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Seven Scrolls is a stylish roguelike puzzler with an inventive spell mechanic

Inspired by the work of Michael Brough

Seven Scrolls is a stylish roguelike puzzler with an inventive spell mechanic
By Cameron Bald
|
iOS + Android
| Seven Scrolls

Seven Scrolls, the latest title from indie developer Jesse Venbrux, is a tricky roguelike – or perhaps a broughlike – inspired by the games of Michael Brough.

The basic premise is that you're challenged to explore a series of small, monster-filled levels in search of a key to unlock the next floor. Said monsters are utterly determined to ruin your day, so it's all about smart movements, getting creative, and remaining efficient.

What I think is intended to set Seven Scrolls apart is its spell system. Spells can have a variety of wild effects, either on the player-controlled monk or the level's grisly inhabitants. You'll be able to trigger them by first examining the combination of symbols on a scroll, then performing the specific actions listed.

With it being a roguelike, you can expect the stages and scroll combinations to change after each run, hopefully keeping things fresh for longer. Continue progressing and you'll eventually stumble upon new monsters to face up to and items to test out.

It was Seven Scrolls' visual style that initially drew me in. I couldn't quite place it at first, but then I saw a member of the App Army mention Brough and its clear similarities to his 2016 classic, Imbroglio, perhaps suggesting that the "broughlike" could be on its way to becoming a fully-fledged subgenre.

Campbell from 148Apps, our sister site, reviewed Brough's P1 Select at launch last year, finding it to be "an amazingly creative and tight roguelike package". You'll find that one available for iOS.

While I've chatted a fair bit about Brough so far, I should also say that Venbrux's Eat Me Please, a colourful platformer, is a favourite among some members of the App Army.

If Seven Scrolls takes your fancy, you'll find it available for purchase now from both the App Store and Google Play. It's currently priced at $2.99.

On the hunt for more quality puzzlers? Here are 25 of the best for iPhone and iPad
Cameron Bald
Cameron Bald
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Cameron started out as an intern here in late 2018, then went on to join us as our News Editor in July 2019. He brings with him an encyclopedic knowledge of decade-old GamesMaster review scores and plenty of stinking takes on games, movies, and proper pizza etiquette.