Katanaut Review – Do Janitors Carry Swords?

I for one am always pleased to see a company come back from the dead. I dunno what it is…nostalgia? Rebirth? A second chance to take over the market? We saw it years ago with a now-thriving THQ Nordic, and now we’re seeing it again with Acclaim. But this time, instead of leaning upon the usual licensed dreck (whatever those South Park games were), we’re seeing original indie fare getting a bigger spotlight. Like, for instance, Voidmaw’s bloody impressive Katanaut.

Released for Steam a few weeks back, the game has an interesting style. It combines the galactic terrors of something along the lines of Dead Space, but throws a samurai-style warrior into the mix. What’s more, it has a Dead Cells style approach. Enemies keep coming, but you can stylishly take them out without breaking a sweat. Or so it seems until the next encounter could potentially eat you alive.

As you make your runs, you can collect upgrades to help achieve greater carnage from near and far. But there are also some cool memory fragments to pick up for the long-term – something that will be useful for secondary run-throughs. Which, yes, you’ll have.

With a slick presentation and lots of satisfactory carnage, Katanaut stands out in a growing field of roguelite brawlers. And it’s incredibly well priced, clocking in at just under $20. I think my biggest problem with the game is its limited platforms – something like this would easily flourish on consoles. As it stands, however, Steam Deck and PC owners are in for a bloody treat with this one.

Katanaut Gives You One Hell of a Custodial Duty

So there’s a massive space station, yeah? And it’s apparently fallen into disarray following mysterious circumstances. You send in a team to clean house and try to figure out what went wrong, right? Nah, not in this case. Here, you send a lone hero into the insanity, trying to figure out what went wrong with descent into deeper levels.

The story alone in Katanaut could easily send chills down your spine. There’s definitely some Dead Space-ish feels about this one. But what sets it apart is how it plays. And it does so remarkably.

There is a bit of Dead Cells feeling here as you make your way throughout the station. But the one-man development team at Voidmaw (now that’s a name) knows how to handle the combat. It’s beautifully well done, with opportunities galore to use short-range weapons and firearms. Mixing the two together creates an intoxicating feel that keeps you invigorated with each new fight. Even boss battles – which are a handful – are enjoyable to play through.

What’s more, there are upgrades. Oh yeah, there are upgrades. In fact, it’s best if you discover them by surprise, as they can change certain ways to play the game. One minute you’re taking combat nice and slow. The next, you’re flashing through enemies like a high-speed blender. It’s bonkers. Don’t forget the memory fragments that improve your character as well.

The game is challenging aplenty, and, yes, being a roguelite, that means you’re going to die. Just accept it. Start a new run and discover something new. That’s the best part about a game like Katanaut. It remains surprisingly fresh with each go-around, and doesn’t tire you out – unlike some near impossible games out there.

I think my big takeaway is the limited number of platforms Katanaut is available for. It’s just PC/Steam Deck right now. This thing, I feel, would really drum up business for Acclaim on consoles. Perhaps down the road. For now, owners of these particular platforms should’ve miss out on this speedy little carvefest.

Katanaut Looks and Sounds Like a Winner

You’d think Voidmaw would struggle putting together something as vivid as Katanaut. But, no, they actually make it look incredibly easy in the final product.

It’s a highly polished affair, with some of the slickest, bloodiest combat I’ve seen all year. It moves very rapidly, but never to the point that you lose focus. Plus, the ambience put into the 2D art design of the ship is astounding. The bigger a screen you can play this on, the better. Especially when it comes to some of these boss battles. Whoo boy.

Also, the sound design is something else. Along with a moving score that keeps the bloody action moving along, you’ve got some of the deepest sound effects you’ll come across in a game. You’ll hear every bullet and every “thunk” of your sword with each encounter. This is one of those times I wish I could connect my Steam Deck to a surround sound set-up, tell you what.

Overall, you’ll have a hard time believing this was a solo development affair. Katanaut is just that impressive.

It’s Time To Clean House With Katanaut

The only reason I can think of that you wouldn’t buy Katanaut? Well, there are two. It might be too bloody for your tastes, or you simply don’t own a Steam Deck or PC, preferring consoles instead. Otherwise, you’d be crazy to turn down such a bloody good time as this one. It plays elegantly, and does a great deal with its presentation.

If you’re a fan of deep space terror or roguelites in general, Katanaut should be at the top of your “must have” list. Cleaning house never felt so good.