Ocean Keeper: Dome Survival (2025) Game Review – A challenging underwater roguelike

A challenging underwater roguelike
Note: This is an add-on to the review previously published in 2024.
I had the privilege of playing the early access edition of Ocean Keeper: Dome Survival when Retrostyle Games, the game's developer, invited me to delve into their latest game in the early summer of 2024.
After loading up the game, I was quickly plunged into an underwater world where I was tasked with digging up resources on the bottom of the ocean floor. Piloting a spider-like mech, I traversed the pretty (but occasionally sparse) environments and entered caves where I could mine the materials that were needed to upgrade my initially fragile mechanical transport.
It quickly became apparent that this was not a simple crafting game. If it were, I could have explored the ocean at my leisure, taking my time to explore every nook and cranny of the world RetroStyle had created. Unfortunately, my life in these underwater surroundings was not so simple. Spoiling my peace were endless hordes of sea monsters which attacked my mech in swarms. Needless to say, I died, many, many times, making very little progress as a consequence due to the harsh gameplay and frequent difficulty spikes.
Fast forward to 2025, and the full version of this challenging roguelike game has been released. Did it kick my ass into underwater oblivion, as it did before? Well, yes! However, those who played Ocean Keeper in early access will be glad to know that it's a tad easier this time around. The game is essentially the same – you still need to explore various excavation sites and battle swarms of ocean creatures, both large and small – but your path to doing so is made easier by the enhanced tutorial and improved customisation screens that make improving the mech easier.
These aren't the only changes made to the game. Previously, it was fun to play, but more than a little aimless due to the thin narrative that did little to explain the whys and wherefores of the adventure. But this time around, RetroStyle have incorporated a story that makes the game more meaningful. As such, you will have more reason to keep playing, as you'll feel like you're making progress towards an endgame with clearer objectives and a greater understanding of the mission you have been handed.
The underwater world you explore is now more detailed, with added landmarks to minimise the chances of getting lost on the ocean floor. The game was already good looking and atmospheric, but with new lighting and colour grading, it's even more beautiful now, though you won't have a lot of time to gaze in awe at your surroundings due to the tense countdown situations where you're encouraged to complete your objectives quickly before the next swarm of enemies arrive.
The enemy types are now more varied, with different attack patterns and new ways to defeat them. Thanks to the improved mech controls, it's easier to survive in the early stages of the game, though you'll still need to upgrade your vehicle to counter the harder enemy waves and boss battles as you progress.
Thankfully, the improved UI means upgrading the mech is less fiddly than it was before, so you'll find it much easier to improve your craft's capabilities. These include new weapons, including a powerful Rail Gun that can pierce through multiple enemies (especially useful when overwhelmed), and new mining tools that make cave explorations that much simpler and faster, which is a godsend when up against the strict time limits.
If you're after a challenging roguelike, then Ocean Keeper: Dome Survival comes highly recommended. The updated version of the game is only available on Steam at the time of writing, but RetroStyle plans to bring the new changes they have made to the console editions of the game at a later date.
For more on Ocean Keeper, check out the gameplay trailer above and check out my original review of the game.

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