Shroom and Gloom's double deckbuilding has so much to discover
Shroom and Gloom is like a onion, and onions, like ogres, have layers
The first thing you'll notice when you boot up Shroom and Gloom – other than the familiar Devolver Digital stamp of quality – is its gorgeous art style. The game takes place entirely underground, and every creature and interactable item looks hand drawn. The world is almost Paper Mario-esque, with vignettes layered on top of each other to create a feeling of depth. It's stunning, and watching this unique world react to your actions never gets old.
As for what you're actually doing in Shroom and Gloom, the game is a roguelite deckbuilder. But hold on, put your pitchforks down, there's a twist here – and not one I've seen before. Unlike other roguelike deckbuilders, Shroom and Gloom asks you to build two decks at a time. The first is for combat, and includes the usual: debuffs, big hits, passive damage, damage over time spells, etc. The second is far more unique, and is entirely focused on exploration.
When you start a run in Shroom and Gloom, you'll pick a class, collect their starter deck, and slowly move through the tunnels by pressing forward (literally holding the W key on M&K). Down each hall, you'll encounter a variety of underground grotesqueries – goblin-like mushrooms, mostly. Here, you'll use your combat deck to defend yourself. After your battle, you'll usually encounter an upgrade, like an additional card, a shop, or a pool that heals you.
When your fight wraps up, you'll find a camp. This place has spots marked for buried treasure, torches to be lit, pedestals to build on, and doors to open. To build up your power and get new cards, you'll want to stay in this camp for as long as you can, using your exploration cards to build structures or reveal new places to go.
However, the more turns you linger in the camp, the more the areas around you get infested with gloom. You can push back the gloom by lighting fires or playing certain cards designed to warm you up, but if there's more gloom around you than warmth, you'll take direct damage to your health.