First impressions of Stand-Alone: when sheep put wolves to sleep
A vibrant pixel-art game with a skill-deck building system that keeps it fresh.
We participated in the playtest for Stand-Alone, an action roguelite developed by Lifuel for PC. As its name suggests, this indie title stands out among the sea of similar releases.
Stand-Alone is set in a post-apocalyptic world where sheep have been massacred by the villainous Dr. Wolf. The guardian robot originally tasked with protecting the flock must now take on the role of avenger, battling wolves to recover its memory, among other things.
Although the story isn’t particularly deep, it provides a fun premise that lets players take control of prey rising against predator. The real brilliance of the game lies in its combat and progression system. Before each level, players can choose a path that determines rewards, such as items to purchase or weapons to upgrade, making every run feel unique.
The combat is precise, focusing heavily on dodging and counterattacking, ideally with increasingly powerful weapons. It feels like an arcade game with short levels interspersed with areas where players can equip over 50 available abilities and passive upgrades in this version.
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As you progress, special attacks are unlocked and can be enhanced with elemental effects. Using them strategically is key, especially in boss battles that conclude each area.
The pixel-art style delivers a retro vibe but is highly detailed, with cyberpunk influences and music that perfectly complements the short yet action-packed levels. These are filled with enemies that create colorful and dynamic scenes.
The preview includes two well-designed areas, one being the newly introduced Industrial District. These areas give a solid idea of what Stand-Alone offers—a promising indie title that could become addictive thanks to its short levels and variety of rewards to upgrade your sheep-robot hero.
Stand-Alone is planned for release in 2025 for PC and is currently localized in English, Chinese, and Korean, with other options available in the menus.
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