Blockader is a 2D roguelite game that blends arena survival with shooter mechanics. You control a small character within a circular arena while enemies constantly spawn and advance toward you. Each successive wave becomes increasingly difficult.
Your character automatically shoots at the nearest enemy, so movement and dodging is the most important part of gameplay. You'll also gain stars which will be displayed in the arena to increase your strength and unlock upgrade choices.
Each wave introduces a new group of enemies. They may close in from multiple directions, causing the safe zone to shrink. In addition to melee monsters, Snipers attack from outside the arena.
Use WASD or the arrow keys to move. Since your character automatically targets and shoots the nearest enemy, you do not need to aim while running. Keep an eye on enemy positions and the open space around you. Colliding with monsters or getting hit by projectiles costs you a life; losing all your lives ends the run.
You can collect stars that appear in arena after defeating enemies. These are important resources for character building.
When a wave ends, the upgrade selection screen appears. You receive three random cards and select one of them to create your character.
The upgrade system is the main strategic element of Blockader. Cards differ in rarity and affect properties such as speed, health, attack capabilities or character skills. Upgrades like Movement will increase your speed, and Health will increase your max hit points. You can also boost your firing rate with “Rush,” or upgrade your offense with Plume or Gear.
Stars are used to purchase gear and to unlock branches in the skill tree. No two playthroughs have to be the same, with over 100 upgrade cards and a plethora of equipment options.
Blockader features six characters, Lucky, Byte, Spark, Orbit, Sludge, and Spike, each with a different playstyle, so there is plenty of variety for later runs.
Blockader features bold outlines and cartoon-like 2D vector graphics. This is set against a background of deep purple space, with circles and geometric patterns. The characters and monsters are small, easily recognizable designs. The interface shows your remaining lives and current wave, as well as owned upgrades and the number of stars collected.
As enemy waves grow more dense, the screen becomes filled with movement and attacks at a fast clip, requiring quick reactions from players to find openings and survive.
