IncreKnight: Is This Retro Arcade Arena Worth It?

If you are looking for a quick, straightforward, and engaging experience to jump into on Steam, you might want to look at this. This is IncreKnight, a brand-new 2D arcade arena game where you have to fight your way through different scenarios before the ceiling literally collapses on your head.

After playing through it and achieving the 100%, I’m breaking down how the mechanics work, how to handle its pacing, and whether it’s worth your time.

What Exactly is IncreKnight?

At its core, IncreKnight is a straightforward arcade walking simulator with combat. You enter a timed arena, wave after wave of enemies spawn, and your only goal is to kill as many as possible to farm gold before the timer hits zero. If the time runs out, the roof falls, you die, and you start over. The only way to actually progress is to clear the room in time to open the hatch to the next stage.

Let’s be completely honest here, it’s a relatively simple indie title and the gameplay loop can get a bit repetitive. It isn’t a flawless masterpiece. However, it is addictive enough for a single sitting, and it features a few cool mechanics under the hood, like an interactive talent shop and unique companions, that completely change your build. If you like cheap, quick arcade games, it absolutely does the job for a lazy afternoon.

Strategy Guide: Best Talents & Companion Meta

Here is the thing: not everything in this game comes down to pure skill. It doesn’t matter if you effectively hit every single enemy and dodge every shot. Your biggest enemy isn’t the monsters; it’s the ceiling timer. Once it runs out, it’s instant game over. Because of this, the only way to surpass the mid-game hurdles is by buying the corresponding upgrade in the talent tree to extend your Arena Time. This should be your absolute number one priority. After that, dump your points into raw damage and health.

The real depth of the game opens up with the companions you unlock back at your base:

The Card Dealer (My Favorite): She introduces tarot modifiers that grant high-risk, high-reward buffs. For example, you can choose the Strength card to deal double damage but also take double damage. This allows you to literally brute-force your way through the waves, as long as you don’t get hit too much.

The Blacksmith: Unlocking him is crucial. He lets you craft permanent base items—like shields, swords, or rings—that auto-equip, giving you a massive permanent stat boost.

The Mage: Excellent for crowd control, casting chain-lightning for crazy AoE damage.

The Healer: Drops green recovery circles to keep you alive when the arena gets crowded.

Boss Fights & Replayability

The game’s progression is divided into 20 rooms. Every 5 levels, you will encounter a boss. None of them are incredibly difficult, and as long as you keep upgrading your gear at the forge, you can burst them down pretty quickly. There are no difficulty modes in this game; it’s a straight shot from start to finish with barely any replayability. It’s a one-time-enjoyment kind of deal.

This all builds up to room 20, where you fight a two-stage final boss. Stage one is all about dodging projectiles, but in stage two, he gets hyper-aggressive. Make sure to save your companions’ active skills for this exact moment to burst him down before the room timer gets you.