill to make use of that chance at victory. It's basically required that you have Exalt Husk with axe dmg+, axe reach+, and big bullets to just have the loadout necessary to beat all the bosses. Aside from that, you also need some of the bosses to only use certain attacks, as otherwise you're pretty much screwed anyways. Fourthly: Are pure hearts supposed to function exactly like regular hearts for the Exalt Husk (only have experience with this is the boss rush mode) because if so, that's super lame considering how unfathomably rare they are. This would be a really fun game if not for the sheer frustration that the controls and RNG bring to the table, especially when trying to 100% the game. I legit had fun up until I started doing the Penitance Trials and Boss Rush. All in all, Boneraiser Minions is one hell of a glow up compared to this game.

Jogo surpreendentemente bom, recomendo

Quite a nice and simple arcade thingy, quite cheap too! Not super in-depth or anything but i enjoy the simplicity. Tho ill be honest if youre going for 100% some of the challenges suuuuck.