After five years and a full spinoff game, the original Crypt of the NecroDancer is receiving another major update. The update focuses heavily on quality-of-life improvements, and adds some major new features.
Unique in its genre, Crypt of the NecroDancer is a combination of a roguelike dungeon-crawler with a rhythm game. The gameplay style would later be used in a licensed spin-off of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series, showing that the genre-blending was successful and that there was a solid foundation to pull from for other games.
The announcement details a long list of updates and overhauls, with a wealth of changes to make existing functions like custom music easier to use. It also adds major new features like a full level editor. Modding capabilities have been reworked with a redesigned loader allowing multiple to be loaded at once, and Steam Deck control support is fully implemented. Importantly, several accessibility options also made it in, including the ability to play as any character without using the rhythm mechanics.
The level editor is an especially important addition since the ability to create and share levels often boosts the longevity of a game, and the tile-centric nature of NecroDancer means the design tools can be intuitive. Custom level editors in games have become a popular mechanic ever since Mario Maker launched, which itself was likely inspired by fan made romhacks. Creating custom levels is one of the most freeing ways players can express creativity in games, so introducing an editor is always a good move.
Five years is a long time to go without an update, but the massive amount of additions and improvements appear to be worth the wait. On top of the massive overhauls, the official announcement mentions that the update is "a precursor to something bigger coming your way." Whether this "something bigger" is another update, a new DLC set, or an entirely new game remains to be seen, but the level editor and improved mod support should keep players busy until more info is shared.
Along with many other indie success stories, Crypt of the NecroDancer started out as an early access game, and it seems Brace Yourself Games has not abandoned the Early Access ideal of listening to player feedback. Many of the improvements in the latest update are in service of community creation, which many see as a refreshing change of pace.
Crypt of the NecroDancer is available on Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, PC, PS4, PS Vita, Switch and Xbox One.