Ocean Keeper Earns TouchArcade's Weekly Honor

TouchArcade Rating: A masterful blend of disparate gameplay styles is always a treat, and Ocean Keeper delivers just that. Think Blaster Master's blend of side-scrolling and top-down action, or the recent hit Dave the Diver's fusion of roguelike diving and restaurant management. Ocean Keeper, from RetroStyle Games, seamlessly integrates two distinct mechanics, creating a compelling gameplay loop and upgrade system that keeps you coming back for more.

In Ocean Keeper, you're stranded on an alien underwater planet in your powerful mech. You'll explore underwater caves in a side-scrolling perspective, mining resources and artifacts to earn coins. However, time is limited; waves of enemies are approaching, demanding you return to your mech for a top-down twin-stick shooter showdown with light tower defense elements.

Resources gathered fuel upgrades for both your mining equipment and your mech, with extensive branching skill trees for each. The roguelike nature means death resets your run's progress, but persistent upgrades and customizations ensure continued advancement between attempts. Expect varied overworld and cave layouts with each playthrough.

While the initial stages might feel slow, and early runs challenging, persevere! As upgrades accumulate and skills improve, you'll master the flow, transforming into an unstoppable underwater mech force. Experimenting with weapon and upgrade synergies is key; the game's depth lies in crafting unique builds and strategies. Despite a slow start, Ocean Keeper quickly becomes captivating, offering a highly replayable and rewarding experience.