Towerborne made a strong first impression on me when I first played it at an Xbox event last month. As I continued to explore the game in anticipation of its launch, I found that the unique online beat ’em up experience from the developers of The Banner Saga and Xbox is actually quite engaging.
While Towerborne is still in its early access stage and has room to grow, its always-online nature and the fact that it is still evolving make it an exciting game to look out for. Inspired by games like Destiny 2 and Diablo 4, what sets Towerborne apart is its focus on beat ’em up gameplay in a multiplayer setting, which is a refreshing change from the typical shooter or RPG multiplayer experiences.
The Unique Element in Towerborne
In Towerborne, players create an “Ace,” an amnesiac warrior assisting refugees in reaching a Belfry after the destruction of the magical City of Numbers by monsters. While the story is not as intricate as The Banner Saga, it provides a compelling reason for the Aces to embark on their journey of battling monsters. Before heading out into the world, players must explore the Belfry to upgrade their gear and receive quests from NPCs.
The Belfry functions as a hub similar to The Tower in Destiny 2, where players gather between missions and interact with vendors or other players. While the Belfry currently lacks depth in terms of activities and NPC interactions, the real essence of Towerborne lies in the world map exploration.
The world map in Towerborne consists of a hexagonal grid, each cell presenting a unique procedurally generated encounter. Players can find chests, gear upgrades, and engage in beat ’em up stages reminiscent of games like Street of Rage 4 or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. Completing these stages unlocks new gear and weapons, adding variety to gameplay.
Although the gameplay loop mainly focuses on acquiring better gear by completing stages, the “Ventures” scattered across the map offer challenging missions with boss encounters for enhanced rewards. While these systems may not be groundbreaking, Towerborne stands out due to its beat ’em up genre in a multiplayer environment.
The Online Gaming Challenge
One drawback of Towerborne is its dependence on a stable internet connection, as the game lacks offline play or couch co-op options (although the latter is planned for the future). While most players may not face major latency issues, occasional disruptions can impact gameplay, affecting combo execution and hit detection against enemies.
If latency issues persist, the gameplay experience in Towerborne may be disrupted, leading to occasional setbacks like getting sent back to the title screen after completing a mission. While online stability concerns exist, the core fun of Towerborne shines through, promising potential growth in content and gameplay enhancements in the future.
Despite potential connectivity challenges, the niche appeal of Towerborne is likely to attract a dedicated community that collaborates with the developers to enrich the game experience. If you’re eager to dive into Towerborne, consider purchasing the early access Founder’s Pack on Steam before its free-to-play launch on Xbox in 2025.
