Though traditionally associated with RPGs, monster-taming and collecting games continue to branch out into unexpected genre territory. What began in games like the originalMegami TenseiandDragon Quest 5is now most commonly associated with Nintendo and Game Freak’sPokemonfranchise, but the subgenre continues to expand into unlikely pairings with even Metroidvanias (Monster Sanctuary) and survival games (Palworld)joining the pack. Lioncode Games' upcoming bullet heaven/survivor-likeWildkeepers Risingis another novel mashup of monster-collecting into an established genre, and it’s looking to put its collectible Guardians to good use.
At a recent hands-off preview event forWildkeepers Rising, the game’s director and art director walked Game Rant through a presentation showing off some of the unique elements of the title’s gameplay, including the collectible Guardians. These creatures are more than just helpful partners in battle, as both the player character and their Guardians level up and improve in power side-by-side throughout each run, with the player getting to choose between upgrading their Wildkeeper or their collectible monster allies at each level-up. Perhaps most interesting is how the game handles players’meta-progressionfrom run to run, with the Guardians playing a critical role.
Monster-Collecting RPG Elements Play a Major Role in Wildkeepers Rising’s Meta-Progression
Lioncode Games' approach to making a Bullet Heaven takes its monster-taming and collecting elements to heart, incorporating a healthy dose ofRPG mechanics and progressionin the process. While the player character, one of several different humans known as Wildkeepers, will do the bulk of the fighting, their monster allies (the Guardians) will follow them through the battlefield and provide bonuses both passive and active.
When things get to become overwhelming and the player is facing off against a seemingly insurmountable mob, they can trigger one of the Guardians' special abilities to shift the tide of battle.
Accordingly, players need to balance choosing between upgrading their Wildkeeper and upgrading their guardian, but the design of the levels and the influence fromRPGsalso play a major role in how players progress permanently across each run (otherwise known as meta-progression).Wildkeepers Rising’s director Sergio Garces notes that there are standard global upgrades to choose from that impact either all Wildkeepers or all Guardians, but players can also expect “upgrade trees for items that you unlock” and that missions' replayability allows for players to search for rewards or upgrades they might have missed previously.
A general sense of progression through the game comes from collecting and upgrading thePokemon-likeGuardians, but that’s far from the only aspect of the game’s meta-progression. Garces again notes that there are “…many different missions, with each one having different rewards. Those rewards can be applied towards the whole team as upgrades or [to] specific guardians.” As players collect more ofWildkeepers' Guardians, they can discover which best fit their playstyle, giving them agency over how they choose to carry progression throughout the game at large.
