Slay the Spire Fans Need to Devour This New Game for Art Alone
Shroom and Gloom, a new hybrid deckbuilder game from developer Team Lazerbeam, is entering Early Access on September 10. The game merges card-based roguelike mechanics with first-person action gameplay, offering a distinctive alternative in a crowded genre dominated by Slay the Spire, which remains among Steam’s most-played titles.
Set in a fungal-infested dungeon, Shroom and Gloom features a punk cartoon aesthetic and an innovative dual-deck system. Players manage two separate decks: one for navigating subterranean tunnels and another for combat encounters. As they progress toward the game’s objective—the Gloom—players unlock new characters and cards to customize their approach.
Team Lazerbeam, self-described as “a video game band, here to make your life more rad,” believes there’s space for innovation within the deckbuilder market despite the genre’s saturation. The game’s visual design and artistic presentation are significant draws, with media coverage suggesting its aesthetic alone appeals to Slay the Spire fans. The hybrid combination of roguelike progression, strategic card selection, and action-oriented gameplay positions it as an attempt to deliver a fresh experience while preserving the core appeal of deck customization and character advancement.