Look, let's be honest, someone actually looked at the infuriating mechanics of Chained Together—where you are bound by chains and drop endlessly in a platformer—and decided to slap Soulslike elements on top of it. What a delightfully headache-inducing new release.

Indie developer Chairoware Games launched the action RPG Soul Chained on Steam on October 8. Developed entirely by a solo creator, this cooperative action game supports up to four players as they attempt to escape Purgatory while literally shackled to each other.

The game takes place on the border between Hell and Purgatory, following a narrative where lords who opposed each other in life find their souls bound by chains, forced to climb a massive tower to atone for their past sins. The chain acts as a crucial element affecting both movement and combat. If your coordination is slick enough, you can swing the chain to knock down enemies, including bosses, deal massive damage, or hurl them into the abyss.

On the flip side, if your coordination is rather clumsy, you might accidentally block a teammate's dodge, dragging them into an untimely demise. Since the chain length is strictly limited, breathing in sync with your mates is the absolute key to a stable run. Even with the chain present, trying to dodge in opposite directions will shift your centre of gravity and send you tumbling backward.

Reflecting its Soulslike inspirations, combat is designed around stamina management and action-heavy platforming. You can wield a variety of weapons to boost your stats, facing down bosses at the end of each chapter of the tower. Since movement restrictions caused by the chain are the heart of this Soulslike experience, solo players will drag a massive sphere around instead of relying on other users.

Launched on October 8, user reviews for Soul Chained on Steam currently sit at Mixed, with 64 percent of the 48 reviews being positive, drawing heavy criticism regarding netcode stability. On the other hand, praise coexists for its budget-friendly price point and the endless stream of ridiculous situations, cementing its status as a remarkably cost-effective friend-slaying title. Adieu, and good luck not strangling your mates.