Malice & Greed

Malice & Greed is a roguelike turn-based RPG set in a dark fantasy world where players defeat enemies and bosses, then recruit or sell them to a shady smuggler, even butchering them to steal their skills. Each run allows for team customization and upgrades, encouraging players to build powerful combos as they battle toward the ultimate goal of reaching Nirvana.

Malice & Greed: A Roguelike Masterpiece of Dark Fantasy and Strategic Depth

Introduction: A Fusion of Genres and a Bold Vision

Malice & Greed is a game that defies easy categorization. Released in Early Access on March 22, 2021, by the Australian indie studio Xendra, it boldly fuses the monster-collecting mechanics of Shin Megami Tensei with the deck-building intricacies of Slay the Spire, all wrapped in a dark, cyberpunk-infused fantasy setting. The result is a roguelike turn-based RPG that is as brutal as it is brilliant, offering players an unparalleled depth of strategic customization and a morally ambiguous world where every enemy can become an ally—or a sacrifice.

At its core, Malice & Greed is a game about power—how to acquire it, how to wield it, and what you’re willing to give up to keep it. The premise is simple yet devilishly compelling: defeat enemies, force them to join your team, and then decide whether to keep them, sell them to a shady smuggler for upgrades, or butcher them to steal their skills. This cycle of conquest and exploitation is the heartbeat of the game, and it’s executed with a level of mechanical precision and thematic coherence that sets it apart from its peers.

The game’s legacy, though still in the making, is already notable. It has garnered a “Mostly Positive” reception on Steam, with 74% of its 55 user reviews praising its innovative mechanics and replayability. Yet, its journey has been marked by the challenges of Early Access development, with updates slowing down after 2023, leaving some players wondering about its future. Despite this, Malice & Greed stands as a testament to the creativity of indie developers and the enduring appeal of roguelikes that dare to push boundaries.

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Development History & Context: The Birth of a Dark Vision

The Studio and the Solo Developer’s Ambition

Xendra, the studio behind Malice & Greed, is a small indie team based in Adelaide, Australia. The game is primarily the brainchild of a single developer, who handles the majority of the design, programming, and balancing. This solo-driven approach is both a strength and a challenge. On one hand, it allows for a cohesive vision untainted by committee decisions. On the other, it means that development is a slow, iterative process, heavily reliant on community feedback.

The game entered Early Access in March 2021, with the developer explicitly stating that the goal was to refine the experience based on player input. This approach is evident in the frequent updates that were rolled out in the game’s first two years, with major patches arriving monthly and smaller tweaks appearing weekly. However, as of 2024, updates have stalled, raising questions about the game’s long-term viability. The developer’s original roadmap promised significant expansions to the story, characters, and world-building, but these plans remain unrealized.

Technological Constraints and the Godot Engine

Malice & Greed is built using the Godot Engine, an open-source game development tool that has gained traction in the indie scene for its flexibility and lack of licensing fees. While Godot is capable of producing visually impressive games, Malice & Greed’s art style is intentionally rough around the edges, with the developer acknowledging that much of the artwork is “Beta Art” placeholder content. This aesthetic choice, while functional, has been a point of contention among players who feel that the game’s presentation doesn’t quite match its mechanical depth.

The game’s technical requirements are modest, reflecting its indie roots. It runs on Windows XP and later, requiring only a 3.0 GHz processor, 4 GB of RAM, and 1 GB of storage. This accessibility ensures that Malice & Greed can reach a wide audience, though its mature themes and complex systems may limit its appeal to more hardcore gamers.

The Gaming Landscape at Launch

Malice & Greed arrived at a time when roguelikes and deckbuilders were experiencing a renaissance. Games like Slay the Spire, Hades, and Monster Train had already proven that there was a hungry audience for titles that combined strategic depth with procedural generation. However, Malice & Greed carved out its own niche by focusing on monster collection and team customization, a mechanic more commonly associated with JRPGs like Pokémon or Shin Megami Tensei.

The game’s Early Access launch coincided with Steam’s “Going Rogue” event, which provided a platform for indie roguelikes to gain visibility. Xendra took advantage of this by offering a 35% discount, helping to attract an initial wave of players. The game’s unique selling points—such as its “body-based economy” where party members are currency and its emphasis on exploiting enemy skills—resonated with fans of dark fantasy and tactical RPGs.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive: A World of Exploitation and Redemption

Plot Overview: The Journey to Nirvana

Malice & Greed’s narrative is as fragmented as it is intriguing. The game is set in a dystopian city where the player character, a nameless protagonist, battles their way through three acts to reach “Nirvana,” a metaphorical (or perhaps literal) state of transcendence. Along the way, they encounter a cast of morally ambiguous characters, including the Shady Smuggler, who buys defeated enemies for a price, and various bosses who can be either conquered or recruited.

