Attention former 2000s youths: A second Beyblade-inspired roguelike has hit Steam Next Fest
Slayblade, a top-battling roguelike inspired by the 2000s Beyblade phenomenon, is showcasing a playable demo at Steam Next Fest this month. The game represents the growing momentum of a roguelike subgenre specifically targeting millennials who grew up collecting and battling spinning tops during the early 2000s.
This follows From the Top, another Beyblade-inspired roguelike highlighted in January as a promising indicator that niche games for this demographic might emerge as a viable subgenre. While From the Top embraced a darker aesthetic, Slayblade leans heavily into Y2K nostalgia with its art style and soundtrack, drawing inspiration from the animated series’ Toonami-era presentation with pixel art visuals and a Toonami-core soundtrack.
The emergence of multiple games in this space indicates developers are recognizing and capitalizing on the purchasing power and nostalgia of early 2000s kids, creating games that directly appeal to their formative pop culture experiences.