Going Under is a roguelite dungeon crawler set in a satirical version of the tech startup world. Players take on the role of Jackie Fiasco, a recent college graduate navigating unpaid internships at failing companies in a dystopian city. The core experience revolves around descending into the ruined offices of these startups, battling through procedurally generated floors filled with corporate-themed enemies and hazards.
Gameplay
Combat emphasizes fast-paced melee and ranged attacks using an assortment of office supplies and improvised weapons. Each run involves clearing rooms of foes while managing limited resources such as health and stamina. Perks and upgrades appear between encounters, allowing customization of playstyle through new abilities and item synergies. The loop focuses on learning enemy patterns and adapting to randomized layouts, with each failed attempt providing incremental progress through permanent unlocks and story revelations.
Exploration rewards careful navigation of trap-filled environments and hidden areas that yield additional gear or narrative fragments. The satirical elements integrate directly into mechanics, as enemies represent exaggerated versions of startup culture tropes like overzealous marketers or aggressive venture capitalists. Runs typically last around thirty minutes, balancing tension with opportunities for experimentation across multiple attempts.
Game Modes
The primary mode consists of full dungeon runs through distinct themed facilities, each tied to a different failed tech company with unique enemy types, bosses, and environmental challenges. These runs form the backbone of progression, encouraging repeated play to uncover all variations and complete the central narrative arc.
Imposter Mode serves as an additional gauntlet-style challenge accessed through an in-game mirror. It tests endurance by pitting the player against successive waves of increasingly difficult encounters without the standard run structure. A later update introduced a Working From Home variant that alters the environment and enemy behaviors to reflect remote work scenarios, adding fresh strategic layers to existing systems.
Story and Themes
The narrative follows Jackie's experiences across multiple internships, highlighting the absurdities of entry-level tech employment through humorous dialogue and situational comedy. Themes of imposter syndrome, corporate burnout, and the gig economy surface naturally during exploration and boss encounters. Each startup dungeon advances the overarching plot while delivering self-contained satirical commentary on industry trends.
Character interactions and environmental storytelling reinforce the game's tone without interrupting the action. Permanent unlocks tied to story milestones encourage thorough exploration across multiple playthroughs.
Is It Worth Playing?
Going Under appeals to players who enjoy roguelite structure combined with sharp humor and accessible combat. The game maintains consistent support through post-launch updates that expand available content and refine mechanics. Steam user reviews reflect strong overall approval, with the majority rating the experience positively for its blend of challenge and wit.
Those seeking a single-player focused dungeon crawler with replayability through varied runs and thematic depth will find substantial value. The Deluxe Edition bundles the base experience with its soundtrack for those interested in the audio accompaniment. Availability on PC supports straightforward access for interested players.
