Keeper’s Toll Review

Every time I write about a roguelite top-down survival game, I always mention Vampire Survivors. Well, if you like games like that, then we have another one in the genre that seems to be super saturated at the moment, but I love it. Keeper’s Toll wasn’t even on my radar until I saw Jez Corden from Windows Central tweet about it, shout out to Jez. As soon as I saw a snippet of gameplay, I was sold, as I adore these addictive, horde-heavy titles.

Choose Your Playstyle

Keeper’s Toll follows the same premise as almost every other experience in the genre, and that is to survive, build stronger and go again. There are six different characters to choose from, all with their personal attack styles. Blood Maiden was my favourite, but you can also choose Shadow Monk, Pyromancer, Necromancer, Ranger and Bogatyr. Each class has a skill tree to flesh out over time, along with its abilities and playstyles. The scope for replayability and longevity is fantastic as you experiment with each class.

Wave After Wave

I was surprised at the variety of enemy types in Keeper’s Toll. I’ve played quite a few titles in the genre recently where this was a weak part of the game. During runs in this game, it’ll start slow and gradually increase in volume and intensity. There are objectives that you can take part in, such as staying in a lighting zone, which will grant a reward as you progress. Mini bosses pop up sporadically, and you need to be mindful of the bigger bosses and how you’ll utilise your powers and health. As you level up, you’ll unlock attacks, buffs and more.

Want Anything From The Shop?

Keeper’s Toll encourages exploration of the map as you’ll find hidden items, gold and merchants popping up shop at random. Here you’ll be able to purchase gear and health refills, which may come at a critical moment of the game for you. Between runs, you can also buy permanent upgrades, and whilst this may feel a bit of a grind to unlock everything, it extends the longevity of the game massively.

Visuals & Audio

Keepers Toll takes on retro-based pixel-art, which is very similar to the already mentioned Vampire Survivors. Even though it does look and appear like an experience right out of the 1990s, it is detailed and atmospheric enough to bring a decent level of immersion. You almost feel a vibe from the early Diablo games in how it presents, and with four different stages, there are varying environments with great animations and a plethora of assorted enemies.

Whilst the music is solid enough with a soundtrack that suits the atmosphere, it can be quite repetitive if you’re playing for a good few hours. It’s nothing you can’t switch down or off in the menus, though. Boss fights are well-designed and mechanically sound in how they feel to tackle.

Final Thoughts

Keeper’s Toll is a must-buy if you love this genre, like I do. Because there are so many titles in the genre now, you have to draw comparisons between them all. This game easily stands out amongst the crowded catalogue and becomes one of the most memorable plays of 2025 when it comes to indie titles on console. This stands on its own two feet in terms of strategy, interactive elements, and its unique upgrade system that’ll have you ploughing through waves for hours on end. It is bloody fantastic and I highly recommend you pick it up, for £5.79, it is an absolute steal