Ocean Keeper Earns TouchArcade GOTW Title

TouchArcade Rating: A compelling blend of distinct gameplay styles is a hallmark of truly great games. Think Blaster Master's seamless integration of side-scrolling platforming and top-down shooter segments, or the recent hit Dave the Diver, which masterfully combines roguelike diving with restaurant management. Ocean Keeper from RetroStyle Games joins this elite group, offering a captivating gameplay loop and upgrade system that keeps players engaged for hours.

In Ocean Keeper, you're stranded on an alien underwater planet in your powerful mech. The core gameplay revolves around a two-part cycle: deep-sea mining and mech combat. The side-scrolling mining segments involve excavating resources and artifacts from underwater caves, earning you in-game currency. However, your mining time is limited; waves of enemies are constantly approaching, demanding you return to your mech for defense. This transition shifts the gameplay to a top-down twin-stick shooter with light tower defense elements, where you fend off waves of bizarre aquatic creatures.

Resources gathered during mining are used to upgrade both your mining equipment and your mech, with extensive branching skill trees for both. The roguelike nature means death during combat resets your progress for that run. However, persistent upgrades and customizations accumulate between runs, ensuring continuous progression, even after setbacks. Furthermore, the overworld and cave layouts are procedurally generated, offering a fresh experience each playthrough.

It's worth noting that Ocean Keeper starts slowly, with initial runs often challenging. Persistence is key; as you accumulate upgrades and refine your skills, the game's addictive loop reveals itself. The synergistic interplay between weapons and upgrades forms the game's core, encouraging experimentation with various builds and strategies. While the initial slow pace might deter some, the rewarding gameplay that unfolds makes Ocean Keeper incredibly difficult to put down once it gains momentum.