Software:Rabbit and Steel
| Rabbit and Steel | |
|---|---|
| File:Rabbit and Steel artwork.jpg | |
| Developer(s) | mino_dev |
| Publisher(s) | mino_dev |
| Composer(s) | steelplus |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release | 9 May 2024 |
| Genre(s) | Action roguelike |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Rabbit and Steel is a 2024 action roguelike video game. Gameplay involves one to four players taking on a series of boss fights, with mechanics inspired by massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) raids and bullet hell games. The game is structured into runs, and players unlock upgrades and equipment during those runs in a roguelike fashion. The game was the second game of solo developer mino_dev, who released it for Windows on 9 May 2024.
It has been praised for bringing mechanics traditionally associated with MMOs to a smaller-scale four-player coop experience, without the time investment that would normally be required, similar to Atlyss. Reviewers highlighted its gameplay loop and accessibility features.
Gameplay
Rabbit and Steel is an action roguelike game for one to four players, where players take on a series of bossfights.[1] The game draws inspiration from and uses many mechanics of raids in MMORPGs such as Final Fantasy XIV and World of Warcraft.[2] Each bossfight has a set of mechanics; in multiplayer these mechanics require group coordination, such as moving into and out of shapes, avoiding bombs placed on certain players, or being forced to group up.[1][3] In single-player, the coordination mechanics are replaced by bullet hell-style attacks the player must dodge.[2]
Each player controls a rabbit that has access to four abilities, each with a cooldown and various special effects.[4] Abilities also share a global cooldown.[5] Using abilities in the correct order is an important part of gameplay.[4] In roguelike fashion and unlike in MMOs, rabbits do not level up in a persistent manner.[3] Instead, in each run, players receive loot drops that allow them to upgrade their abilities and improve their character for that run.[3] Each run takes players through several zones; at the end of each run, there is a metaprogression system: players can unlock new rabbit classes and gear based on their performance.[3]
Development and release
Developer mino_dev is an Atlanta, United States-based solo indie developer. He previously developed Maiden and Spell, a bullet hell fighting game he compared to Touhou Project.[6] Rabbit and Steel was his second project, begun in November 2021.[7] It used code and characters from Maiden and Spell, combined with ideas from Final Fantasy XIV raids.[6] mino_dev also cited Hades as an inspiration, citing its weapon upgrades as the inspiration of the game's ability upgrades.[5]
The game was released on 9 May 2024 on Steam for Windows.[8] DLC titled Rabbit and Steel: Extra Mode was released on 6 February 2026.[9]
Reception
Reviewers considered that Rabbit and Steel captured the essence of MMO raids well,[1] and commented on the game's accessibility to solo players and those without the time required for MMOs.[10] Alex McHugh of PCGamesN said that the game "understand[s] the mechanics of raiding", praising its depth while commenting that it avoided the logistical difficulty of raiding in MMOs.[2] Massively Overpowered's Sam Kash complimented the gameplay loop, saying that it "really clicks".[3] Kash also praised the game's support for local multiplayer and its easier "cute" difficulty, which they considered to make the game accessible for families and a larger set of players.[3]
Rabbit and Steel sold over 125,000 copies in its first two weeks.[11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bolding, Jonathan (12 May 2024). "Here's a co-op action roguelike that's basically a boss rush of high-tier MMO raids". https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/heres-a-co-op-action-roguelike-thats-basically-a-boss-rush-of-high-tier-mmo-raids/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 McHugh, Alex (9 May 2024). "New indie co-op roguelike on Steam recreates MMO raids with rabbits". https://www.pcgamesn.com/rabbit-and-steel/roguelike-mmo-raids-out-now.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Kash, Sam (29 May 2024). "Fight or Kite: Rabbit and Steel distills the MMO raid experience into a flashy boss battling roguelike". https://massivelyop.com/2024/05/29/fight-or-kite-rabbit-and-steel-distills-the-mmo-raid-experience-into-a-flashy-boss-battling-roguelike/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Yanamoto, Shinichi (26 September 2023). "［TGS2023］ウサギ少女たちがレイドボスに挑む。PC向け新作ローグライトアクション「Rabbit and Steel」試遊レポート". https://www.4gamer.net/games/742/G074206/20230926012/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Wood, Austin (16 May 2024). "A 4,000-hour Final Fantasy 14 diehard made his own MMO raid-infused roguelike and it's tearing it up on Steam, beating the 4-year sales of his last game in 24 hours". https://www.gamesradar.com/games/roguelike/a-4000-hour-final-fantasy-14-diehard-made-his-own-mmo-raid-infused-roguelike-and-its-tearing-it-up-on-steam-beating-the-4-year-sales-of-his-last-game-in-24-hours/.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Kivel, Katelyn (20 May 2024). "Rabbit and Steel Dev Talks World First Race, Future Plans, and More". https://gamerant.com/rabbit-steel-interview/.
- ↑ "Press Kit | Rabbit & Steel". https://www.minodevgames.com/rabbit-steel-press-kit.
- ↑ "Rabbit and Steel on Steam". https://store.steampowered.com/app/2132850/Rabbit_and_Steel/.
- ↑ "Rabbit and Steel: Extra Mode". 6 February 2026. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2132850/view/503975183931932790.
- ↑ Thorn, Ed (2 May 2024). "Rabbit And Steel gives you the thrills of an MMO raid without the preceding mega-grind, and it has a demo". https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/rabbit-and-steel-gives-you-the-thrills-of-an-mmo-raid-without-the-preceding-mega-grind-and-it-has-a-demo.
- ↑ Carless, Simon (22 May 2024). "How Rabbit & Steel raided its way to 125k+ sales in two weeks". https://newsletter.gamediscover.co/p/how-rabbit-and-steel-raided-its-way.
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