[PlayStation 5] Review: Keeper’s Toll

Ugh, where do I even start? So, I got my hands on this game called Keeper’s Toll — yeah, from eastasiasoft and Stingbot Games, ever heard of them? — and it’s a roguelite thing set in some dark world. Sounds dramatic, I know. But trust me, it’s wild. You wander around these crazy areas, and seriously, some are just downright grim. There’s a place called Linden Forest? Used to be all nature-y, now? Wrecked. Makes me wonder how long it took to ruin it.

And these characters! Six fascinating personalities to play as. Like, the Shadow Monk, who’s all about vengeance. Pretty intense fella. Or the Pyromancer, a mage with literally burnt-in shackles. Ouch. And I can’t forget the Blood Maiden; she’s all about arcane magic and sacrifice. There’s a lot going on with these folks.

Oh, oh, and the areas you visit? Deep, creepy Usvit Depths or Usvit Castle — once grand, now overrun by dark forces. Classic story, right? But there’s something satisfying about wandering through. End of Time is a big, flaming mess of insanity. No joke. Walking through feels like stepping into someone’s twisted fever dream.

The controls? Simple as pie. Move around with the stick or D-Pad, hope you’re ready for automatic attacking. Limited health flask uses? Definitely keeps you on your toes. Speaking of attacks, you level up and get these upgrades, and I’m all about those strategic boosts like Chilling Blow — chills enemies, naturally, or maybe Dark Energy — shadows? Yes, please.

Gold’s a thing you snag from enemies, too. Spend it at the Shrine or random wandering merchants — because why not?— for little power-ups. I was always on the lookout for stuff like a Barbed Helmet — spikes aren’t just for aesthetics, I guess.

One thing that sticks is, after each run, you get to dish out points on skills. Fancy name: Tomes of Knowledge. Love that. Enhancements affect all characters; seriously makes me feel power-hungry. Got options like Essence Leach and Fleetfoot, boosting soul collection and speed. Important stuff!

Then there’s this whole trophy ordeal. One for the collectors out there. Loads of Bronze and Silver, oddly lacking Gold. Challenges from collecting souls to seeing if you can go hit-free. I found it entertaining, almost a challenge in itself to keep track of everything.

Anyway, it’s a Cross-Buy deal, so PS4 and PS5 versions fall in your lap for just $6.99. Cheap thrills, really. If roguelite chaos in a gloomy fantasy world gets your adrenaline going, Keeper’s Toll might just be your next gaming obsession. Maybe. Or maybe I just got caught up in the madness of it all. Who knows.