The most underrated game of 2024 made me a cheater.

The influence of the “soulslike” genre in video games has been undeniable, but the roguelike genre has also left its mark. The mechanics of playing through procedurally generated dungeons, facing death, and starting anew have proven to be immensely attractive over time. In 2024, notable titles in this genre have been released, such as Hades 2, Balatro, and The Rogue Prince of Persia. However, one stands out for its extreme difficulty: Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island.

Unlike other popular games like Hades 2, which are classified as “roguelites” for allowing players to maintain some of their progression after death, Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is a pure roguelike. Here, losing means starting over from the very bottom, specifically from the beginning of Mount Jatou. In a year filled with challenging titles, Shiren could be the most complicated of 2024, an impressive recognition considering it was released simultaneously with the known and challenging DLC Shadow of the Erdtree for Elden Ring.

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island was my first experience with this series. Despite being the sixth game in the franchise, many fans recommended this new installment to those who enjoy roguelikes and dungeon crawlers. As a lover of both genres, I was excited, but I quickly realized that my expectations were inflated. After playing titles like Slay the Spire and Dead Cells, I assumed Shiren would offer a similar experience. The early levels didn’t seem too difficult as I climbed Mount Jatou, reaching my first resting spots.

However, upon reaching floor 10, in the underwater passage, I experienced my first defeat, and upon restarting at the base of Mount Jatou, I found no progress worth trying again. I had to climb back up, collecting weapons along the way. Eventually, I managed to progress to floor 20, understanding the mechanics better, such as avoiding enemies to recover health and seeking stairs. Nonetheless, I continued to face frequent deaths. In one of my attempts, I was lucky enough to find a powerful shield that allowed me to progress, but I feared losing it. I intentionally used the Switch Online cloud save system every time I died, returning to the last save point.

After doing this, I was able to finish my first playthrough on floor 31. Upon completing the game once, new dungeons opened up, allowing for more narrative content exploration and experiencing modifiers that alter the usual gameplay. Additionally, shortcuts and hidden passages were unlocked, significantly extending the game's duration. My first victory ended up being only an introduction to what Shiren the Wanderer truly offers.

This title is one of the most challenging in recent times, which may cause it to go unnoticed in 2024. Many players in the West value progression systems, something that Shiren the Wanderer does not generously provide. While other Japanese games, such as the Dark Souls series, are also known for their intense difficulty, soulslike titles allow for some degree of progression. In Dark Souls, when the player dies, they can recover the souls they have accumulated, unlike Shiren, which leaves the player with nothing upon death. This explains why many prefer “roguelites,” as the slight feeling of progress upon dying can make the ultimate goal seem more attainable.

What truly distinguishes Shiren the Wanderer is the satisfaction felt from achieving significant progress without the game offering too many conveniences. After completing my first run, I felt capable of facing any challenge that came my way. For those who consider the final confrontation in Shadow of the Erdtree too easy, Shiren the Wanderer could be their next challenge. This game is already available for Nintendo Switch and PC.