SlotCrawler: Spin. Match. Conquer.

Genre: Roguelite Turn-Based RPG / Deckbuilder
Platform: Web
Visual Style: Retro HD pixel art (top-down fantasy dungeon crawler)

Elevator Pitch

SlotCrawler is a roguelite RPG where your combat menu is a slot machine.

Build your “deck” of symbols, spin the reels, and chain brutal combos to survive cursed dungeons ruled by the God of Luck. It’s Slay the Spire meets casino roguelite: every spin is a tactical decision, every symbol is a resource, and every jackpot can save, or end, your run.

World & Premise

Centuries after the fall of our world, the ruins of old Las Vegas have twisted into a new realm of portals, runes, and dungeon-reels.
The God of Luck reshaped reality into an endless game:

  • Cities became labyrinthine dungeons.
  • Casinos became temples of fate.
  • Heroes are just “players” trying to beat the house.

You are one of those players, venturing into the depths of the Forgotten Reels to challenge the God of Luck and break the cycle.

Core Gameplay

🎰 Spin-to-Battle Combat

You don’t pick skills from a menu, you spin for them.

  • Each reel slot holds a symbol (Sword, Shield, Fireball, Totem, Potion, etc.).
  • On your turn, you spin the reels and resolve what lands on the payline.
  • Matching or combining symbols triggers attacks, spells, and effects.

Examples:

  • 2× Swords → Solid basic attack.
  • 3× Fireballs → Cast Inferno and burn all enemies.
  • Sword + Ice Shard → Frost Slash (physical + chill).
  • Shield + Shield → Heavy block + temporary armor boost.

You’re not at the mercy of RNG, you build the machine that you spin.

⚔️ Classes with Unique Reel Identities

Choose from 6 classes, each starting with a different reel loadout and passive:

  • Warrior – Reliable frontline; excels at Shield Bash, stuns, and armor stacking.
  • Mage – Glass cannon; chains Blizzard, Arcane Storm, and elemental jackpots.
  • Alchemist – Manipulates status effects; poisons, heals, and concocts hybrids like Toxic Cloud.
  • Berserker – High risk / high reward; spends HP for huge damage via Blood Rage and rage totems.
  • Rogue – Evasion, crits, and turn manipulation; tools like Shadow Volley ignore armor.
  • Hero – Flexible jack-of-all-trades; easier for new players, with balanced symbol distribution.

Each class encourages different symbol setups, builds, and risk profiles.

🃏 Deep “Deckbuilding” via Reels & Symbols

SlotCrawler plays like a deckbuilder, but your deck is a reel:

  • Customize Your Reels
    • Buy, find, and unlock new symbols during your run.
    • Remove weak “junk” symbols to tighten your odds.
    • Special status symbols (e.g. Evasion Boost, Potion Efficiency, Luck Boost) modify your playstyle.
  • Upgrade Your Board
    • Increase your number of reels (up to 6).
    • Unlock powerful 3- and 4-symbol Jackpot effects.
    • Synergize symbols for cascading effects (burn + bleed, armor + thorns, etc.).
  • Resource Management
    • HP keeps you alive.
    • EP (Energy Points) fuels spells and abilities.
    • Gold & Crystals are spent in shops and shrines to reshape your reel.

💀 Roguelite Dungeon Crawling

Each run is a new dive into procedurally-generated dungeons:

  • Face enemies like Electric Wraiths, Enraged Minotaurs, and other slot-twisted monsters.
  • Clear floors, elite rooms, events, and mini-bosses on your way to deeper layers.
  • Earn permanent unlocks: new classes, starting symbols, relics, and blessings from the God of Luck.

Death sends you back to the hub, but you keep:

  • Unlocked classes and symbols.
  • Meta progression that slightly tilts the odds in your favor… if you spend it wisely.

🏘 Town Hub & Meta Progression

Between runs, you return to a small town hub:

  • Visit the Shop to unlock global symbol pools and upgrades.
  • Upgrade potions, status effects, and passive bonuses (e.g. Evasion Boost, Luck Boost).
  • Talk to NPCs like the Dungeon Guardian, who introduces mechanics and tutorials.
  • Gradually restore and expand the hub as you progress, unlocking new vendors and features.

Target Audience

SlotCrawler is designed for players who enjoy:

  • Deckbuilders & roguelites: Slay the Spire, Balatro, Dicey Dungeons.
  • Turn-based RPGs with a twist on traditional combat systems.
  • Strategy & optimization: players who like tuning probabilities, builds, and synergies.
  • Retro pixel art and the feel of a polished indie roguelite.

If you like tinkering with builds, optimizing odds, and clutching out fights on a single lucky-but-engineered spin, SlotCrawler is for you.

More information

Development log