Katanaut

About Katanaut

Katanaut is a fast-paced action-roguelite set aboard a crumbling space station descending into cosmic chaos. Developed by Voidmaw, it blends hack-and-slash combat with rogue elements, releasing on PC in September 2025. Players take on Naut, a lone survivor navigating twisting corridors filled with eldritch horrors and deranged humans. The game emphasizes fluid melee and ranged combat, with procedurally generated levels that shift as reality unravels. Mix in simulator and sport mechanics for resource management, making each run a blend of skill and luck. It’s a chaotic, high-stakes romp for those who like their action paired with existential dread.

Gameplay

Katanaut’s core loop revolves around quick reflexes and adaptive play. Each session drops you into a randomly generated station, where you scavenge for gear, unlock abilities, and fight waves of grotesque enemies. Combat is fast and tactile, with parries, counters, and special moves that scale with your playstyle. You’ll dodge collapsing structures while managing oxygen, sanity, and weapon durability. Boss fights force you to learn patterns and exploit weaknesses, often requiring multiple retries. The single-player mode lacks save scumming, so mistakes are costly. Exploration is half the challenge, hidden rooms might hold healing items or cursed relics that warp your gameplay.

What Players Think

Community stats show a mixed but engaged playerbase. 72% of reviews are positive, with 43% of players completing the game once and 8% achieving 100% completion. Average playtime is 8.2 hours, but 22% of sessions end before the first boss. Moods are split: 38% call it “intense,” 29% “chaotic,” and 15% “frustrating.” Achievements are dense (83% average unlocked), with 12% of players hitting all 45. Critics praise the combat’s tightness but note the story “feels tacked on” (GameSpot). Fans love the roguelite unpredictability, while some gripe about repetitive enemy types and punishing difficulty spikes.

PlayPile's Take

Katanaut is a solid pick for roguelite enthusiasts who thrive on challenge. At $29.99, it’s a mid-tier buy, justified by its responsive combat and high replayability. The 12-hour average playtime won’t satisfy completionists, but the 100% run offers extra depth. Avoid if you hate permadeath or prefer narrative-driven stories. The 72% positive rating suggests it’s worth a shot for fans of fast action and cosmic horror, though expect some rough edges. With 50 achievements and a 25-hour max playtime, it’s a short but punchy experience.

Storyline

Katanaut is set aboard a massive space station falling into cosmic chaos. With the station slowly spiraling out of control, and its once-human inhabitants twisted into terrors, you’re the unlucky one tasked with uncovering what is going on... As Naut, you explore the corridors of this once vibrant station... or what's left of it. The deeper you descend into the station, the environments become more haunting, and the enemies less human.