Morsels Review

Any game that has the words roguelike or roguelite associated with it goes straight into my basket these days. It is extremely hard to keep up with the huge number of titles that seem to be coming in the genre, but I say the more the merrier. When I watched a few gameplay trailers of Morsels, I knew it would be right up my street. It looks weird, and it absolutely is, but that is all part of its charm. It is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Playstation 5, Nintendo Switch 1|2 & PC. If you purchase on Xbox, you also have Xbox Play Anywhere functionality, meaning you pay once and can play across all devices that can access your Xbox library.

Gameplay

If, like me, you’re into twin-stick shooters, then you’re in for a treat. Morsels seemingly takes inspiration from similar games in the genre, such as The Binding of Isaac and Enter the Gungeon. Here you’ll be playing in short chaotic runs that have a steep yet rewarding learning curve. Gunplay is tight, and runs are brief, but repetition allows you to get used to enemy patterns. The game centres on collecting creatures known as Morsels during each run. You can use their unique attacks and evolve them into stronger forms as you gather resources

In this genre, the combat and gunplay really matter, and you’ll be pleased to know it is fantastic. Combat is fast, tactile and feels rewarding at the same time. Quick dashing and positional play are a must, and being mindful of your health depleting is paramount to a successful run. Controller support translates well to console gameplay, but the real learning curve is mastering the timing of attacking and defending.

Evolve Morsels & Grab Cards

Cards appear during runs as choices that will enable you to modify your attempt or unlock new options for your future runs. They can alter your build or become a buff to your Morsel’s strengths. What I enjoy about the card system is that they aren’t permanent unlocks and encourage you to make decisions on the spot and experiment throughout. They can also create synergy with Morsels, which can, in turn, make them much more powerful and reactive.

Evolving Morsels allows you to transform your created creatures during runs into stronger and various forms. Evolutions can alter range, speed, attack patterns, and special effects. This can change your strategy or playstyle on the fly, perfect for spontaneous moments of gameplay.

Visuals & Audio

When it comes to the visuals for Morsels, it is almost like having an acid trip, in a good way, of course. Aesthetically, it is colourful, wacky, and weird, and features a VHS-tinged filter throughout the presentation. Usually, I’m not a huge fan of the grainy feel of this appearance, but it actually works really well with this game.

The soundtrack is a memorable element, which is composed by Sam Webster. There is a nice blend of electronic beats, psychedelic pop and jazzy tones. The pacing in the music is well done, as it transitions from calm to frantic in the next moment.

Final Thoughts

Morsels reminds me of titles like The Binding of Isaac and Enter the Gungeon. If you enjoy the moreish, addictive nature of short, spontaneous bursts of gameplay, then you’ll enjoy this for sure. It’s weird yet wonderful, and with the Xbox Play Anywhere functionality, it opens many doors on the Xbox platform to play across all your devices. I highly recommend this if you’re into the twin-stick roguelite genre, which is fun to play yet difficult to master. You can purchase Morsels for a very reasonable price HERE. It is also Xbox Play Anywhere enabled, allowing you to buy once and play across all your devices!

Huge thanks to the teams at ID@Xbox, Annapurna Interactive & Furcula for the opportunity to cover this with a review for Xbox Series X