Reversing time is often seen as a solution to a problem. But in Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree, Towa finds out it has unintended consequences when Magatsu, an evil force taking over the world, uses it against her. With her companions flung to the end of time, Towa retreats to regain her strength. Thankfully, her companions are still available, and Towa plans a counterattack. However, her situation requires great sacrifice, and she must be ready to do what’s necessary.
Controlling a single character in an action roguelike is hard work. Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree turns the difficulty up to eleven by making you control two characters, then throws in several mechanics and combinations that create a steep learning curve but reveal a rich combat system. Once you become familiar with the gameplay, its potential begins to shine, and you lose yourself in the dungeon runs.
When I started playing Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree for the first time, there was a lot to take on board. I was overwhelmed by managing two characters, learning to use different attacks, and figuring out what the reward symbols meant. Using two characters is fun in theory, but it’s a different level of challenge in practice. I often took several hits that could have been dodged alone and failed to utilise everyone’s full potential.
This wasn’t helped by the fact that you select two out of eight characters to fight in each run. One character takes the Tsurugi (sword) role while the other becomes the Kagura (shield). Being a Tsurugi means you are the main physical attack combatant, attacking with swords and dodging around the battlefield. A Kagura stays in the back and casts magic, often staying with the Tsurugi but moving independently if they can. Both work together, and it’s up to you to find the combination that suits your playstyle.
The good news is that every character can be a Tsurugi or Kagura, meaning you can’t make a horrible team combination. However, that also means there are a lot of combinations to experiment with, and you won’t easily find the one that works for you. I chose a few team combinations based on some initial testing, but I still felt nervous. Fortunately, I quickly figured out how to make my duo work after taking lots of damage.
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree has a steep learning curve because you must figure out how everything works together. You must pay attention to the needs of your duo, plan your route, and figure out the best Graces or boons. Once I gained some mastery over the gameplay, the fun kicked in and the roguelike showed its potential. Utilising every character properly became enjoyable, and enemies were no longer intimidating threats.
“Once I gained some mastery over the gameplay, the fun kicked in and the roguelike showed its potential.”
The learning curve extends to activities outside of battle as well. You can forge new weapons for your team, give them upgrades, or boost their abilities when they take on a role. Forging weapons involves going through the blacksmithing process, which I was unprepared for. My sword didn’t turn out terribly, but it could have been much better if I knew what to expect. Even configuring the right upgrades was intimidating because I felt like I was making mistakes.
As intimidating as the learning curve was, I felt it was necessary to bring out the gameplay’s potential. With many working parts, you must spend time experimenting and testing to figure out what works for you. Once everything clicks, you understand how to make the most of each mechanic. It’s certainly overwhelming at first, but after fighting past it, I am a much better player as a result.
You must spend time with Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree, as it’s not an easy game to learn. But stay the course, and you are rewarded with unique gameplay that makes you think on your feet. I enjoyed the early dungeon exploration and experimentation, which made me appreciate the complexity of the system. If you are looking for a roguelike that pushes your skills, I don’t think you’ll find much better than this.
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree comes out on September 19th 2025, on PS5, Switch, PC, and Xbox Series X|S.
About the Author
Victor Tan
He/Him
Victor spends his time trying to help players out of tricky situations and give them the guidance they need to succeed. Outside of the video game world, you can find him training at the gym or doing simple improv activities.
