Maybe the best in the genre yet, its only current rival IMO being Picayune Dreams.
The dev did a stellar job, and the crashing problems the game had with the 1.0 release has been solved.
Got it for free during the Early Access period, but I wouldn't have mind throwing a few bucks at it.

- Clean artsyle.
- Good sound, both for the SFX and the music.
- Actual bosses, not just some random bigger dudes. And plenty of them.
- Actual elite mobs too, with specific attacks patterns.
- The light gimmick is bringing something new to the table.
- Twin stick controls, hell yeah.
- The perks you're getiing during the runs all have little skill trees instead of predeterminded levels. It changes how you can make builds quite a bit compared to the usual way those games work.

Dev really locked in for 1.0

Banger game & sound track

Think of Map 1 as a tutorial for best experience^^

Disfigure is a tense top-down survival shooter that distinguishes itself through darkness, limited visibility, and an enormous range of character-building possibilities. Developed and published by Cold Brew Entertainment, it drops players into hostile arenas filled with increasingly dangerous creatures while deliberately restricting how much of the battlefield can be seen. Instead of simply reacting to enemies approaching from every direction, players must actively manage their vision while maintaining enough firepower and mobility to avoid being overwhelmed.

The visibility system is the feature that gives the game its strongest identity. Players can alternate between different ways of illuminating their surroundings, including a wider circular field that reveals nearby threats and a more focused cone that reaches farther ahead. Neither option is universally superior, so switching between them becomes an important survival skill. A longer view can help identify approaching enemies before they become dangerous, but reduced peripheral awareness creates opportunities for creatures to attack from unexpected directions. The darkness therefore functions as an actual gameplay mechanic rather than merely an atmospheric effect.

Combat is straightforward to understand but becomes increasingly hectic as each run progresses. Enemies arrive in growing numbers, experience is collected, and upgrades gradually turn an initially modest character into something considerably more destructive. Manual aiming keeps players directly involved in combat, while aim assistance provides a more accessible alternative for those who prefer less demanding targeting. Positioning remains important regardless of the chosen control method because even a powerful build can quickly collapse when surrounded.

One of Disfigure's greatest strengths is its extensive upgrade system. More than 230 upgrades provide a substantial number of possibilities for shaping a run. Players can improve conventional weapons or develop combinations involving elemental damage, explosives, blades, lasers, radiation, singularities, and other unusual effects. The strongest builds can evolve dramatically over the course of a session, creating the enjoyable sense of escalation that makes survival roguelikes so addictive. Vision itself can also interact with progression choices, allowing players to consider visibility as another resource when constructing a build.

The weapon selection provides further variety, with around 20 weapons spanning firearms, melee equipment, explosives, saws, lasers, and other offensive tools. Differences between these options encourage players to change their approach rather than simply selecting whichever weapon produces the largest numbers. Certain equipment favors keeping enemies at a distance, while other choices demand more aggressive positioning. Combined with the extensive upgrade pool, this allows repeated runs to develop in noticeably different directions.

Permanent progression gives unsuccessful attempts some lasting value. Credits collected through play can be used to unlock additional weapons, equipment, upgrades, and modifiers for future runs. This makes defeat less discouraging because players are frequently working toward another unlock or improvement. Runs generally remain compact enough that starting again rarely feels like an excessive commitment, making the game particularly suitable for players who enjoy short sessions that can easily turn into several consecutive attempts.

Content variety extends beyond ordinary survival. Three handcrafted maps provide different environments in which to experiment, while more than 70 enemy varieties and 15 bosses create increasingly complicated encounters. Multiple difficulty settings accommodate different skill levels, and Endless Mode allows strong builds to continue beyond the normal structure. Additional Golden, Ruby, and Diamond challenges give experienced players more demanding goals once the standard progression has become familiar.

A large collection of mutations can further modify individual runs, changing established rules and preventing every attempt from feeling identical. More than 300 quests provide additional objectives and encourage experimentation with weapons, mechanics, and strategies that players might otherwise ignore. Leaderboards and a substantial achievement system also provide incentives for those interested in high scores, completion, or long-term mastery.

The presentation complements the gameplay effectively. Its minimalist grimdark appearance creates an oppressive atmosphere without requiring elaborate visual detail. Enemies emerging from darkness can produce genuine tension, especially during later stages when the screen becomes crowded with hostile creatures and offensive effects. The contrast between limited information and increasingly powerful attacks gives combat a distinctive rhythm: early encounters feel cautious and uncertain, while successful late-game builds can become spectacular displays of destruction.

Repetition remains the most obvious potential drawback. The central activity is still based around entering an arena, defeating waves, collecting experience, choosing upgrades, and eventually starting another run. Players who require extensive storytelling or constant environmental variety may find the structure repetitive. The restricted visibility can also take time to appreciate because losing track of enemies in the darkness may initially feel frustrating. However, players who embrace this mechanic will discover that it adds meaningful tactical pressure to a familiar genre.

Steam Deck compatibility is classified as Playable rather than fully Verified. The core gameplay can function well on the handheld, but the experience may require occasional adjustments. Some interactions can benefit from the touchscreen or virtual keyboard, certain interface text may appear relatively small, and players may encounter non-Steam-Deck controller prompts. Display configuration may also require manual attention. These issues prevent it from being completely seamless, although its compact runs and straightforward action make it naturally suited to portable play once properly configured.

Disfigure ultimately delivers considerably more depth than its minimalist appearance initially suggests. The interaction between darkness, positioning, weapons, upgrades, permanent progression, mutations, bosses, challenges, and numerous objectives creates a strong foundation for repeated experimentation. Its visibility mechanic gives the game personality within a crowded survival genre, while the enormous upgrade selection provides the satisfying opportunity to transform an ordinary starting character into an overwhelmingly powerful combatant.

Rating: 8/10