Last spring, we started covering another new roguelike that – as is the fashion lately – is inspired by MMORPG mechanics without the actual “other humans” that give MMOs their spark. Called Don’t Lose Aggro, it’s basically a tanking simulator developed by indie designer Oren Koren. It dropped into early access back in April and then dropped off our radar, but now it’s back with a “major early access update” and a playtest/demo to let players test their mettle during Gamescom.
“Don’t Lose Aggro puts players in the role of a tank, drawing inspiration from the mechanics and responsibilities of MMO raids while adapting them into a singleplayer action roguelike,” reads the pitch. “Players must manage enemy attention, protect their companions, build their character through talent choices, and decide how they want to approach each encounter.”
So what’s different in this version?
“This playtest focuses on several significant changes to the core experience, including an increased party size, expanded companion behavior, new combat mechanics, additional abilities, and improvements to the game’s overall UX and UI.”
The early access is normally 10 bucks, but the demo and/or playtest is downloadable through the green buttons on Steam right now (and the playtest does let you in immediately). Past players are also getting Steam keys, so either way, getting in should be a snap.

