''Ziggurat'' is a

first-person shooter A first-person shooter (FPS) is a video game genre, video game centered on gun fighting and other weapon-based combat seen from a First person (video games), first-person perspective, with the player experiencing the action directly through t ...

dungeon crawl A dungeon crawl is a type of scenario in fantasy role-playing games (RPGs) in which heroes navigate a labyrinth environment (a "dungeon"), battling various monsters, avoiding traps, solving puzzles, and looting any treasure they may find. Video g ...

video game developed and published by Milkstone Studios. The game was released for

Linux Linux ( ) is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an kernel (operating system), operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically package manager, pac ...

Microsoft Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

, and

Mac Mac or MAC may refer to: Common meanings * Mac (computer), a line of personal computers made by Apple Inc. * Mackintosh, a raincoat made of rubberized cloth * Mac, a prefix to surnames derived from Gaelic languages * McIntosh (apple), a Canadi ...

in October 2014 after being available for two months in

early access Early access, also known as alpha access, alpha founding, paid alpha, or game preview, is a funding model in the video game industry by which consumers can purchase and play a game in the various pre-release Software release life cycle, developm ...

. The game was released in 2015 for the

Xbox One The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was first released in North America, parts of Europe, Austra ...

in March, and

PlayStation 4 The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013, in ...

in April. It was inspired by ''

Heretic Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, particularly the accepted beliefs or religious law of a religious organization. A heretic is a proponent of heresy. Heresy in Christianity, Judai ...

'' and '' Hexen: Beyond Heretic''. A sequel, titled ''Ziggurat 2'', was released on October 28, 2021.

Gameplay

''Ziggurat'' is a

video game with

roguelike Roguelike (or rogue-like) is a style of role-playing game traditionally characterized by a dungeon crawl through procedurally generated levels, turn-based gameplay, grid-based movement, and permanent death of the player character. Most ro ...

elements. Levels and encounters are procedurally generated and include bosses, trap rooms, spells, and treasures. During gameplay, randomly selected weapons and perks can be unlocked through travelling the dungeon and levelling up.

Development and release

''Ziggurat'' was created by independent developer Milkstone Studios. The game was released in

Steam Steam is water vapor, often mixed with air or an aerosol of liquid water droplets. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization. Saturated or superheated steam is inv ...

for

, and

OS X macOS, previously OS X and originally Mac OS X, is a Unix, Unix-based operating system developed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple since 2001. It is the current operating system for Apple's Mac (computer), Mac computers. With ...

. The game left early access with a full release on 23 October 2014. The game was released for the

through the

ID@Xbox ID@Xbox (Independent Developers @ Xbox) is a program by Microsoft allowing independent video game developers to self-publish titles for Windows, and the Xbox One and Xbox Series X and Series S home video game consoles. Overview ID@Xbox was ann ...

program on 20 March 2015. A

version was released in North America and Europe the following month.

Reception

''Ziggurat'' received generally positive reviews from critics upon release. Aggregate review website

Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...

assigned scores of 76/100 for the Windows and Xbox One versions, and 79/100 for the PlayStation 4 version. Some critics likened the game to

Raven Software Raven Software Corporation (trade name: Raven; formerly Raven Software, Inc.) is an American video game developer based in Middleton, Wisconsin, and part of Activision. Founded in May 1990 by brothers Brian and Steve Raffel, the company is most ...

's shooters ''

'' and '' Hexen: Beyond Heretic''.

Legacy

''Ziggurat 2'' was released on October 22, 2020, as a

Early Access Early access, also known as alpha access, alpha founding, paid alpha, or game preview, is a funding model in the video game industry by which consumers can purchase and play a game in the various pre-release Software release life cycle, developm ...

game and has received a number of updates since, and was released fully on October 28, 2021. The title was released for

PlayStation 5 The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North ...

Nintendo Switch The is a video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. Released in the middle of the Eighth generation of video game consoles, eighth generation of home consoles, the Switch succeeded the ...

, and

and

Xbox Series X/S The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are the fourth generation of consoles in the Xbox series, succeeding the previous generation's Xbox One. Released on November 10, 2020, the higher-end Xbox Series X and lower-end Xbox Series S are part o ...

in February 2022.

