Hands-on: Windblown is an action-packed rogue-lite that leans on speed and fast reactions

Windblown is an action-heavy rogue-lite coming from the makers of the indie darling Dead Cells. For many fans of the genre, that line alone should be enough to garner high interest. But for those who need a bit more of a nudge, don’t worry: Windblown is pretty dang fun.

The game comes to us from Motion Twin, which, until recently, has been supporting the 2018 breakout hit Dead Cells. Fans of rogue-lites should know the 2D action game well, as it’s been propped up as one of the very best in the genre. And it is. Windblown has one hell of an act to follow.

Getting into the motion

So far, Motion Twin seems more than up to the task. While Windblown may not end up redefining the genre, my seven hours with the demo have convinced me it may have the potential to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its predecessor.

It still carries the typical marks of the genre: You enter a dangerous, randomly generated series of biomes; kill enemies while collecting cash; die, and return to the hub world to unlock upgrades that will hopefully get you a little bit further with every run.

Windblown isn’t Dead Cells‘ successor, however. Unlike its cousin, Windblown is fully 3D, dropping the pixel art to embrace polygons and a gorgeous, hand-painted world. The isometric camera gives you a fuller view of each region and battle arena, allowing you to zip around multiple foes or ascend/descend with ease. The game prioritizes speed with its dash move, which you’ll end up using with reckless abandon.

Upgrades, people

But Windblown is still very much a Motion Twin game. At the start, I was dropped into the middle of the game’s first biome with nothing more than a Fish Knife sword to my name. I dashed through the first biome, tackling enemy robots and smashing pots for golden Shells. Treasure chests and some enemies dropped crimson-colored Cogs, the currency you take back to the hub to exchange for new upgrades.

I was feeling good, and maybe a bit too cocky. Soon enough, as many are wont to do, I bit off more than I could chew. A mini-boss sent my anthropomorphic axolotl ass back to base camp where I respawned and promptly threw up in front of some strangers. It could have gone a little better.

This is where you get introduced to The Ark, a series of floating islands where you can practice your combos, purchase upgrades, and chat up the locals. Cogs are spent on upgrades such as one that unlocks a Health Flask or another that gives you a starting weapon for each new run.

Windblown during its first few hours feels like running into a brick wall. But you become stronger as you finish more and more runs, and soon enough you may just be ready to face off against the tougher challenges. Memories of fallen warriors you come across during runs give you access to things like special abilities and new weapons, which you can start unlocking after completing a quest to fix a robot friend on The Ark. By the end of the demo, I began every new run with a second starting weapon, a starting Trinket (such as bombs), and a level-three Health Flask. There was a lot more left to unlock.

Getting into the groove

Much like it did in Dead Cells, the climb feels daunting in Windblown, but still just as worth it. At first, I wasn’t sure what I thought about the game’s combat. It felt, for the lack of a better description, a bit lukewarm. But soon enough, it “clicked.”

You know the moment; it’s when you slowly fall into a rhythm and the game starts getting exciting. For me, that was after I began mastering a move called the Alterattack, which you unlock early. Pressing a button at the end of a combo when the Alterattack icon appears above your head lets you unleash a powerful special attack. The kind of attack depends on your secondary weapon type. One attack may fling you into the air in a devastating spin slash, whereas another adds a bleed effect to your primary weapon.

After a while, I was able to find weapon combos that synergized well with my playstyle — and I was having a blast. Windblown leans hard on quick reflexes and knowing when to strike or give your foe some distance. The action is fun and frantic, with plenty of skin-of-your-teeth moments where you barely avoid a devasting blow with a well-timed dash. You can also delay your Alterattack by activating it the split second after a dash, letting you evade an attack and follow up or get into a better position.

Eye candy

My enjoyment of the combat was buoyed by Windblown‘s wonderful visuals. The game’s environments are rich in color, featuring thick blades of grass that dance with the breeze. I have a particular fondness for the water in the first biome. As a child, I always felt in awe of aquariums you can look into from above. The rivers and ponds of the first biome remind me of those, complete with gently waving underwater grass and floating lily pads. I didn’t notice any fish, though.

Of course, it’s sometimes hard to soak in the visuals due to how fast you can move through the biomes. The sense of movement in Windblown is fantastic. Using the dash, you’re able to zip across gaps and move from floating platform to platform with blistering speed. It’s thrilling to tap the dash button and watch your character scream across the level like a bullet. There was more than one moment where I lamented not having a turbo button, but that’s not an issue that lasts for long (wink).

But it’s also wise to slow down at times. The two levels contained secrets with hidden chests offering up a bounty of Shells to exchange for new weapons, items, or things like Gifts that offer passive upgrades such as health or damage increases. Looking for treasure hidden behind waterfalls is a classic gaming trope, but it’s one that Windblown is happy to keep in the zeitgeist.

It’s dangerous to go alone

Windblown can be played solo or with a group of friends. Up to three people can play together to clear worlds and take on bosses. Sadly, I wasn’t able to experience the game with an ally. If you do, be sure to unlock the ability to change your appearance at The Ark (a cheap upgrade is required). Surely not everyone needs to be an axolotl, no matter how tempting it may be. I ended up swapping between the lizard and hamster, myself.

The demo I played was completed after I beat the second stage boss, which was an absolute monster compared to the first one. But I enjoyed what I experienced in the end. Windblown has some big shoes to fill, but so far it seems to be up to the task. You can try the game yourself later this month when a Steam demo containing the first biome launches on October 14, 2024. The game enters Steam Early Access on October 24, 2024.