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| Crossings blends skill-based melee combat with roguelike structure in a dark, atmospheric VR world. |
By NinjaGuyX
Let’s be honest, VR isn’t exactly lacking roguelikes. It’s a genre a lot of developers have jumped into. So with so many good ones already out there, does Crossings actually stand out? Let’s find out.
A Focused Setting With Strong Atmosphere
There isn’t much story here, but the setting is still worth talking about. You wake up in a forgotten land with one clear goal: fight your way through creatures of old. The environments give off a strong Norse mythology vibe, but what really stood out to me is how direct the presentation is.
Instead of long cutscenes or lore dumps, Crossings relies on smaller details. The designs on higher-tier weapons, the look of certain enemies, and the moment the music kicks in all do a lot of the work. It quickly makes it clear what kind of experience this is aiming to be.
Combat Built Around Skill and Precision
Combat is where Crossings really shines. It’s straightforward, responsive, and easy to understand. Blocking works exactly how you’d expect, you place your weapon at the angle of the incoming attack and react in real time.
What makes things more interesting are the combo mechanics. Each weapon type has its own combo patterns, and hitting enemies at the correct indicated angles triggers a damage multiplier. When you pull it off correctly, it feels great and can deal serious damage.
The nice thing is that combos are never forced. You can still attack normally, but you won’t be as effective. It encourages you to switch weapons and learn new patterns without ever locking you into a single playstyle. On top of that, you also have a bow and arrow as a secondary option, and it works exactly how you’d expect.
Exploration That Rewards Curiosity
The environments are easy on the eyes, even if they get a bit foggy at a distance. That fog is likely there to keep performance consistent across devices, but the art style still holds up well.
You usually start in a forest with a clear path forward, but the game never forces you to follow it. Wandering off often leads to solid loot, making exploration feel worthwhile.
During a run, you might get ambushed by goblins, backstabbed by a ghost, or stumble into a risky side area where you have to decide if the reward is worth it. Sometimes you’ll even meet a strange little gnome with no clear explanation. There’s always something unexpected waiting.
If you ever feel lost, you can pull out your lantern, which gently guides you back toward the main path.
Drop-In Multiplayer With Some Rough Edges
Crossings has a really cool multiplayer setup that works across Steam and Meta Quest. Other players can seamlessly join or leave your game while you’re playing, and it feels very natural.
There’s no voice chat, which seems intentional given how quiet and atmospheric the game is. Instead, you communicate through gestures, which fits the tone surprisingly well.
If you want to play with a specific friend, that’s easy too. You head to a runestone outside the hub, enter the same number, and you’re connected.
I played with my friend Alisson, and when everything worked, it was a great time. Unfortunately, we ran into a few issues. We were occasionally separated into different sessions, and I experienced a crash that ended a run entirely.
The biggest issue is the lack of save points. If something goes wrong during a run, you’re forced to start over if you want to keep playing together, which can be frustrating.
Progression and Rewards
As you play, you collect small gold yarn balls that act as the main currency. These are the primary reason to keep doing runs.
You can spend them on cosmetic items like clothing and hats. They don’t affect gameplay, but they’re a fun way to stand out from other players you encounter.
Final Thoughts
I had a really good time with Crossings. I was initially worried about the lack of save points, especially since I don’t usually play for long stretches, but Alisson and I were able to complete a full run in about an hour. My first full clear took around five hours total.
There are some connectivity issues that need to be ironed out, but for $10, what’s here is impressive. The Steam version also benefits from visual upgrades like volumetric fog, dynamic shadows, and improved lighting.
If you enjoy VR roguelikes, skill-based melee combat, and don’t mind restarting a run when something goes wrong, Crossings is absolutely worth checking out.
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