A humorous RPG inspired by Zelda and Smash TV, Ampersat is currently free, for Windows and Linux — 100% free to keep — in a limited-time Steam’s giveaway! Take advantage of this deal while it lasts, as Ampersat normally costs US$9.99!
Ampersat, stylized as Ampers@t, is an indie action-RPG with shooting mechanics, top-down perspective, roguelike elements, and inspirations from The Legend of Zelda, Smash TV, and Gauntlet. You control an @ symbol on a mission to recover letters of the alphabet that have been captured. The game was developed by Gaterooze, Ink and originally released on May 6, 2022.
The visuals follow a retro aesthetic inspired by 8- and 16-bit graphics, combined with ASCII-style characters and a chiptune soundtrack. Due to its colorful, old-school look and humorous tone, Ampersat may seem simple at first glance — but it hides surprising depth and challenge.
Published by GrabTheGames and available for Windows, Linux, and Nintendo Switch, Ampersat has received dozens of positive reviews on the Steam store — at least at the time of this writing.
You can get the game here!
Trailer
Gameplay
In Ampersat, players control an “@” symbol whose mission is to free captured letters from dungeons and restore a village called Gentleheim. Despite its simple visual style, the game presents above-average difficulty, especially in the early stages before players have acquired upgrades. This contrast often leads to a false sense of safety, making sudden deaths all the more surprising.
Gameplay combines twin-stick shooter mechanics: the player moves using one stick (or keyboard), while the other is used to aim and shoot projectiles. There are two ranged attack modes — single shot and continuous fire — the latter of which uses an overheat system that requires cooldowns between uses. A melee attack is also available, dealing high damage but posing a significant risk due to the need for close-range engagement.
Dungeons are not procedurally generated — layouts remain fixed on each playthrough. Players encounter a variety of enemies, some of which inflict damage over time, such as poison. Certain areas contain enemy-spawning boxes that can be destroyed to prevent continuous respawns and earn gold rewards, making exploration safer.
Enemies range from basic creatures to corrupted letters that serve as powerful mini-bosses or bosses. Many enemies deal high damage, and some apply status effects like poison. While enemy movement is generally slow, they are especially dangerous in groups or confined spaces. Specific letter bosses — including one capable of killing the player in a single hit — mark the most challenging moments in the game and demand solid preparation, both strategically and in terms of character upgrades.
Gentleheim, the village hub, acts as the central area and respawn point after death. From here, players can access dungeons, purchase equipment, invest gold in rebuilding structures, and unlock permanent upgrades. Character attributes like health and damage can be improved through experience gained in dungeons. This progression system outside the dungeons reinforces the game’s roguelite nature, making each attempt more effective than the last.
Death results in partial loss of experience and gold, but overall progress is retained. Weapons and items acquired during a run remain available until the player dies, at which point they are returned to the hub. This loop of trial, progression, and repetition is central to the gameplay structure.
The game’s interface displays an XP bar, equipped weapons, and an energy meter for ranged attacks. Ampersat supports both keyboard/mouse and gamepad input, with integrated tutorials, volume and resolution settings, and quality-of-life options. It also features both local split-screen multiplayer and online support.
About the game
Ampersat is a shooty, slashy, RPG-y game mixing old-school/retro and modern sensibilities. A blend of influences from Gauntlet and Smash TV to Zelda and a dash of Angband, this is a handcrafted adventure with much appeal to fans of Roguelites. A labor of love from a solo developer, Ampersat distills some favorite childhood gaming experiences into a fresh, fun hybrid that sees you killing a lot of monsters, finding a lot of loot, freeing captured letters (um, what?) and growing from a world-weary warrior mage into a powerful smashing/blasting machine!
You may notice the main character and enemies are ASCII letters – yes, this is an aesthetic throwback to the original Rogue games, and the blending of these with colorful 3D top-down environments was the idea that first spawned Ampersat. Likewise, Commodore 64 SID chip sound effects are used alongside real-world music for a distinctive experience. But just what is an “ampersat?” It’s the leading contender for the official name of the @ symbol, of course!
Features
- More than 50 handcrafted levels, many with exploration and light puzzles.
- Optional endless procedural area.
- Original gameplay elements based around freeing and capturing letters.
- Flexible character progression with extensive skill tree.
- Hundreds of unique pieces of loot find, buy, sell and augment.
- Upgradeable town hub.
- Tackle stages in the order you choose.
- 50 unique creature types with individual AI, 10 fiendish bosses.
- Drop-in local async co-op (and online using Steam Remote Play Together) – suitable for young players to team up with their parents.
Screenshots
- https://www.gamingroom.net/images/galerias/2396/Ampersat-www.gamingroom.net-02.jpg
- https://www.gamingroom.net/images/galerias/2396/Ampersat-www.gamingroom.net-08.jpg
- https://www.gamingroom.net/images/galerias/2396/Ampersat-www.gamingroom.net-07.jpg
- https://www.gamingroom.net/images/galerias/2396/Ampersat-www.gamingroom.net-04.jpg
More info and RPG
Overview
- GET Ampersat HERE - Download link(s) or store's listing.
- Size: 2 GB
- License: Commercial
- Operational systems: Windows and Linux (64-bit)
- Developer(s) and/or publisher(s): Gaterooze, Ink, GrabTheGames
- Categories: Action, RPG, Shooters
- Views: 3
- Added by: Valewson