**Game: **Nightmare: The Lunatic Genre: Action System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam (Windows)) **Developer|Publisher: **Maetdol Games | CFK Age Rating: EU 7 | US Teen Price: US $16.99 | UK 14.89 | EU € 16.99 Release Date: December 4th, 2025

Review code provided with many thanks to CFK.

Nightmare: The Lunatic – One More Roguelite for the Road

It’s the end of the year, and apparently that means I’ve got room for one more roguelite before we all reset our brains in January. I know, I know, this genre is everywhere, and I still fall for it every time. Nightmare: The Lunatic landed during a very busy release window on Switch, squeezed between some huge titles, but honestly… with the number of games launching every week, when is the right time anymore?

If you’re still hungry for a fresh spin on the genre, this one is surprisingly easy to settle into. It may not reinvent the roguey wheel, but it tweaks things just enough to stand out, especially for anyone who enjoys action-focused roguelites with a bit of pixel personality.

What’s in the box?

Exploring the Dream

The setup: you’re stuck in a looping nightmare and need to fight your way toward its source. There’s a dream merchant tagging along, not physically, but as your strange little guide who walks you through the intro as well as acts as a vendor. He’s both helpful and… suspicious. You’ll get mini-cutscenes of him doing things that definitely raise an eyebrow. Is he here to help? Is he hiding something? That’s yours to unravel.

But honestly, I’m here for the gameplay more than the lore, and thankfully, the gameplay delivers right away.

It’s hammer time

Your Three-Tool Weapon System

Nightmare is a 2D action game where you move through room-to-room dungeons, clearing enemies, grabbing money, opening chests, discovering secret rooms, and hunting down the boss. Very familiar structure, but the big standout is the weapon system.

You start each run with three weapons equipped at once. Not one. Not two. Three. And you can switch between them instantly with a flick of the right stick.

This is brilliant because it naturally pushes you to experiment. You might be using a bow for range, flick to a sword for quick hits, then swap to something heavier for burst damage. Each weapon even activates small perks when you switch to another. One weapon might deal bonus damage when swapped in; another might hover around you like a floating assistant for a moment. It keeps combat engaging and gives every encounter a bit of extra spice.

Each weapon also has its own special ability tied to an SP bar, plus a much stronger ultimate that sends you into a berserk-style burst of damage. I tended to save the big attacks for bosses, but you can absolutely use them mid-run if you’re feeling bold.

Dodging, Parrying, and Actually Feeling Capable

Here’s the surprising part: parrying is actually doable in this game. If you know me, you know I’m usually a disaster with parries in most games, my timing is terrible, my reactions are worse, but here? It’s genuinely accessible.

Enemies give you a big, obvious exclamation mark when the parry window is coming. Tap the button at the right moment, and you’ll stun them or deal extra damage. No stress, no frame-perfect misery. I found myself using parries regularly, which is a first.

The rest of the combat, dodging, dashing, and dealing with lots of enemies at once, feels fast, clean, and easy to fall into. It ramps up, of course, with enemy patterns, area-of-effect attacks, and those oversized bosses who love to fill the arena, but it never becomes messy or unfair. At least attacks are usually telegraphed with a red meter to give you some warning.

Any Black Friday deals?

Progression and Replayability

Like any roguelite, when you die, you’re tossed right back to the hub. But the dream merchant lets you spend the trinkets and currency you’ve collected to unlock new abilities, contracts, weapons, and enhancements. There’s a lot to unlock, which helps keep the “one more run” feeling going. You can also play around with weapons in the hub area to practice.

I actually made it through the first boss faster than I expected, which I count as a compliment. It’s accessible enough for newcomers while still satisfying for players who know the genre well. If difficulty is a problem, you can activate an easier game feature (or harder) before heading out on a new run. So you can have things your way.

Visual Style and Performance

Nightmare uses detailed pixel art with smooth animation and a slightly eerie, dreamlike mood. Environments come in a variety of surreal environments or biomes that feel stitched together from half-remembered dreams. Forests, deserts, etc. It isn’t trying to be cute; it’s trying to be interesting, and it succeeds at that. I did like the small touch of seeing various empty cloaks randomly scattered around the world, giving an indication that you have tried a run many times before.

While the game ran fine on Switch (TV and handheld), the loading times were rather horrific. It takes a very long time for the game to start, and a run to get going. I did play this on an original Switch, so it is possible it will load faster on Switch 2.

Erm good doggo

Conclusion: Sweet Dream

Nightmare: The Lunatic is another solid entry in the roguelite space. Energetic, replayable, and consistently fun. Yes, the genre is packed. Yes, you’ve probably seen elements of this before. But the three-weapon system, the snappy combat, and the surprisingly friendly parry mechanic give it its own identity.

If you’re already tired of roguelites, this won’t convert you. But if you still enjoy the adventure-style structure and want something punchy and satisfying to close out the year, Nightmare: The Lunatic absolutely earns a thumbs-up from me.

Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot

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