There are those games that everyone seems to have played at some point in their lives. We’ve all probably tried our hand at matching three items, taking a snapshot, or flipping over two cards on a grid, hoping they’re identical. These mechanics are so common that creating a new game based on them can be risky for developers. Remember when the Match Three trend took over? Jewel Quest was one of those standout titles, leading to several successful sequels. Of course, there were probably others before it, but that’s the one that sticks in my mind. I enjoyed every single one of them. Soon, though, every mobile developer seemed to create their own version, exemplifying why we sometimes can’t have nice things—oversaturation tends to stifle innovation right before it emerges. You might wonder how this connects to today’s discussion. Well, it touches on a similar theme. Thankfully, the creators are introducing Pairs and Perils, which spins the classic Pairs concept just enough to warrant giving it a chance. Trust me, this title deserves a closer look.
Pairs and Perils is the latest creation from the inventive team at Little Horror Studios, published by Rogue Duck Interactive. Now available for PC on Steam, this game requires you to lean more on your memory than reflexes—a refreshing twist for a roguelike. Typically, roguelikes don’t ask much of our brains, so this immediately strikes me as a positive change.
In Pairs and Perils, the premise is straightforward. You’ll need to remember the locations of heroes and weapons, then pair them to combine their abilities effectively. Yet, as with any adventure worth its salt, expect a few surprises to shake things up.
Your journey will be lined with valorous adventures and perilous traps. If your memory slips and you happen to match the wrong cards, you risk putting yourself in jeopardy. Enemies in the game have their own attack timers, which means every mistake heightens the danger. Your foes aren’t just there to test your patience; they will relentlessly challenge your strategic thinking, with abilities ranging from stealing your gold and possessions to summoning skeletal hordes.
Like many games of its kind, Pairs and Perils will demand more than just brainpower. Finding the optimal card combinations will require thoughtful upgrades from the shop to enhance your deck and crafting strategies to protect valuable cards from stealthy monsters eager to snatch them away.
As I previously mentioned, Pairs and Perils is a roguelike, meaning each run is different. Randomly generated heroes, enemies, and items ensure that no two games are alike, providing endless surprises. Plus, true to roguelike tradition, the difficulty intensifies as you progress. The challenges turn more treacherous, and formidable bosses lurk in the dungeon depths, waiting to cut your adventure short.
Pairs and Perils sounds exactly like my kind of game. It cleverly builds on familiar mechanics while offering something genuinely fresh. My enthusiasm for roguelikes makes me excited to dive in and explore what this game has to offer. Pairs and Perils is currently up for grabs on Steam, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you hear more about it from me sometime soon.
