Cinderia Early Access Review – A roguelite that already shows great promise

If there's one genre that can make me lose track of time, it's roguelites. Ever since games like The Binding of Isaac, Dead Cells, and later Hades, I've been hooked. Give me satisfying combat, meaningful build variety, and the feeling that every run is different, and you've got my attention. That's exactly why Cinderia immediately caught my interest.

After spending several hours with the Early Access version, I can confidently say this is one of those games that makes you excited for the full release. Not because it's trying to reinvent the genre, but because it understands exactly what makes roguelites so addictive.

Gameplay Is the Heart of the Experience

It doesn't take long to realize that combat is Cinderia's biggest strength.

Everything feels fast, responsive, and satisfying. Attacking, dodging, and activating abilities all work exactly as you'd expect, making it easy to feel completely in control after just a few runs.

What impressed me the most is how much the game encourages experimentation.

Throughout each run, you gradually shape your build by combining Embers, Skill Cards, and different pieces of equipment. No two runs feel exactly the same because every new combination can completely change the way you approach combat. That constant sense of discovering “just one more interesting build” is what keeps pulling you back for another run.

As someone who's spent countless hours playing Hades, I felt right at home almost immediately. Not because Cinderia copies it, but because it understands the core philosophy behind every great roguelite: gameplay that constantly makes you say, “Just one more run.”

Every Hero Feels Different

Another aspect I really enjoyed is how each hero offers a genuinely unique playstyle.

They aren't simply cosmetic variations or characters with different starting weapons. Switching to a new hero changes the entire flow of combat, making each one feel like a fresh experience rather than a simple reskin.

That's incredibly important in a roguelite. Variety is what keeps players coming back long after their first dozen runs. The current Early Access version includes four playable heroes, and the developers have already confirmed that more are planned as development continues.

An Early Access Done Right

It's important to remember that Cinderia is still in Early Access.

That means this isn't the finished product, and it wouldn't be fair to judge it as one. However, what surprised me most is just how polished the game already feels.

The core gameplay loop is solid, combat is refined, and the build system is deep enough to keep you engaged for hours. The developers have been transparent about using Early Access to expand the game alongside the community by introducing new heroes, additional story content, and more features before the full 1.0 release.

In my opinion, that's exactly how Early Access should be handled.

There's Still Room to Grow

Of course, there's plenty of room for improvement.

Because the foundation is already so strong, I'd love to see even more content before the full launch. Additional heroes, new enemy types, more memorable boss encounters, and greater variety between runs would significantly increase the game's long-term replay value.

That isn't criticism—it's simply a reflection of how much potential Cinderia already has.

Is Cinderia Worth Buying?

If you're a fan of roguelites, my answer is yes.

There's one important thing to keep in mind, though: you're buying an Early Access game. It will continue to evolve over the coming months, so if you prefer playing fully finished experiences, waiting for version 1.0 might be the better option.

On the other hand, if you've enjoyed games like Hades, Dead Cells, or The Binding of Isaac, chances are you'll feel right at home in Cinderia from the very beginning.

For me, the game accomplished the one thing every great roguelite strives to do—it completely made me lose track of time and kept convincing me to start just one more run.

And for a roguelite, there may be no greater compliment than that.