Curse Rounds on Xbox: A Chill Roguelike Ride

XPN Network
1 day ago
3 min read

I came into Curse Rounds expecting a twitchy top-down shooter, but what I got was a surprisingly addictive roguelike that scratches the same itch as Vampire Survivors only with curses instead of loot drops. It’s perfect for quick sessions on Xbox, and those monochrome screens have a weird charm once you get into the groove.

Curse Rounds is the brainchild of indie outfit TENTACLES INTERACTIVE and was originally released on PC. It's recently been published on console by Qubyte Interactive for the low, low price of £4.19.

Every run starts with ten lives and a basic pistol that feels like your trusty starter weapon. You clear waves of enemies in a single-screen arena, then duke it out with a chunky boss. After each boss fight, you choose between two curses, those curveballs that make the next set of waves either more interesting or straight-up brutal.

In Curse Rounds, curses are the heart of the chaos making you choose between two random curse cards including handicaps like slippery floors, jittery screen shakes, faster foes, or even enemies that spawn clones when you hit them. Some curses start as mild nuisances like a slight weapon jam here, a weird flicker there and then others that spiral you into pure madness by buffing enemy health or obscuring the arena. The real twist is how they stack, turning what felt like a fair challenge into an all-out gauntlet in just a few rounds. Each run becomes a strategic gamble: do you survive the lesser evil now, or hold out for a blessing and risk even harsher curses later? This ever-shifting deck of disasters keeps every playthrough feeling fresh, punishing, and oddly compelling.

Defeating a boss nets you a blessing: a stat boost in damage, fire rate, or movement speed. Plus, every wave ends with a random power-up from a weird washing-machine dispenser. They’re small buffs, but stacking them can turn you into a bullet-dodging demon.

It nails that “one more run” compulsion. The random curses keep each playthrough fresh, and learning which modifiers to avoid becomes part of the fun. If you’re into survival roguelikes like Vampire Survivors or Risk of Rain, you’ll appreciate how quickly Curse Rounds ramps up the challenge without dragging you through long menus or cutscenes.

The art style in Curse Rounds leans into a stark monochrome palette, turning every enemy and environmental hazard into instantly readable silhouettes against the black-and-white backdrop. Simple exclamation marks and contrast-based telegraphs keep you aware of incoming threats without cluttering the screen, while the slight isometric tilt adds just enough depth to make each arena pop. Sonically, the game rides a lo-fi chiptune wave, with minimalist bleeps and bloops that ramp up in intensity as waves pile on and each boss encounter punctuated by crunchy percussion hits that make every victory chord feel earned.

Pros

Instantly addictive “one more run” loop that hooks you like a Vampire Survivors session
Curse system keeps each playthrough feeling fresh and unpredictable
Clean 1-bit visuals and clear telegraphs mean you’re never guessing enemy moves
Tight twin-stick controls and a dash that rewards precise timing
Rock-steady 60 fps on Series X keeps the action flowing smoothly

Cons

Certain curses (looking at you, enemy-duplicate one) can feel brutally unfair
No advanced accessibility options beyond basic visual clarity
Slightly off isometric angle can lead to “wait, did that hit me?” moments
Monochrome minimalism might feel too bare-bones if you crave flashy graphics

Curse Rounds nails that sweet spot between “just one more run” and “I need to stretch my legs.” Its bite-sized waves and random curse modifiers keep you on your toes in the same way Vampire Survivors’ hordes do, but with far more intentional challenges. Each session feels like a fresh question, will you dodge, dash, or dive headfirst into the next wave? That compulsive loop of suffering through a brutal curse only to beat it is oddly rewarding.

At its price point, Curse Rounds is a steal for anyone craving quick, twitch-heavy roguelike action on Xbox. The minimalist 1-bit style and chiptune beats won’t win awards for flash, but they strip away distractions and let the core gameplay shine. If you’re into mastering movement, experimenting with curse combos, and chasing high-score bragging rights, this one’s a no-brainer. Just be ready to rage-quit on that “enemy duplicates on hit” curse a few times, it’s pure chaos.

XPN Rating: 4 out of 5 (GOLD)