'Does It Still Surprise Us?': Neon Abyss 2 Developer Talks Endless Replayability

Published 4 days ago

Followed

Neon Abyss 2 Needs to Surprise Its Developers

One might expect developers to know their games inside and out, but that might not always be a good thing in the context of endless replayability. According to Wang, one of the key qualities the team looks for is their own surprise when playing Neon Abyss 2. If there are enough possibilities present that the development team routinely finds itself discovering new things, then the game is probably in good shape. With 600 items, the combinations of potential synergies are mind-boggling—and that's before its random procedural levels, various bosses, and unique characters mix things up even further. Wang says:

"We ask ourselves: 'Does it still surprise us?' If the dev team can still have unique runs after the sheer amount that we have played and tested, that’s a very good sign. We also look to our community, watching streams, reading feedback, and listening for critiques. If players are finding new builds, still dying and coming back for more, all while sharing strategies, we know we’re on the right track. That said, an Early Access release is the perfect environment for our game to flourish. We will be continuing to add to and develop Neon Abyss 2 to make it the best it can be!"

The team also keeps close tabs on the community and playtesters, both for critique and to ensure the team is on the right track in terms of content variety. Wang pointed to the community's continued activity in sharing synergies and builds as an indication that the indie game has a healthy amount of variety in store for players.

Neon Abyss 2's Improved Progression Systems

Meta-progression is an important aspect of many beloved roguelite games. While some players are content with a highly replayable title with immense build variety and potential encounters, many players enjoy a carrot to chase in between runs, and something that can make even a failed run feel like progress. Recognizing this, Wang says Neon Abyss 2 focuses on this sense of consistent progress:

"The first game relied heavily on random drops and achievements. Neon Abyss 2 introduces meta progression through systems like Faith. Progression in the game also includes new unlockable Agents, all with their own unique abilities and gameplay styles, weapon paths, Hatchmon evolutions, and more. We really wanted every run to feel like progress, whether you "won" or not."

That sense of progress between runs is a large part of what makes games like Hades so successful in the genre, removing some of the sting from a botched run and replacing it with a reward instead. With an ear to the ground in its community and a strong foundation laid by the original, Neon Abyss 2 is shaping up to have a promising Early Access period.