Beacon - Underrated Roguelike Gameplay PC

"Beacon" is an intriguing video game where you assume the role of Freja Akiyama, an interstellar mercenary, who, after crash-landing onto an unfamiliar planet named Kovus-18, finds herself in an endless loop of survival. The planet, home to multiple hostile factions, seems to have no information available about it. Freja's distress beacon is held in the cryptic Omega Vault, and the game revolves around her journey to find it.

What makes the gameplay fascinating is the concept of death. Freja has a Clone Bay stuck in an automatic printing cycle, so death isn't the end; it merely marks the beginning of a new clone life. Every time Freja dies, she is given the opportunity to change her genome using DNA collected from defeated enemies. This allows her to alter her statistics and acquire gameplay-changing physical mutations, making every new life distinct and continually evolving.

The game features six randomly generated levels, each with its own unique challenges and environments. Starting from the outer forest, players battle through the tropical swamps, and finally, to the Omega Vault. The world of Beacon is rich and multi-faceted, with five factions to discover. Scavenging becomes an essential part of survival, with over 360 items spread across five item types, including weapons, pickups, reusable auxiliaries, grenade mods, and passive mods.

Enemies are abundant, with over 120, each having their unique traits. The game also features 17+ boss fights, each being the ultimate lifeform of their respective faction. DNA is the core of Beacon’s gameplay, allowing players to alter Freja's genetic makeup and transform her into a myriad of forms, from a battle-hardened mass of metal to a luminous abomination of insect flesh.

Freja's backstory adds depth to her character. She grew up dreaming of adventure in the backwaters of civilized space. She joined the military at a young age and quickly discovered her aptitude for combat and spacecraft piloting. However, her inability to work within the armed forces' strict regimen led her to become a mercenary. She lives and operates from her ship, the Ouroboros, a single-berth, heavily-modified light spacecraft equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry and facilities.

Throughout the game, as Freja continually clones herself and navigates the hostile terrain of Kovus-18, she is confronted with existential questions. How many clones of Freja are there? How much of her humanity will she have to sacrifice before escaping? And just how long has she been stuck in this infinite cycle of survival? These are the questions that drive the plot of Beacon, making it a thrilling gaming experience.