Roguelikes and a Cinematic Reveals

The latest Fateless Podcast episode is packed with exciting updates, deep-dive discussions, and even some hilarious voice impressions! Hosted by Brad, this episode features special guests Simon, Sham, and Michael “Mtashed” Tash, who dive into everything from the evolution of Godforge to the impact of roguelike mechanics and even the challenges of parenting young athletes.

Before jumping into Godforge, the conversation kicks off with Mtashed sharing a personal update about his son’s competitive hockey journey. He describes the intensity of youth sports, the unhinged behavior of some parents, and how his goal has always been for his son to have fun rather than just chase stats.

Simon and Sham chime in, sharing their experiences with competitive sports, emphasizing the importance of good coaching, and balancing competition with enjoyment. It’s a fun and relatable opening that sets a casual, engaging tone for the episode.

As one of the OG followers of the project, Mtashed has had a front-row seat to Godforge’s transformation. He recalls reaching out early on, excited about the vision behind the game.

“I remember seeing the first gray-box levels and thinking, ‘Wow, this is looking good!’ And now, looking back, that was such an early version compared to what we have now,” he says.

The team reflects on how far the project has come, from basic placeholders to fully animated, highly detailed environments and characters. The evolution has been stunning, and with each update, the game is reaching a new level of polish and excitement.

One of the most thrilling announcements of the podcast is the upcoming Godforge Cinematic Trailer, which will be officially revealed at GDC (Game Developers Conference). The team hints at how much effort has gone into it, with live-action elements, in-depth animation, and storytelling that will bring the world of Godforge to life.

“For the community, this is going to be an incredible moment. The cinematic is something we’ve been pouring our hearts into,” says Simon.

While no details are leaked (sadly for us), the hype is real, GDC attendees will get a first look, and shortly after, the community will be able to see it as well!

A major topic in this episode is how roguelike mechanics could be implemented into Godforge. Mtashed, a known fan of roguelikes, shares his thoughts on what makes the genre so addicting.

• “Roguelikes thrive on variety, meaningful choices, and crazy builds that let you break the game,” he explains.
• He brings up games like Binding of Isaac, Enter the Gungeon, and Honkai Star Rail, highlighting how each run should feel different, and strategic decision-making should drive progression.
• The team discusses whether the Godforge roguelike mode should feature pre-set “canned” characters with standardized stats or allow players to bring in their own heroes with gear from their accounts.
• There’s also debate on whether it should be a permanent game mode or a rotating event, with seasonal changes to keep things fresh.

One of the biggest takeaways? Players should be able to create wild, overpowered builds that make each run feel unique.

“If you can’t break the game, it’s not a good roguelike,” Mtashed jokes, but the team agrees—roguelikes need a sense of risk and reward, powerful synergies, and the excitement of discovering overpowered strategies.

Another heated debate is whether the roguelike mode should have an infinite scaling challenge or a set number of levels before a final boss.

The leaderboard system is brought up, with Simon suggesting that players could compete for the best runs each week, earning rewards based on their rankings. That way, players can choose whether to grind out multiple runs or just play for fun without feeling forced into it.

As is tradition on the Fateless Podcast, Brad asks Mtashed which legendary hero from mythology he’d love to see in Godforge.

His top picks? Achilles and David vs. Goliath.

• Achilles, the ultimate warrior, could have a duality mechanic, where he’s nearly unstoppable but has a hard counter, like his legendary Achilles heel.
• David, a scrawny underdog, could be the ultimate tank killer, flipping the script and defeating massive foes with precision and cunning.
• He also dreams of a bagpipe-wielding Scotsman or an unstoppable milkmaid warrior, proving that not every legendary hero needs to be a chiseled, anime-inspired warrior.

(For the record, Achilles is already confirmed in the game, but David and his slingshot remain a mystery.)

To cap things off, Mtashed delivers hilarious voice impressions, including Elmo, Peter Griffin, and more, leaving everyone cracking up.

Brad’s reaction? “We need to turn that into a YouTube short.”

Honestly, we agree.

As the episode wraps up, the team teases even more updates to come, especially around GDC and the cinematic reveal. If you’re in San Francisco, you might even get the chance to see the trailer live at the event!

For the rest of us, it will be publicly released just after and if the team’s excitement is anything to go by, it’s going to be EPIC.