Demon Gaze

Demon Gaze is a first-person dungeon crawler from Experience Inc., a studio that specialized on PlayStation Vita in classic old-school exploration RPGs. The hero Oz wakes up with no memories and an eye capable of binding demons. That's precisely why the Dragon Princess inn takes him in and sends him out into the surrounding labyrinths. Lodging isn't free, though, and the rent climbs with every due date, so pressure to earn and progress quickly is baked directly into the game's structure.

Exploration happens tile by tile through grid-based mazes, where you gradually uncover the map, search for hidden passages, and dodge traps. You place gems in designated spots to summon both enemies and treasure. The more you place at once, the greater the reward and the risk, turning every such room into a small gambling decision. Defeated demons get bound to you and become party members with powerful abilities that can, however, spiral out of control mid-battle. You build your own party from scratch by choosing races and classes, and combat is turn-based, tough, and merciless in the opening hours. Gear can also be upgraded and passed between characters, so even a failed dive into deeper floors usually yields something that pushes the next attempt a bit further.

Visually the game leans on bold character and demon artwork that contrasts with fairly plain maze corridors, as is typical for the genre. The music is energetic and rock-driven, the atmosphere more lighthearted than scary despite the constant risk of wiping the whole party. Reviewers praised the clever gem system and the way the game manages to be tough without being unfair, while criticizing the repetitive environments. For the Vita, Demon Gaze was one of the titles that brought classic grid-based crawlers back to a modern handheld, and today it's an ideal pick for players who like to plan their progress and count their resources.