Though action roguelikes traditionally aren’t known for being group-friendly, Canadian game developer Thunder Lotus is shaking things up with their newly released game, 33 Immortals. Famous for hits like Spiritfarer, Sundered, and Jotun, Thunder Lotus has designed an experience that blends intense action with cooperative gameplay. Currently available in Game Preview on Xbox and the Epic Games Store, players can dive in via Xbox Game Pass and team up with friends for an epic journey.
Drawing inspiration from Dante Alighieri’s 14th-century classic, The Divine Comedy, 33 Immortals casts you as a soul condemned to eternal torment after God’s final judgment. Refusing to accept this fate, you join forces with other damned souls in a rebellious uprising, embarking on a raid that leads you to the gates of paradise and perhaps even to challenge God Himself.
Much like Dante’s own descent through Hell and Purgatory, this game takes you on a grand adventure with a 33-player team working together to battle chaotic demons that obstruct your path to salvation. While 33 Immortals pays homage to Alighieri’s masterpiece, it also forges its own story. The game is still in Game Preview, so players will find only portions of it available, but its vibrant art style and roguelike elements will likely remind players of the acclaimed roguelike game, Hades, with its own unique twist of MMO-style raids.
Whether you’re joined by friends or teaming up with strangers (potential new friends), strategizing about gear and perks is paramount before starting your quest. Although you can go solo, having a partner or two makes traversing the game infinitely easier, emphasizing the importance of teamwork.
As you arm yourself and your group, you’ll encounter iconic characters straight out of Dante’s works, such as Virgil, Beatrice, and Dante himself. Within the player hub, known as the Dark Woods, these figures will aid you in leveling up your soul through various exchanges. In typical roguelike fashion, the more you unlock with each run, the smoother your journey becomes.
The Dark Woods is your gathering place—where you choose gear, team up with others, and collect rewards for completing daily challenges before seeking immortality. Once prepared, you and your team will pass through the Eternal Gate, venturing into the perilous Beyond to clear out enemy-laden dungeons. The expansive world map is dotted with opportunities for exploration, including upgrade chests, mysterious altars, and destructibles marked with question signs. Engaging with altars lets you spend resources earned from battles to level up and gain keys, which become crucial when tackling the challenging Torture Chambers.
Surviving these chambers grants your group a free chest, while an extra key opens another, yielding even greater rewards. As your power grows, so does the difficulty of the hordes you’ll encounter, culminating in epic boss battles that echo the raid mechanics of traditional MMOs.
Thunder Lotus is committed to enhancing 33 Immortals by actively listening to the player community’s feedback. They’ve outlined a roadmap for future updates that will bring improvements such as controller rebinding, updated UI, and refined visual effects. Currently, early access allows exploration of two worlds within the Beyond, with plans to expand the world list with Paridiso in the Fall of 2025. Future updates promise new bosses, customizable options in the Dark Woods, and the ability to create private sessions with your favorite companions.
Exclusively available on Xbox consoles at the moment, 33 Immortals supports Xbox’s Play Anywhere feature. This means a single purchase grants access across both Xbox and PC, complete with cross-saves for seamless gameplay. For those with an Xbox Game Pass subscription, the journey to immortality can begin immediately as part of the plan.
Curious for more insight? Don’t miss out on our in-depth 33 Immortals preview.