Dream Echo combines roguelike systems with the meta progression and loot system of titles such as Path of Exile. The result is an addictive system where progress always feels present. The remaining question is simple: how well does this mix work in actual gameplay?
One of the charms of modern takes on the roguelike genre is that each run feels like a fresh slate of possibilities. The player never knows how the run will look towards the end, and has to adapt on the spot. Dream Echo mixes this system with a lot of meta progression such as a talent constellation similar to those found in Path of Exile and even an equipment system for further specialisation.
This mix might feel contradictory at first, and in some ways it undoubtedly is. One thing that is definitely lost is the feeling that each run is a clean slate. The concern is that so much power is put into the gear that it mitigates the impact of the power the roguelike part of the run handles for the player. Strangely enough, it works really well!
This is due in great part to the wonderful deck system of Dream Echo, which allows for the building of a deck of 15 cards that will be far more likely to drop in a run. Later on, players even get to take skills they put into their deck with them at the start of the run.
This ensures that there is always access to the build that gear is targeted to support, which in turn prevents the feeling of getting punished for specialising. While it strongly reduces the roguelike elements, it creates something entirely different instead: an ARPG with in-dungeon progression. That is quite a clever choice given how saturated the roguelike market is in 2026.
As such, more focus is put on the gameplay rather than numbers and choices, and in this regard Dream Echo is extremely solid! There are a few varied builds that will feel familiar to fans of the genre. During the review, the swarm strategy was explored the most, and it contained everything one could want from a summon build. There were varied buffs to give the summons to the point that the character feels more like a final boss with a bunch of powerful minions rather than a protagonist. It was a wonderful experience and gave the exact fantasy and gameplay one is looking for with these builds.
However, there is one issue: while the game gives enough tools to build most classic ARPG builds, there isn’t enough to make different varieties of them. Even though there are so many things to tinker with, at the end of the day, each serves a clear role. That means there are only enough tools to make a specific build possible and provide a progression path. If one wants to build a swarm build, there is one clear way to do it, and likewise for most other builds. It gives very little room for actual choices and creativity.
Hopefully this is something that can be changed in the future, but at the moment, once the player has the tools they need, the rest of the game is just grinding for better affixes to the gear they already have. Worse, it doesn’t take long to reach that point. Even so, the roguelike nature of the dungeon system combined with the ticket system where each dungeon has unique affixes makes this a surprisingly varied and fun grind. The personality-filled visual style also makes the game a joy to replay. Ultimately, Dream Echo is a great game to sit down and play at the end of a long evening of gaming before entering the realm of dreams.
