Luck & Loot, developed by SMARTcreative is a dice-building roguelite that blends turn-based combat, procedural dungeon exploration, and a unique dice customization system into a focused, replayable experience. The game just launched an updated playable demo in order to prepare for the upcoming release. However, I’ll tell you more about it now.
The game is set in Eldralith, a dark fantasy world in decay, where players guide one of three heroes through procedurally generated dungeons filled with enemies, traps, and bosses. While the narrative is minimal, the game utilizes environmental storytelling, character design, and events to convey a world on the brink, adding context to each run without overwhelming the gameplay, a formula typically employed in roguelites.
Its retro pixel art paired with a chiptune soundtrack creates a nostalgic atmosphere, aligning with the game’s roguelike pacing while maintaining a consistent aesthetic throughout exploration and combat.
The Dice-Building Core
What sets Luck & Loot apart is its dice-building system. Instead of a traditional deck of cards, players customize four dice by choosing which faces to include, with each face representing different actions such as attacks, defense, healing, buffs, or debuffs.
Throughout each run, players find new dice faces and relics that enhance or modify these actions. Upgrading dice means carefully deciding which faces to replace and which combinations will best support your strategy, balancing consistency with the potential for high-value but riskier rolls.
Each turn in combat starts with rolling your crafted dice, and the results directly shape your available options for the turn. Rolling high-damage faces may allow for a powerful strike, but if defenses or healing do not appear when needed, the consequences can be severe.
Combat in Luck & Loot is turn-based, with players and enemies acting in sequence. Enemies follow predictable patterns that players can learn, while dice rolls add variability to each turn. Players must balance offense and defense, plan for upcoming attacks, and make the most of relic synergies collected during the run.
Resource management is critical. Health and the availability of dice rerolls must be considered carefully, as overextending in one battle can leave you unprepared for the next. Bosses and elite enemies add additional complexity, often requiring specific tactics and well-timed abilities to defeat.
While combat is tactical, it remains accessible. Players learn through repeated attempts, adjusting strategies and refining dice builds to overcome previously insurmountable challenges.
Progression and Replayability
Progression in Luck & Loot is tied to individual runs, with each run providing new combinations of relics, dice faces, and encounters. The game features multiple dungeons, each ending with a unique boss.
Between combat encounters, players will find events that offer opportunities to gain upgrades, take on challenges for rewards, or make choices that carry risks and benefits. These events provide variety, encouraging players to weigh immediate needs against long-term goals during their runs.
Relics, which grant passive bonuses or modify gameplay mechanics, further diversify each run. Combined with the dice customization system, relics allow players to create builds tailored to their preferred playstyle or to adapt to the specific challenges faced during a run.
Difficulty modifiers can be applied to increase challenge and replay value, introducing tougher enemies, resource restrictions, or additional hazards. This allows players to scale the game’s difficulty according to their preferences and to extend the game’s longevity beyond a single successful completion.
Visual and Audio Design
Luck & Loot features a clean pixel art style that I absolutely love, with detailed environments and enemy sprites, even during combat sequences. Animations are clear and consistent, making it easy to follow the flow of battles and recognize enemy attacks and status effects.
The chiptune soundtrack complements the game’s pacing, providing atmospheric music during exploration and more intense tracks during combat encounters. The sound design aligns with the game’s retro aesthetic without distracting from the gameplay.
Players who appreciate titles like Slice & Dice, Slay the Spire, or Darkest Dungeon but are interested in a new system centered around dice-building will find Luck & Loot a worthwhile addition to their library.
Luck & Loot is a clear, focused roguelite that replaces traditional deckbuilding with a well-designed dice customization system that directly impacts combat strategy and progression. Its emphasis on player choice, adaptability, and tactical decision-making within each run makes it an engaging experience for those seeking a challenging yet fair roguelite.
The game is set to release on PC via Steam on July 22, 2025. Below is the gameplay trailer.
