The Unliving Preview (Steam Early Access)

by Jim Smale · December 1, 2022

For our The Unliving Preview, where we Raise the dead as a fearsome Necromancer in the dark world of The Unliving! Lead your undead armies into the endless fight in this rogue-lite action RPG game. Burn cities to ash with devastating magic spells, slay epic bosses, and turn your enemies into morbid servants. Each fallen foe can be resurrected and added to your army to create unlimited legions of the dead. These re-animated creatures have their own unique abilities, such as the undead Priest whose blessings in life, will now curse your enemies in death.

The Unliving Preview Pros:

Pixel art graphics.
3.17GB Download size.
Steam achievements.
Full controller support.
Graphics settings – resolution, v-sync, and fullscreen.
Roguelike gameplay.
You play as a Necromancer who is looking to rebuild his kingdom and take back control.
Raise minions and even raise the enemies you just kill so they now fight for you.
Earn materials to unlock permanent new unlocks and abilities.
The locations/levels/runs randomize every run.
Your main hub is the Ruins of your castle and you can improve your character here and talk with the characters.
A lot of skill trees.
Beautiful hand-drawn art for character interactions.
Impressive on-screen player count.
The locations look really cool.
A dark unsettling atmosphere.
Shooting magic is done as a twin-stick shooter-style control system.
Eerie soundtrack.
Interact with portals to get a choice of three abilities.
Every run will randomize enemies and loot that you can find.
Big huge open areas.
You can do what you want in every aspect.
The writing seems good with a mixture of lore and humor.
Button controls show on the screen.
Environmental hazards and breakables.

The Unliving Preview Cons:

Cannot rebind controls. (it does state that it’s coming)
No way to pause the game.
You have next to no control over the minions.
Minions will get stuck in the scenery, run away from fights and generally annoy more than help.
There is no actual tutorial.
Minimal graphic settings.
The opening hour is literally just you going into a world, fumbling controls then dying. Respawning in the hub and maybe buying a new “I don’t know what that does” ability and then rinse and repeat until somehow I can look after myself.
The aiming of the weapons is a cursor on the right stick with no lock on so it’s loose and not helpful.
You die really quickly.
The loading bar goes to 100 percent fast but then hangs on that number.
I never felt I knew what was going on.
Requires a huge time investment.

The Unliving:

Official website.

Developer: Rocketbrush Studios

Publisher: Team 17

Store Links –

Steam Early Access