CloverPit on Xbox: Gambling with Horror

CloverPit is one of those indie roguelites that sneaks up on you with a deceptively simple premise and then refuses to let go. On Xbox, the game drops you into a grim, claustrophobic prison cell where your only companion is a slot machine. It’s not the kind of slot machine you’d find in a neon-lit casino, it’s a rusted, ominous contraption that feels more like a judge than a toy. Each spin isn’t just about chasing coins or jackpots; it’s about survival. The machine demands payment, your debt escalates, and the tension mounts with every pull of the lever. CloverPit thrives on this atmosphere of dread, turning a familiar mechanic into a horror-tinged gamble where luck and strategy collide.

At its heart, CloverPit is built around a slot-machine roguelite system. You’re trapped in a cell with a single machine, and every run is defined by a limited number of spins. Each spin can generate winnings, but the machine also imposes escalating debt deadlines. If you can’t meet the required payout by the end of a round, the trapdoor opens and your run ends.

You can plan around modifiers, manage risk, and make smart deposits, but ultimately the slot machine decides your fate. This creates a constant push-pull: do you play conservatively to survive longer, or gamble aggressively to meet the rising debt?

The slot machine reels are randomized every spin. This randomness ensures no two runs feel exactly the same, but it also means you can’t rely solely on skill as you’re constantly adapting to chance. As you play, you unlock new reel symbols, modifiers, and strategies that can tilt the odds in your favour. These persistent upgrades are the roguelite backbone, giving you a sense of progression even when individual runs end in failure.

Graphically the game has a low poly, Playstation One inspired art style. If you know me, you know I am a sucker for these kind of graphics, but it really adds to the grunge and twisted setting of the cell like room you are trapped in. On Xbox the game is available on Gamepass, so you can give the game a try before you buy and don't just take my word on its quality. If you do decide to pick it up, it's an Xbox Play Anywhere title as well as costing £8.39 (less than two coffees at Starbucks!).

Pros

• Addictive, high-tension gameplay loop that makes “just one more spin” irresistible

• Strong horror atmosphere that elevates the slot-machine concept into something unsettling and memorable

• Easy to pick up, with mechanics that are instantly understandable

• Polished presentation and stable performance on Xbox Series XS

Cons

• Heavy reliance on luck can make runs feel unfair or repetitive

• Limited variety in mechanics means the game can become grindy over time

• The learning curve isn’t always clear, leaving newcomers confused about how to succeed

CloverPit is a fascinating experiment in turning chance into horror. It’s not a game for everyone, if you’re the type of player who craves skill-based mastery and hates losing to bad luck, the slot-machine core may drive you mad. But if you enjoy roguelites that thrive on tension, unpredictability, and atmosphere, CloverPit has a unique flavour that I haven't experienced in quite a while. It sits somewhere between the addictive chaos of Balatro and the minimalist dread of Vampire Survivors, carving out its own niche with a grim aesthetic and a punishing loop that made me keep going back for more and more.

Ultimately, CloverPit is best approached as a short-burst experience rather than a long-term grind. It’s the kind of game you fire up when you want to feel your pulse quicken, when you want to test your nerve against a machine that doesn’t care whether you win or lose. On Xbox, it’s polished enough to make those bursts satisfying, and its horror-infused presentation ensures you’ll remember the feeling of being trapped in that cell, staring down the reels, wondering if this spin will save you or bury you.

XPN Rating: 3 out of 5 (SILVER)

CloverPit is available now!