Deadzone: Rogue Review
Chaotic gunplay makes you say 'just one more run'.
I’ve been losing more hours than I’d like to admit to Deadzone: Rogue on Xbox One X lately. It’s the kind of game that sneaks up on you. You boot it up for a quick run, and three hours later you’re still muttering “just one more try” as another swarm of glowing enemies closes in.
At its best, it captures that rare flow where every movement, dodge, and shot just clicks. There’s something satisfying about how each run feels different, yet familiar enough that you know improvement is just a few headshots away.
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from https://www.keymailer.co but all opinions are my own!
Gameplay
The gunplay hooked me immediately. It’s punchy and tactile, with every weapon carrying its own rhythm and personality. The VLR-72 Tempest light machine gun has a huge magazine and a satisfying recoil pattern that rewards careful aim during longer engagements. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the MPK-17 Snapdragon SMG fires so rapidly that it almost becomes a blur, perfect for frantic close-quarters fights.
My personal favourite is the Titan-10 Hellstorm, a minigun that turns hallways into shredded metal carnage. Holding down the trigger and watching the world disintegrate never gets old.
The roguelike structure adds variety and replayability. Each run brings new perks, weapon mods, and ability synergies that completely change how you approach combat. One of my favourite combinations was pairing the Locked & Loaded perk, which boosts damage and automatically reloads your other weapon on kill, with a fast-switching dual-SMG setup. Instead of reloading, I just swapped weapons and kept firing without a pause.
Movement ties everything together. It’s slick, responsive, and rewards aggression. You can dash through enemy fire, circle-strafe around tanks, or slide into cover while unloading a full magazine. It feels instinctive in a way that makes you want to push your luck, testing how far you can go before the chaos catches up.
Enemy variety is another strong point. You’ll face everything from darting melee units to heavily armoured brutes and aerial drones that rain down plasma fire. Each type forces a different approach, keeping you alert and reactive. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, but that’s part of the fun.
Multiplayer is equally strong. The servers hold up well, and the cooperative chaos is addictive. You can coordinate builds with friends, running complementary loadouts that make each encounter feel unpredictable. It’s messy, loud, and endlessly entertaining.
What I Liked
Gunplay that feels sharp, weighty, and deeply satisfying.
Smooth movement that rewards skill and quick reactions.
Build variety that keeps every run unique.
Stable and chaotic multiplayer sessions that enhance replayability.
That perfect “one more run” loop that defines a great roguelike.
What Fell Flat
Occasional visual clutter when the action gets too intense.
Early progression feels slow before you unlock key perks.
Some arenas blend together visually after extended play.
Visuals
Deadzone: Rogue nails its atmosphere. The world feels industrial, gritty, and slightly oppressive, the kind of sci-fi setting that’s more functional than beautiful. Arenas are illuminated by flickering lights and bursts of gunfire, creating a dynamic contrast that keeps the tension high.
Performance on Xbox One X is excellent, even during the most chaotic firefights. Explosions, particle effects, and large enemy groups rarely cause frame dips. It’s impressive how much chaos the engine handles without losing clarity.
That said, the visual design could use more environmental variety. Many stages share similar metallic corridors and debris-filled rooms. A few distinct biomes or lighting shifts would go a long way toward making each run feel fresh.
Audio
The sound design is excellent. The low mechanical hum of the arenas, the distant alarms, and the echo of footsteps all contribute to a feeling of constant tension. Each weapon sounds distinct, from the snappy crack of a pistol to the deep growl of the minigun. The Titan-10 Hellstorm, in particular, has an unforgettable mechanical roar that makes every spin-up feel like an event.
The soundtrack matches the pace perfectly. Ambient tones build between waves, then kick into heavier electronic beats once combat begins. It’s the kind of music that fades into the background while you play but completely drives the rhythm of each encounter.
Verdict
Deadzone: Rogue doesn’t reinvent the roguelike shooter, but it executes the formula with confidence and flair. The gunplay feels phenomenal, the movement is fluid, and the roguelike systems give it that endlessly replayable edge.
There’s still room for polish, especially in level variety and early progression, but the foundation is solid. When the action flows, it’s some of the most satisfying firefight design I’ve experienced in a long time.
Whether you’re grinding solo or diving into co-op mayhem with friends, Deadzone: Rogue nails that balance between chaos and control that keeps you coming back.
Available now on Xbox One X. If you love games like Risk of Rain 2, Megabonk or Witchfire, but want something faster on the gunplay, this one’s worth every trigger pull.