Baroque

About

Baroque is a survival action RPG where you navigate a towering labyrinth filled with demons and decay. As a silent, amnesiac hero, you climb upward through shifting floors, using a mix of melee attacks and limited resources to survive waves of enemies. Stamina management is key, overexert yourself and you’ll stagger in combat, leaving you vulnerable. Each floor feels like a gauntlet, with backtracking and boss fights reinforcing the grind. The tower itself is a character, its design warped by the game’s apocalyptic lore and the psychological weight of your forgotten past. The game’s reputation as a cult classic comes from its relentless tension and atmospheric pacing. Players often cite the claustrophobic combat loops and the slow drip of its fragmented story as standout features. Though released in 1998, its recent ports to modern systems let newer audiences experience its punishing yet methodical design. With a focus on endurance over power, Baroque carves a niche for fans of methodical survival challenges and moody, lore-driven worlds.

Storyline

Set after a world-altering cataclysm called the Blaze that took place on May 14, 2032, Baroque focuses on a nameless, mute, and amnesiac protagonist. Early on, he finds himself tasked with purifying the Meta-Beings, once-human creatures that have lost themselves to the delusions inside them, and reaching the bottom floor of a tower to gain redemption for his forgotten sin. Through his interactions with the other characters and unlocked cutscenes, the player learns about the back-story and characters.