Blood Dungeon review: PS5 autoshooter adds platforming

A new review of Messhof’s Blood Dungeon on PS5 describes the game as an autoshooter that pairs automatic firing with platforming-focused level design. The review places the title alongside recent roguelike entries influenced by Vampire Survivors, but notes a shift in emphasis from stationary crowd control to precise movement and traversal.

The review explains that the player character fires automatically on a cooldown and that aiming happens without direct input. Because of that setup, the primary challenge rests on positioning and movement. The game adds platforming mechanics such as wall jumps, chain climbing and diving in water, and the reviewer compares the resulting demands on mobility to Spelunky-style play combined with “bullet heaven” shooters.

The on-screen action can feel crowded at first, with many enemies and effects appearing simultaneously. The review reports that players typically face a steep adjustment period but can learn movement patterns and timing to manage chaotic encounters.

Weapon and upgrade variety receive detailed attention. Blood Dungeon offers more than 100 weapons and upgrades that unlock over time and can be combined within each run. The review gives examples of combinations, including rotating swords for close defense paired with armor-piercing guns for distance damage, and frames the mix-and-match options as central to run-to-run strategy.

The review outlines the game’s layered progression. Players gain experience and temporary buffs during individual runs, collect in-match currency that can be spent between attempts, and find bones that grant permanent upgrades. Multiple playable characters unlock over time, each with distinct movement perks and starting weapons, which the review says supports steady advancement even after short or unsuccessful runs.

On visuals, the review describes the art style as crude and slimy, drawing a comparison to Messhof’s earlier work and to the look of Adult Swim animation and early 2000s browser games. The reviewer notes the aesthetic communicates gameplay information quickly but warns it may not appeal to all players.

Potential drawbacks noted in the review include the adjustment required for the autoshooter control scheme, the early difficulty spike caused by crowded screens, and the divisive nature of the aggressive art style.

The review concludes that Blood Dungeon encourages repeated runs through its progression rewards and wide equipment pool, and identifies the platforming emphasis as a distinguishing design choice compared with many Vampire Survivors-style titles.