Lootbound is the sort of game that can make a brilliant plan feel genius one minute and completely useless the next.
Launching right now on Xbox Series X|S for £12.49, this party-building roguelike gives players control over almost every aspect of their run, from the companions they recruit to the equipment they hand them and the skills they develop along the way.
There is no guaranteed route to victory either. Every run begins with a lone hero, before new companions and equipment gradually give you the tools to create something that hopefully works together. Sometimes the pieces will click perfectly. Sometimes, well, you’ve created a liability.
At A Glance
- Game: Lootbound
- Developer: Artdock
- Publisher: Dreland Enterprises
- Platform: Xbox Series X|S
- Price: £12.49
Build Your Party Your Way
Lootbound starts with your hero travelling solo across a map filled with choices. Where you go, what risks you take and which rewards you chase are all part of the run, with companions joining your party as the adventure progresses.
The thing is, those companions follow the same rules as your main character. Their equipment directly affects how they behave, meaning simply finding something powerful doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve found something useful.
One item might transform a character into the star of your party, while another could make them far less effective. Getting the right combination is therefore just as important as collecting increasingly powerful loot.
When Your Loot Starts Working Together
Equipment gets even more interesting through item auras. Certain items can influence those positioned next to them, allowing clever combinations to strengthen an entire build.
That means the best equipment isn’t necessarily the item with the biggest numbers. Placement and synergy can completely change how a run develops, giving players another reason to experiment rather than simply grabbing whatever looks strongest.
Skills work in much the same way. Your hero starts with a basic selection, but everything they gain afterwards is determined by your choices. Rather than simply watching statistics climb, you’re effectively creating the character’s combat style as the run progresses.
Find Your Route To Victory
Different damage types add another layer to the buildcrafting. Lootbound lets players specialise around mechanics including armour penetration, exhaustion, armour destruction and direct damage, with each interacting differently with enemy armour and health.
The result is a game built around making decisions and living with them. There is no promise that every combination will work, but discovering the ones that do is clearly part of the appeal.
Lootbound is available now on Xbox Series X|S for £12.49 through the Xbox Store. With companions, equipment, auras, skills and damage types all feeding into the same system, every run offers another opportunity to put together a party that clicks – or discover that your master plan wasn’t quite as masterful as you thought.
