The creativity of the human mind really knows no bounds, does it? Seeing a genre once forgotten to the ebb and flow of time become popular once again has been like a dream come true. Boomer Shooters have exploded in popularity over the past few years, and I, for one, won’t complain. The fast-paced gameplay structure, typically combined with a graphical style that emulates the greats of a forgotten era, is something I love more than words can really describe. But now, I’ve recently discovered something even more fun than a typical story-driven game. Boomer Shooter Roguelikes.

Sure, this concept may have been popularised by games like Post Void, but I’ve recently stumbled upon a few demos that have lit a fire under my ass. Berserker’s Domain and SPORTAL are two excellent additions to the budding and growing genre. Fantastic visual language, engaging gunplay, and plenty of goofy powerups. These two games are something special, and you need to add them to your wishlist as soon as possible.

I Need ‘Berserker’s Domain’ To Gib Me More, Because I Can’t Stop Playing This Demo

The first time I ever played an FPS on PC, it felt like my life changed forever. I remember it like it was yesterday: I went to a garage sale down the road, and saw a big box on the table. I always scanned for electronics and video games, and I discovered something I had never seen before in my life up to that point. A big box copy of Quake II on PC. It was the early 2000s, so by that time, Quake II was considered “old”, so I had gotten it for just a few dollars that I had scrounged up from whatever allowance I had at the time. I went home, plopped the disc into the family Compaq Presario, and watched as my life changed forever.

That initial feeling of wonder and bewilderment is exactly what I felt when I booted up Berserker’s Domain for the first time. It’s easy to see what types of games inspired this one. But the blistering speed, the incredible pickups, and the electrifying soundtrack had me hooked from the start. I was in heaven from the first arena in Berserker’s Domain. It feels like a forgotten relic of the past, and it’s one that I need more people to start paying attention to as soon as possible.

Fast, Furious, and Filthy. ‘Berserker’s Domain’ Is Exactly What I Want in an FPS

Quick question: have you ever played a game where you can punch bullets as you shoot them to reduce the spread? No? Have you never even considered something like that in your life before? Well, do I have something amazing to tell you? Putting serious storytelling to the wayside, Berserker’s Domain is a joyride of stupidity. I mean that in the most complementary way possible, by the way. Punching bullets, having a shotgun with an axe attached to it, pick-ups that make the game slow motion if you make gibs. It’s perfection in polygonal form, blending enticing and excellent gunplay with a slick array of silliness. There’s no loading, no tutorial, nothing here. You’re dropped into an arena, and you need to learn the way of the Berserker if you want to survive.

While Berserker’s Domain doesn’t have an official launch date yet, it’s a game that I’m going to be keeping a close eye on. It’s been a very, very long time since I’ve played an FPS that has made me feel like this. It unapologetically kicked my ass, and then gave me the tools to kick its ass. Berserker’s Domain is something special, playing into the silliness and wackiness, all while dialing the violence and intensity up to 11. Oh yeah, and the best part of it all? Once you finish a run, you get to watch the Berserker do his little dancy dance while the bodies of the foes that you’ve killed pile up into a massive stack. It’s surprisingly satisfying to watch and makes the whole package feel even more unique.

Consider this an official petition to let the Berserker hit the Griddy, though. I need that in my life.

Imagine if ‘Zombies Ate My Neighbors’ Was Turned Into a Boomer Shooter. You’d Have ‘SPORTAL’, and It Rocks

Some games like to push the boundaries of what we can expect when it comes to narrative, sound design, or graphical fidelity. Other games like to give you an exploding football that you can huck at zombies while Dad Jokes are said in the background. Nine times out of ten, I’m going to prefer the latter. SPORTAL is one of the most unique and interesting FPS games I’ve played in quite some time. Developed by a team of two, the passion and promise that this one shows in the demo has me more than interested. That, and it’s an amazing feeling to smack a zombie dead nuts on between the eyes with a slingshot, and then kick it into a wall of spikes. There are very few things in life that are more satisfying than doing that, to be fair.

SPORTAL is also incredibly visually appealing, with a gorgeous presentation that prioritizes visibility above all else. No matter where I found myself in these tight arenas, I never had to squint to discern what was a creature or a piece of the environment. I could keep moving, bashing, and smashing my way through levels with ease. It feels responsive, and using sports-themed equipment as weaponry? Amazing. I love sports ball, and tossing the ole pigskin into a swarm of zombies never gets old.

The Demo Offers a Good Taste of What To Expect, and I Need More ‘SPORTAL’ in My Life ASAP

You know, nothing brightens up your day better than kicking Dracula straight in the mouth. SPORTAL is incredibly silly, but it’s also terrific to play. The “gunplay” on offer here is top-notch, and while I do hope some weapons offer more than the charge-up variety that is on display here, I’m excited to see what other types of equipment we can smack down creeps with in the future. Some little quirks can make leveling up feel a bit cumbersome, like weapons that are weaker than your currently equipped items, but those are things that can be improved upon before release. SPORTAL is unique, something that is hard to find in the landscape of muted browns and grays in today’s gaming landscape.

Colorful, bloody fun, and filled to the brim with bad Dad jokes. Typically, roguelikes have me groaning because I need to restart a run after almost getting to the end. This time around? I’m groaning because I just heard the worst pun in my life. SPORTAL is super interesting, and I’m hoping that the final game has a good narrative to follow alongside, because I’d like to learn more about the world it’s set in. Plus, I really just want to smack down a set of goblins with a bowling ball. That sounds horrifyingly satisfying, to say the least.

What Other Boomer Shooter Roguelikes Should I Be Trying Out, Shaun?

Rougelikes have slowly been working their way into my daily life. After playing Roboquest and falling in love with the design language and the way it handles replayability, I’ve slowly been falling further and further down the rabbit hole. Now, seeing that Boomer Shooters are going that same route? I’m fully invested, all in, no stops. But if you’re eager to dip your toes into something that isn’t just a demo, there are a ton of absolutely brilliant games that can keep you satisfied until these two release.

Nightmare Reaper looks like classic DOOM, mixed with some more modern-day QoL features to make it a standout on the visual design forefront. Plus, the skill tree is modeled after old-school games, and I’m all for this. CRUEL is another outstanding example of how to do Boomer Shooter Roguelikes right. It’s pure chaos in the most hardcore way possible, and the perfect type of game to play if you’ve been itching for something that will absolutely destroy you. It’s hard, and I love it for that fact.

While I’m always eager to jump into a Boomer Shooter with a great storyline, sometimes replayability and an assortment of goofy power-ups are all I really need. Between Berserker’s Domain and SPORTAL, my gaming future looks bright. I just need them to drop a release date. Mainly so I can prep and get ready for countless sleepless nights.