Roguelite shooters have become one of the most crowded corners of gaming in recent years. From Gunfire Reborn to Roboquest to Ziggurat 2, players hungry for randomized chaos and quick-fire action have plenty of options. But Holy Shoot (developed and published by Tale Era Interactive) storms onto the scene with a uniquely satirical twist: what if Hell itself became a playground for misfit heroes, ridiculous weapons, and over-the-top demonic bosses straight out of the Seven Deadly Sins?
Released on July 30, 2025, Holy Shoot is a fast-paced roguelite FPS that combines comic-book humor, Doom-style shooting, and a build-focused progression system. It’s rough in places—as Early Access games usually are—but the foundations are strong enough that it could grow into one of the best in the genre.
First Impressions – Doom Meets Borderlands in Hell
Booting up Holy Shoot, it’s immediately clear what Tale Era Interactive is going for. The art direction is a satirical spin on infernal landscapes: sin-themed arenas painted with exaggerated comic-book flair. One level might have you running through greed-ridden ruins stuffed with golden hazards, while another throws you into wrath-filled lava caverns that look like heavy metal album covers.
It’s fast, it’s flashy, and it’s self-aware in all the right ways.
The core loop is simple: pick a hero, dive into randomized levels, blast through waves of cursed enemies, dodge traps, and defeat bosses who embody each of the Seven Deadly Sins. Along the way, you’ll scavenge weapons, perks, and upgrades, then bring your spoils back to the Sanctum hub, where quirky NPCs greet you with cake, tea, and questionable advice before sending you back into hell.
It’s immediately engaging, and while the polish isn’t quite AAA, the personality makes up for it.
Characters with Quirks
The roguelite genre thrives when player choice matters, and Holy Shoot starts strong here. The first hero, Supersonic Samuel, lives up to his name with lightning-fast reflexes that make dashing and dodging an addictive experience. Later unlockables, such as Toshiko Techno, introduce different playstyles—Samuel is all about raw speed, while Toshiko leans into gadgetry and tech-powered tricks.
Each hero forces you to approach encounters differently. That said, early player feedback is unanimous: Holy Shoot needs more characters to really shine. Two heroes are fun, but roguelite replayability depends heavily on variety, and the devs have already hinted at expanding the roster.
Weapons that Feel Alive
No roguelite shooter works without satisfying weapons, and here’s where Holy Shoot excels. Shotguns boom with chunky feedback, rifles spit nails with absurd recoil, and grenade launchers turn cramped demon-filled rooms into slapstick explosions.
Every gun feels distinct and—crucially—funny. There’s a deliberate cartoon absurdity to how these weapons work, almost like Doom’s arsenal met a satirical Borderlands knockoff.
Still, balance issues exist. Community feedback points out that most machine guns feel underpowered thanks to excessive recoil, forcing many players to fall back on pistols or shotguns. Shotguns dominate, while certain rifles gather dust. Fixing these balance quirks will be important as the game matures.
Boss Battles with Personality
The highlights of Holy Shoot are undoubtedly the Seven Deadly Sin bosses. Each one embodies its sin in both mechanics and style—Gluttony is grotesque and overwhelming, Wrath turns arenas into hazard-laden nightmares, and Greed fights like a dragon hoarding shiny explosives.
Not only are these fights challenging, they’re also dripping with attitude and humor. Instead of a generic “big monster #4,” every boss feels memorable, like a cartoon villain you can’t wait to shoot in the face.
The fights aren’t flawless—bugs occasionally leave enemies despawning or traps breaking runs—but when it works, it’s exactly the kind of chaotic spectacle players want in this genre.
The Hub – Comic Relief Between Runs
Between each bloody run into Hell, you return to the Sanctum hub, a surprisingly cozy hangout spot filled with oddball NPCs. It’s here you spend currencies on permanent upgrades, unlock blueprints, and chat with angels and misfits who seem more interested in gossip, tea, and cake than saving the universe.
It’s a clever way to break up the action. Instead of just clicking through menus, you get to engage with a weird cast of characters who give the game even more personality.
Some players wish NPC interactions mattered more—like perks tied to certain characters or branching upgrades—but even as-is, the hub adds much-needed charm.
Early Access Wobbles – Bugs and Audio Woes
No Early Access title escapes criticism, and Holy Shoot has its share of rough edges.
- Bugs: Players have reported secondary skills breaking after bosses, disappearing enemies that end runs, and lava traps that permanently lock you out of progress. Most of these are being patched quickly, and the devs have earned praise for fast responses.
- Performance: Early builds struggled on mid-range PCs, but patches have already stabilized frame rates. Players running on “potato” setups say it now holds up well.
- Audio Issues: This is by far the biggest complaint. Music is mixed too loudly, sound effects are uneven, and worst of all, enemy audio cues are nearly nonexistent—making sneak attacks frustratingly silent. Guns also drown out music or even reset loops.
Despite these issues, most players agree the game has “great bones” and a lot of potential.
What the Community Wants Next
Across the reviews, a few requests pop up again and again:
- More heroes with unique perks and playstyles.
- Better weapon balance, especially buffing rifles and perks that feel too weak.
- Expanded NPC roles in the hub to deepen progression.
- Endgame content like infinite modes or “mayhem” scaling difficulty.
- Co-op play, which the devs have already confirmed is planned.
If Tale Era Interactive can deliver even half of these, Holy Shoot could cement itself as a roguelite staple.
Holy Shoot: Holy Shoot may not be perfect, but it doesn’t need to be yet. What it already offers is fun, chaotic, and laugh-out-loud ridiculous—exactly the kind of energy you want from a satirical roguelite set in Hell. Its mix of comic humor, frantic FPS action, and build-based progression makes it stand out in a crowded field. Yes, it’s buggy. Yes, it needs more heroes, weapons, and co-op. And yes, the audio system desperately needs fixing. But beneath those issues lies a shooter with serious staying power. If you loved Gunfire Reborn, Roboquest, or Ziggurat 2 and you don’t mind rough edges while a game grows, Holy Shoot is absolutely worth a shot. For now, it’s an exciting Early Access romp—and with developer support, it could become one hell of a classic. – ColdMoon