Depthline is a single-player strategy RPG that blends roguelike progression with tactical combat and resource management. Players guide one survivor through an eighteen-floor building where something has gone wrong, sealing off the lower levels and turning staff into threats. The core loop involves descending floor by floor, clearing corridors of zombies, claiming loot, and refining a build before facing the next challenge.
Gameplay
Combat takes place in corridors where the survivor fights independently. Players click zombies to focus fire while the build handles the rest, with speed options up to four times normal to accelerate runs. Seven varieties of zombies appear, including elites carrying affixes, alongside three bosses positioned at floors six, twelve, and eighteen. Loot drops in colored beams that indicate rarity, and each corridor concludes with a cache of items. Rooms on every floor follow set themes that determine available gear, such as military equipment from the armory or hazmat suits from the lab. Modifiers alter encounters, with hordes increasing enemy numbers and drops, dark conditions raising difficulty while improving loot quality, and quiet periods offering respite. Safe rooms, workshops, and lockers provide zombie-free stops for recovery or crafting.
Item progression centers on merging two identical pieces into one of higher rarity, advancing from common through legendary tiers. Gold spent at the workbench upgrades unmatched items, and deeper floors introduce Mk II and Mk III variants. Eight class lines, including military, scrap, medic, hazmat, scout, tech, security, and morgue, strengthen as matching items are equipped, with cross-class synergies possible. Each of the six heroes starts with two classes and a unique ability. Supply drops and relics further modify runs by altering rules or extending survival.
Game Modes
Depthline operates as a single continuous descent with no separate named modes. Every run follows the same structure of planning routes across eight room types and six modifiers on each floor. Players choose paths that balance risk and reward while managing inventory space, selling excess items upon advancing. Permanent progression occurs between runs through spending data on new heroes and upgrades. After an initial victory, threat levels increase to provide additional challenge for subsequent attempts.
Progression and Builds
Twenty-four relics introduce rule changes that encourage experimentation across multiple playthroughs. The workbench and merging system allow fine-tuning of equipment to suit preferred class combinations. Heroes bring innate class pairings that can evolve through item choices, creating hybrid builds that draw from multiple lines. Automatic combat at adjustable speeds lets the prepared loadout carry the action while players focus on positioning and target priority.
Is It Worth Playing?
Depthline suits players who enjoy methodical build crafting and run-based strategy in a compact package. The CRT monitor aesthetic with adjustable curvature and glare adds a distinctive visual layer to the proceedings. With six heroes, eighty-eight items spanning five rarities and upgrade tiers, and extensive modifier options, the game offers substantial replay value for those drawn to indie strategy and RPG elements. Availability on PC makes it accessible for sessions focused on optimization and descent planning.
