Slayblade — a Beyblade-like roguelike arrives in Steam Next Fest

In January I wrote about From the Top, a roguelike aimed at anyone who remembers the childhood thrill of Beyblade battles. Now a second entry in that space has arrived: Slayblade, which has a demo in this month’s Steam Next Fest. Where From the Top leaned darker, Slayblade doubles down on Y2K nostalgia — think Toonami-core soundtrack, pixelated overworld sprites, and chunky, era-appropriate pseudo-Beyblade designs (you might even find a Wu-Tang logo as a component). You play a nameless battler chasing the Slayblade World Championship and the truth behind your father’s disappearance after he invented perpetual motion Slayblade technology “that would have solved the energy crisis.” The game sends you on days-long runs of skating between cash-prize battles, trading winnings for parts and tournament entries, with side work like lawn-mowing available for extra money and experience. (Image credit: Henry’s House)