The story is told through environmental storytelling, cryptic dialogue, and lore snippets scattered throughout the game. There’s a strong emphasis on player agency, with choices affecting not just the immediate outcome of a run but also unlocking new possibilities in future playthroughs. The narrative’s fragmented nature means that much of the world-building is left to the player’s interpretation, which can be both a strength and a weakness. For those who enjoy piecing together lore, it’s a rewarding experience. For others, it may feel too vague or underdeveloped.

Themes: Greed, Power, and the Cost of Ambition

At its heart, Malice & Greed is a meditation on the corrupting influence of power. The game’s title itself is a nod to this central theme, with “Malice” representing the destructive impulses of the player and “Greed” embodying the insatiable desire for more—more skills, more allies, more power. The mechanics reinforce this theme at every turn. Players are constantly faced with choices that force them to weigh short-term gains against long-term consequences. Do you butcher a powerful enemy to steal their skills, or do you keep them as an ally, knowing they might betray you later? Do you sell a teammate to the Shady Smuggler for a quick upgrade, or do you hold onto them, hoping they’ll prove useful in the next battle?

The game’s mature content—including descriptions of blood, gore, drug use, and sexual themes—further underscores its dark tone. This isn’t a game about heroism or noble quests. It’s a game about survival in a world where everyone is expendable, and every victory comes at a cost. The developer’s decision to include these elements is a deliberate one, aimed at creating an atmosphere that is as unsettling as it is immersive.

Characters and Dialogue: A Cast of the Damned

The characters in Malice & Greed are a motley crew of outcasts, criminals, and monsters, each with their own motivations and secrets. The Shady Smuggler, for instance, serves as both a merchant and a commentary on the game’s central theme of exploitation. Their dialogue is laced with dark humor and cynicism, reflecting the game’s overall tone.

Other characters, such as the various bosses and allies you can recruit, are less developed but no less interesting. Each enemy has multiple versions, allowing for a degree of customization that extends beyond mere stats. The dialogue, while sparse, is sharp and often laced with irony, reinforcing the game’s themes without resorting to heavy-handed exposition.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems: A Masterclass in Strategic Depth

Core Gameplay Loop: Conquer, Customize, Sacrifice

Malice & Greed’s gameplay is built around a core loop that is both simple and endlessly customizable. Each run begins with the player selecting one of 11 starter builds, each offering a unique playstyle. From there, the player navigates a procedurally generated map, engaging in turn-based combat with enemies. Upon defeating a foe, the player can choose to abduct them, adding them to their team, or butcher them to steal their skills.

This system is where Malice & Greed truly shines. Unlike traditional roguelikes where progression is tied to permanent upgrades or unlocks, Malice & Greed’s progression is dynamic and fluid. Your team is your currency, and every decision you make—whether to keep an ally, sell them, or sacrifice them—has immediate and far-reaching consequences. This creates a sense of tension and strategy that is rare in the genre.

Combat: A Dance of Colors and Synergies

Combat in Malice & Greed is turn-based and revolves around a color-coded skill system. Skills are divided into four colors—Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow—each representing different types of abilities. Red skills might focus on direct damage, while Blue skills could be defensive or utility-based. The key to success lies in mixing and matching these skills to create powerful synergies.

One of the game’s most innovative mechanics is the “power escalation” system. As a battle progresses, both the player and the enemy gain power each turn, allowing them to use stronger skills. This creates a dynamic where early turns are about setting up combos, while later turns become a frantic race to unleash devastating attacks before the enemy does the same. It’s a system that rewards careful planning and quick thinking, and it’s one of the reasons why Malice & Greed’s combat feels so fresh and engaging.

Character Progression: The Art of Exploitation

Progression in Malice & Greed is multi-layered. Between runs, players can spend resources to unlock new starter builds, relics, and upgrades. During a run, progression is tied to the enemies you defeat and the choices you make. Do you fuse two weaker enemies to create a stronger one? Do you sacrifice an ally to activate a powerful “Demonform” transformation? These decisions are what make each run feel unique.

The game’s “body-based economy” is particularly noteworthy. Unlike traditional RPGs where gold or experience points are the primary currency, Malice & Greed uses your party members as a resource. This mechanic is both thematically appropriate and mechanically brilliant, as it forces players to constantly evaluate the value of their allies. It also creates a sense of tension, as every decision could potentially weaken your team in the long run.

