Chrysalis is a unique hybrid of tower defense and rogue-lite RPG action where you possess plants and creatures

Chrysalis from developer Metamorph Games wins top marks for some originality here, and if you're a fan of cute tower defense games that mix in some exploration this is one for you. Note: the developer sent a key.

The whole idea here is that you're defending a Chrysalis and attempting to cleanse a garden of corruption, split across two different game phases. The first is more like an exploration game where as a Wisp you're able to fly around and possess various creatures and plants, as you expand and explore the map to gather resources to build up defences while waiting for the incoming waves. The second phase is tower defense when the timer is up and the waves of enemies begin coming in.

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Playing like a mixture of a mini-RPG with tower defense and creature collection, it's certainly different with the blend of game mechanics. While you can only directly possess one creature at a time, that you can keep levelling up to access more power and abilities, you can also gain followers that each have their own level as well. They will follow you around and attack enemies with you helping you on your quest to purge the corruption across the map and defend your Chrysalis during enemy waves.

Wrapped up in a slower, sweet garden setting, once the enemies arrive the map and atmosphere warps into something slightly more sinister.

It starts off a little on the slow side as it eases you in, but once you get going the game will keep expanding with new types of enemies, bigger waves and various abilities you can add to your creatures. It's one that's worth sticking with to see how it expands and changes. A little gem.

Features:

• Tower Defense Roguelike Hybrid: Navigate dynamic, changing environments while strategically building up your defenses. Items you find while exploring have synergistic effects on both your creatures and your plant-based defenses.
• Symbiosis: take control of any friendly plant or animal in the game.
• Metamorphosis: level up your creatures and plants, transform them into more powerful versions, and apply elemental Spirits for further customization.
• Mutation: a complex mutation system combines different species to create new creatures with unique sets of abilities and metamorphoses. You'll still be finding new creatures with new abilities after dozens of playthroughs!
• Customization and Randomization: at the beginning of each playthrough, you choose a Chrysalis that caters to a specific style of play, with unlockable abilities that increase your power as you progress. By defeating waves of monsters, you will earn random Boons which grant additional passive or active abilities, offering further ways to enhance your controlled creatures.
• Procedurally Generated Levels: No two levels are the same - there are endless possibilities each run!
• Permadeath - with a twist: If a creature you possess with Symbiosis dies, the Wisp survives and can possess a new creature. But if your Chrysalis is destroyed, the game is over - it's time to use the knowledge you gained to start a new playthrough!
• Save Anytime: you can save the game at any time and the entire state of the current level is stored, so you can pick up right where you left off!