When it comes to combat, many games funnel players into rigid decision-making that restricts how they want to fight. Godbreakers, the action roguelike from To The Sky and Thunderful, asks a different question: what if you could literally steal your enemies’ powers and wreck shop?

After spending hands-on time with the game at Gamescom 2025, I can say it’s a chaotic, tactical dance that more often than not delivers on its promise.

Freedom of Combat and Archetypes

Joined by Reza Hedayati (design director/co-founder), Jugo Mirkovic (executive producer/co-founder), André Ahlinder (art director/co-founder) and Marie Erlandsson (brand & marketing manager), the team explained how fluidity and responsiveness were the foundation of Godbreakers.

“We wanted to create a game that had very high fluidity and responsiveness in the controller, to go away from the Souls games,” said Hedayati. “We want to give you the freedom of movement control as a player. So what we have done is we can dash in the game, and it cancels all animations, all attacks, all abilities, at any point.”

As one of the Archetypes in Godbreakers, each offers a distinct play style thanks to different weapons and varying abilities, like dual blades or a laser cannon. The combat is punishing, however, with enemies swarming in numbers and keen to take you out.

After picking up the dual blades Archetype, Mirkovic reminded me that my chosen class “is a bit weaker than the others in terms of taking damage” and urged me to be “aware of space.” His philosophy is simple: “Combat should feel like a flow and dance between you and the enemies. We want to provide the player with a big toolkit of attacks, so you can find the play style that you want and not be restricted.”

The Godbreaking Mechanic

The signature hook, though, is godbreaking. After charging your meter by dealing damage, you can possess a weakened enemy, temporarily absorbing their powers while invulnerable, before bursting out with a new ability. In practice, this means adapting constantly — whether by unleashing a lethal ranged shot or detonating a powerful crowd-control punch, among other powers in Godbreakers.

This mechanic not only adds layers of strategy but also helps every encounter feel unique. Do you use a godbreak early to thin the herd, or save it for a boss’s second phase? That tension became the centrepiece of my demo.

Progression and Biomes

Beyond moment-to-moment combat, progression comes through collecting buffs, stat upgrades, and permanent resources. The comprehensive Codex in Godbreakers outlines countless synergies, fuelling experimentation and replayability. “After getting the core Archetypes down, it then becomes a process of finding items that fit into the Archetypes and the builds,” Hedayati explained, noting how “subtypes” evolve within each class.

In our run, the Mars’ biome was a gauntlet of fire and explosives, leading to a boss fight against an agile, cosmic wrestler. Every boss is multi-phased, forcing players to adjust their tactics on the fly. Ahlinder confirmed that six biomes will ship at launch, each with its own atmosphere, dangers, and audio identity. Character customisation will also be part of the experience, giving you the chance to stand out from the pack.

Community and Replayability

The roguelike grind is supported by procedural design and multiplayer co-op for up to four players. Erlandsson highlighted how fans are already responding strongly, with some breaking the devs’ speedrun record or spending 10+ hours mastering a single biome. That level of community engagement bodes well for longevity.

The developers then teased more about the Tangles, a bunch of modifiers that can further twist your run in Godbreakers in more impactful ways. Think one-hit kills that work both ways or having constantly dwindling health that requires kills to recuperate, the hardcore will definitely have plenty to feast on.

As I wrapped up my time, I realised how instinctively I wanted to jump back in. Chaining dashes, stealing powers, and turning boss fights on their heads is addictive, and with multiplayer, progression systems, and developer care, Godbreakers feels poised to carve out its place in the crowded roguelike genre, and you can have a taste too with the demo now available.