Prefer watching over reading? The video above is an embedded VOD from my CheckpointVibes YouTube channel, featuring gameplay from one of my livestreams. It’s included as a companion to this review so you can see the game in action while reading—or simply enjoy the gameplay on its own.
| Developer | David Marquardt Studios |
| Publisher | David Marquardt Studios |
| Release Date | April 2, 2026 |
| Genre | Hack and Slash Roguelite |
| Price | 11.99 |
| Platform | PC |
| Where to Buy (Wishlist) | Steam |
First, I’d like to give a huge thank you to the developers and publishers for providing us here at TheDailyGamePad with a free copy of Cursed Blood. It gave me the chance to not only check it out during a recent stream but also put together these impressions.
If you’re someone who enjoys challenging roguelites with a bit of strategy mixed in, Cursed Blood is definitely worth keeping on your radar.
Cursed Blood gives you four playable characters to choose from, each with their own backstory and thirst for revenge. During my original stream, I played as Tsukimaru, but this time around I decided to switch things up and try Kagemusha, the silent shadow warrior.
At the start, you’re limited in your weapon selection, but it looks like additional weapons can be unlocked as you continue progressing. Before each run, you’ll also choose perks and upgrades that can dramatically change how you approach combat. Some increase your attack speed, others improve your survivability, while rarer abilities add effects like setting enemies on fire or causing nearby foes to bleed after takedowns.
I liked that there were meaningful choices to make before every run instead of simply jumping straight into combat.
While Cursed Blood is built around roguelite progression, it also mixes in stealth mechanics. You can’t simply charge into every encounter and expect to survive. Trust me—I tried.
Enemies hit hard, and the game punishes reckless play much like a Soulslike. Learning enemy positioning, picking your battles carefully, and taking advantage of opportunities for stealth takedowns becomes incredibly important if you want to make it very far.
The visual presentation also stood out to me. The cel-shaded art style gives the world a distinct look, making everything feel stylish while still maintaining the dark atmosphere the game is going for.
Most of my time was spent using the katana, and that’s honestly where I had the most fun. Charge attacks feel satisfying, especially once you begin unlocking upgrades that make them even stronger.
That said, I wasn’t a fan of the gun controls. While firearms are available, I found myself avoiding them almost entirely because they just didn’t feel as comfortable to use as melee combat.
One thing I also wish the game expanded on is its stealth system. You can perform takedowns on enemies who aren’t aware of your presence, but I would’ve loved to see more tools that actually let you stay hidden. Something as simple as moving more quietly or having additional ways to conceal yourself would’ve made the stealth gameplay feel much deeper.
I mean to be honest and there’s no sugarcoating it—Cursed Blood is tough.
I managed to make it roughly halfway through the first level before getting taken down, and even then I felt like every encounter demanded my full attention. Every upgrade felt meaningful because surviving long enough to use them wasn’t guaranteed.
As you progress, you’ll unlock additional abilities and enhancements, giving each run a little more variety and encouraging you to experiment with different builds.
One of my biggest questions going in was how the co-op would work. Cursed Blood supports online cooperative play, although when I checked there weren’t any active games available to join.
Thankfully, that’s not a deal breaker because the game includes a fully playable solo mode.
Honestly, I appreciate this more than I expected. Too many co-op focused games become difficult to recommend once their player base starts to shrink, but Cursed Blood doesn’t fall into that trap. Even if nobody is online, you can still experience everything on your own.
That alone adds a lot of long-term value.
Cursed Blood isn’t an easy game, and it doesn’t try to be. It’s a roguelite that rewards patience, careful planning, and learning from every failed run. While I would’ve liked to see a more fleshed-out stealth system and tighter gun controls, I still found myself enjoying the overall gameplay loop.
If you’re a fan of difficult roguelites, Soulslike-inspired combat, or games that encourage careful decision-making instead of button mashing, Cursed Blood is well worth checking out. And if you have friends to bring along, I can definitely see the cooperative mode making the experience even more enjoyable.
Even better, if you prefer playing alone, the solo mode ensures you’re never locked out of the experience.
Once again, thank you to the developers and publishers for providing TheDailyGamePad with a review copy of Cursed Blood. It was a fun game to experience, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it evolves as more players jump in.
