Hands-On with 13Z: Mixed Realms’ Promising Roguelike Action Adventure
Singaporean indie studio Mixed Realms, known for Sairento VR and Gordian Quest, is currently running a public playtest for their upcoming roguelike action adventure, 13Z. As avid fans of the genre, we jumped at the chance to dive into an early build and share our impressions.
13Z takes inspiration from the rich mythos of the Chinese Zodiac, casting players as challengers vying to become the legendary 13th Zodiac Guardian. The game’s core loop is instantly familiar to anyone who’s played a roguelike – battle through monster-infested stages, face off against powerful Zodiac bosses, and incrementally improve your character between runs.
Where 13Z differentiates itself is in its diverse cast of playable Zodiac-themed characters. We got our hands on Lyra, the swift Fox swordswoman, and found her combat to be satisfyingly smooth and responsive. Chaining together lightning-fast combos against the game’s wonderfully bizarre enemy designs was a highlight.
Visually, 13Z has a vibrant, stylized aesthetic that evokes its Chinese mythological setting. The environments, while a bit sparse in this early build, have a cohesive and polished feel. Unfortunately, the camera work and hit feedback could use some refinement, occasionally detracting from the otherwise slick combat.
The upgrade system, while robust, felt a bit overwhelming at times, with a myriad of incremental stat boosts to parse through. Compared to the clean progression of a game like Hades, 13Z’s RPG-esque upgrades could use some streamlining to better serve the core loop.
Similarly, the narrative elements we encountered, while intriguing, didn’t quite reach the same heights as the genre’s storytelling benchmarks. There’s clearly potential here, but the developers have some work to do to elevate the plot and characters to the same level as the gameplay.
Despite these minor issues, 13Z shows a lot of promise. The core combat and progression loop are solid, and the Zodiac-themed aesthetic is a refreshing twist on the roguelike formula. If Mixed Realms can tighten up the presentation and refine the upgrade systems, 13Z could be a real contender in the crowded action roguelike space.
Interested players can wishlist 13Z on Steam and join the ongoing public playtest to experience the game for themselves. We’ll be keeping a close eye on 13Z’s development leading up to its targeted 2026 launch.Â
