[REDACTED]

The top-down roguelike action game Redacted is free for Windows—100% free to keep—for a limited time in a Epic Store’s giveaway offer! Grab it now, as Redacted usually costs $24.99!

[REDACTED] is an isometric action game with a top-down perspective that blends shooting and roguelike RPG elements. Set on a frozen moon of Jupiter, it serves as a spin-off to the survival horror The Callisto Protocol. Developed by Striking Distance Studios, it was initially released on October 27, 2024.

Published by Krafton and available for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, [REDACTED] has been generally well-received by critics. Moreover, it boasts hundreds of very positive reviews on Steam, at least as of this writing.

You can get the game here!

Video

Gameplay

[REDACTED] is an isometric roguelite action game combining melee combat, shooting, and hacking mechanics. Its cel-shaded visuals draw inspiration from comic books. The narrative begins with a guard attempting to escape Black Iron Prison, battling rival prisoners and various challenges on the way to the final escape pod. Although straightforward, the story is functional and ties seamlessly into the roguelite structure, providing a narrative reason for the player’s cyclical attempts and progression.

Each run is unique, with players assuming the role of different guards whose abilities can be upgraded as they progress. The main goal is to survive challenging encounters while collecting resources to unlock weapons, suits, and permanent upgrades to improve success rates in future runs. Players can choose rewards after clearing rooms, such as credits for temporary upgrades, items for permanent enhancements, or elemental upgrades to boost weapon and ability effectiveness.

The combat system blends melee and ranged attacks. Players have access to weapons like assault rifles and special arms, alongside movement tools such as a dash for dodging attacks and the GRP, an ability that pushes enemies away. Strategy and resource management are key, requiring players to prioritize weapons and abilities based on available upgrades during each run.

In addition to standard enemies, players encounter rivals—characters with unique personalities and skills that appear randomly during runs. Defeating them unlocks more information about them, making future encounters more predictable and granting access to exclusive content, such as a highly challenging secret run. To weaken these rivals, players can use the attack bar mechanic to gain an edge over the course of a run.

Ultimately, [REDACTED] combines fast-paced combat with a robust progression curve, encouraging experimentation with different strategies while unlocking new content. Its comic-book-style visuals and engaging mechanics make it an accessible title for fans of the genre.

About the game

Black Iron, a state-of-the-art prison located on Jupiter’s frozen moon Callisto, is overrun with hordes of infected inmates. As a mere prison guard, your mission is simple: make it to the last escape pod alive!

Fight against dozens of unique enemies and traverse hostile environments as you try to escape. But you’re not the only survivor seeking freedom. Your rivals—a deranged janitor, a violent gangster, the cafeteria lady, and other colorful characters—can’t wait to leave you in the dust, or worse.

Only one person can leave the moon, and it has to be you!

Features

• FIGHT/DIE/ADAPT – Every death is a lesson. Starting fresh each run, improve your arsenal with powerful experiments, weapon blueprints, and upgrades to escape Black Iron. When you die (and you will die), use your precious loot to buy new weapons, suits, and skills permanently. Grow stronger, explore various strategies, and make it out alive!
• TAKE OUT YOUR RIVALS – You’re not the only one who survived the initial outbreak, and some are more than willing to resort to violence to reach the last escape pod. Rival prisoners—and even fellow guards—will sabotage your progress remotely or challenge you to duels. Race them, strike back remotely, and fight to the death to survive this hell.
• FIGHT YOUR LAST CORPSE – Upon dying, you leave more than just a jumpsuit-clad corpse behind. Defeat the reanimated body of the last guard who fell prey to Black Iron’s dangers to earn a powerful experiment. But beware, this won’t be an easy fight. The semi-living guard wields the same arsenal you had when you died, with a few extra tricks to keep things interesting.
• MAKE OR BREAK – You’ve built the perfect loadout, defeated bosses, outsmarted rivals, slain your own corpse, and found every file. Now you stand before the final escape pod. You could leave it all behind for the sweet taste of freedom… or risk everything for one last run through the prison. Fail, and you lose all equipment, abilities, suits, and weapons you’ve acquired. But succeed, and you unlock powerful new gear permanently.
• FUTURISTIC PUNK – An irreverent attitude, unique presentation, striking comic-book-style visuals, and an original arcade-punk soundtrack at 180 bpm by Mutato Muzika elevate the sci-fi setting and electrifying action of [REDACTED].

Trivia

• The title was initially called “Project Birds Eye”. You can still find official videos of the game under this name on the studio’s official channel.
• As mentioned above, Redacted is a spin-off of The Callisto Protocol universe, but instead of a survival horror, it is an action roguelite with shooter and hacking mechanics. It is said that it was developed as a passion project by a smaller internal team at Striking Distance Studios.
• Despite containing elements of the cyberpunk genre, such as the technological atmosphere and the rebellious tones, Redacted seems to fit more as a mix of futurism and punk style. To be considered a truly cyberpunk work, it would need to explore more deeply the philosophical and social themes characteristic of the genre.

More info and action

• Site oficial – With more information and media, links to other platforms, etc.
• Redacted @ Steam – Store’s listing.
• Redacted @ Gaming Room – Source, with more info and media. In Portuguese.
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