UI and Accessibility: A Work in Progress

One of Malice & Greed’s few weaknesses is its user interface. While functional, it can be overwhelming, especially for new players. The game’s depth is one of its greatest strengths, but it also means that there’s a steep learning curve. The UI does little to alleviate this, with menus that are often cluttered and unintuitive.

That said, the game does offer a robust set of customization options, including 24 difficulty settings that allow players to tailor the experience to their preferences. This level of flexibility is commendable, though it would be nice to see some of these options better integrated into the UI.

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World-Building, Art & Sound: A Dark Fantasy Realized

Setting and Atmosphere: A City of Sin and Redemption

Malice & Greed’s world is a dark, cyberpunk-infused fantasy setting that feels both familiar and fresh. The city through which the player travels is a labyrinth of neon-lit streets, abandoned buildings, and hidden dungeons, each with its own secrets and dangers. The game’s procedural generation ensures that no two runs are the same, and the environmental storytelling—such as lore snippets and hidden areas—adds depth to the world.

The atmosphere is one of the game’s strongest suits. The developer has done an excellent job of creating a world that feels alive, even if it’s not always visually impressive. The game’s “Beta Art” placeholder graphics are functional but lack polish, which can be a detractor for some players. However, the game’s sound design more than makes up for this.

Visual Direction: Rough Edges and Hidden Depths

Visually, Malice & Greed is a mixed bag. The character and enemy designs are creative, with each foe having multiple versions that reflect different playstyles. However, the overall art style is rough and unpolished, which can make the game feel less immersive than it otherwise could be. The developer has acknowledged this, promising significant visual improvements in future updates, but as of 2024, these updates have yet to materialize.

That said, the game’s visuals do have a certain charm. The dark, gritty aesthetic fits the game’s themes, and the procedural generation ensures that each run feels fresh. The lack of polish is a reminder of the game’s indie roots, but it doesn’t detract from the overall experience.

Sound Design: A Brutal Symphony

Where Malice & Greed truly excels is in its sound design. The game features a dual soundtrack, with a brutal metal battle theme accompanied by electronic alternatives for players who prefer a different vibe. The music is intense and immersive, perfectly complementing the game’s dark tone.

The sound effects are equally impressive, with each skill and attack having a distinct audio cue. This not only adds to the game’s atmosphere but also provides valuable feedback during combat. The voice acting, while minimal, is well-done, with each character’s dialogue reflecting their personality and motivations.

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Reception & Legacy: A Game in Limbo

Critical and Commercial Reception

Malice & Greed has received a “Mostly Positive” reception on Steam, with 74% of its 55 user reviews praising its innovative mechanics and replayability. Critics and players alike have lauded the game’s strategic depth, with TurnBasedLovers describing it as “a fusion of Shin Megami Tensei and Slay the Spire” that is “rock solid and enthralling.”

However, the game’s reception has been somewhat muted by its Early Access status. While the initial updates were frequent and substantial, development has slowed significantly since 2023, leaving some players frustrated. The lack of a clear roadmap or communication from the developer has also been a point of contention, with some fans worrying that the game may be abandoned.

Influence and Future Prospects

Despite its challenges, Malice & Greed has already made a mark on the roguelike genre. Its unique blend of monster collection, deck-building, and dark fantasy has inspired other indie developers, and its emphasis on player agency and strategic depth has set a new standard for the genre.

The game’s future, however, remains uncertain. With updates stalled and the developer’s original roadmap unfulfilled, it’s unclear whether Malice & Greed will ever receive the polish and content it deserves. That said, the game’s existing mechanics are so strong that it remains a compelling experience even in its current state.

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Conclusion: A Flawed Masterpiece

Malice & Greed is a game of contradictions. It’s a roguelike with the depth of a JRPG, a monster collector with the strategic intricacies of a deckbuilder, and a dark fantasy with the cynicism of cyberpunk. It’s a game that is both brilliant and flawed, with mechanics that are innovative but held back by a lack of polish and a development cycle that has stalled.

Yet, for all its flaws, Malice & Greed is a masterpiece of indie game design. Its core systems are some of the most engaging and replayable in the genre, and its themes of power, greed, and exploitation are executed with a level of coherence and depth that is rare in video games. It’s a game that rewards patience, strategy, and a willingness to embrace its darker themes.

Final Verdict: 8.5/10 – A Must-Play for Fans of Roguelikes and Dark Fantasy

Malice & Greed is not a game for everyone. Its steep learning curve, dark themes, and unpolished presentation may turn some players away. But for those willing to dive into its depths, it offers an experience that is as rewarding as it is brutal. It’s a game that deserves to be remembered, not just for what it is, but for what it could have been. Here’s hoping that Xendra finds a way to bring this dark vision to its full potential.