Cogmind

Cogmind is a turn-based roguelike about tactical combat and exploration in a procedural world ruled by robots. You build yourself from components you find or salvage, changing your capabilities as parts are lost and replaced. The world combines procedural generation with hand-crafted content, and your goal is to reach new areas and find better gear while discovering what it means to be the Cogmind.

Build from salvage

You attach power sources, propulsion units, utilities and weapons to shape your robot. Salvaged parts can make you a slow tank bristling with weapons, a fast flier that zips past enemies, or a stealthy sword-wielding hacker, among other possibilities. Components can be destroyed, so rebuilding from enemy remains is central to adapting as situations change.

There is no XP system or grinding: you advance by finding new gear and reaching new areas, using whatever means you can. Cogmind has dozens of robot classes with distinct behaviors in the world’s ecosystem, though your capabilities depend largely on the items you carry rather than on a fixed class or set of skills.

A living robot world

The world contains many kinds of robots, most of which are not hostile and have their own duties. You can use stealth, hacking and information warfare to outsmart the Complex, or rely on direct combat. Multiple plot lines, hundreds of hand-made locations and encounters, and thousands of lines of dialogue reveal the world’s lore across multiple runs without getting in the way if you prefer to focus on tactics.

The game includes over two dozen map types, over a thousand items, hundreds of hand-made locations and encounters, and ten animated endings. Its environment is fully destructible. As you play, you can also collect information about previously used items in an ASCII art gallery containing over 900 pieces of art, and gather lore about the world and its inhabitants.

Modes and challenge

Cogmind includes built-in Challenge Modes, as well as difficulty settings for players who want an easier experience. Experienced players can attempt the extended end-game, while the default mode can be won reliably by highly skilled players. The game also includes permadeath, and learning from what went wrong after a death is part of progressing through its unfamiliar world.

Interface and presentation

The game uses an ASCII-based interface with mouse and keyboard control. You can use either or both, with mouse, numpad, vi and arrow-key movement available without configuration. Mouse control supports drag-and-drop inventory management; keyboard play includes multiple command schemes and automation features. Map objects are labeled as they come into view, and interface options can be customized. Context help and a quick tutorial cover the fundamentals, while in-world explanations and lore help you learn the rules as you explore. Cogmind also features thousands of particle effects and sound effects.