References

{{Reflist, refs= {{cite web , url=http://www.destructoid.com/milkstone-s-dungeon-crawling-fps-ziggurat-now-available-on-steam-early-access-279653.phtml , title=Milkstone's dungeon-crawling FPS Ziggurat now available on Steam Early Access , work=

Destructoid ''Destructoid'' is a website that was founded as a video game-focused blog in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzalez, a Cuban-American cartoonist and author. Enthusiast Gaming acquired the website in 2017 and sold it to Gamurs Group in 2022. Histor ...

, first=Rob , last=Morrow , date=15 August 2014 , access-date=19 August 2015 , archive-date=6 September 2015 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906044242/http://www.destructoid.com/milkstone-s-dungeon-crawling-fps-ziggurat-now-available-on-steam-early-access-279653.phtml , url-status=live {{cite web , url=http://steamcommunity.com/games/ziggurat/announcements/detail/120795682427577672 , title=Ziggurat available now! , work=

Steam Community Steam is a digital distribution service and storefront developed by Valve Corporation, Valve. It was launched as a software client in September 2003 to provide video game updates automatically for Valve's games and expanded to distributing thir ...

, first=Alejandro Gonzalez , last=Fiel , date=23 October 2014 , access-date=19 August 2015 , archive-date=18 January 2015 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118173202/http://steamcommunity.com/games/ziggurat/announcements/detail/120795682427577672 , url-status=live {{cite web , url=http://www.milkstonestudios.com/2015/03/ziggurat-coming-xbox-one-march-20th/ , title=Ziggurat coming to Xbox One on March 20th! , work=milkstonestudios.com , date=19 March 2014 , access-date=19 August 2015 , archive-date=8 December 2015 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208132517/http://www.milkstonestudios.com/2015/03/ziggurat-coming-xbox-one-march-20th/ , url-status=live {{cite web , url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-04-16-ziggurat-brings-procedurally-generated-first-person-shooting-to-ps4-next-week , title=Ziggurat brings procedurally-generated first-person shooting to PS4 next week , work=

Eurogamer ''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 alongside parent company Gamer Network. In 2008, it started in the formerly eponymous trade fair EGX (Eurogamer Expo until 2013) organised by its parent company. Fr ...

, publisher=Gamer Network , first=Jeffrey , last=Matulef , date=16 April 2015 , access-date=19 August 2015 , archive-date=7 September 2015 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907141754/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-04-16-ziggurat-brings-procedurally-generated-first-person-shooting-to-ps4-next-week , url-status=live {{cite web , url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/ziggurat/critic-reviews/?platform=pc , title=Ziggurat for PC Reviews , work=

, publisher=

CBS Interactive Paramount Streaming (formerly CBS Digital Media, CBS Interactive, and ViacomCBS Streaming) is a division of Paramount Global that oversees the company's video streaming technology and direct-to-consumer services; including Pluto TV and Paramo ...

, access-date=19 August 2015 {{cite web , url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/ziggurat/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 , title=Ziggurat for PlayStation 4 Reviews , work=

, publisher=

, access-date=19 August 2015 , archive-date=19 June 2025 , archive-url=https://archive.today/20250619132059/https://www.metacritic.com/game/ziggurat/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 , url-status=live {{cite web , url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/ziggurat/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one , title=Ziggurat for Xbox One Reviews , work=

, publisher=

, access-date=19 August 2015 {{cite web , url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/ziggurat-ps4-review- , title=Ziggurat PS4 Review: Fashionably Roguelike FPS , work=

USgamer Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British digital media company based in London. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and ot ...

, publisher=Gamer Network , first=Jaz , last=Rignall , date=27 April 2015 , access-date=19 August 2015 , archive-date=27 August 2015 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827045541/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/ziggurat-ps4-review- , url-status=live {{cite web , url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1159560/Ziggurat_2/ , title=Ziggurat 2 , work=

, date=22 October 2020 , access-date=11 January 2021 , archive-date=1 November 2020 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101093012/https://store.steampowered.com/app/1159560/Ziggurat_2/ , url-status=live

External links

''Ziggurat''
at Milkstone Studios
''Ziggurat 2''
at Milkstone Studios 2014 video games Dungeon crawler video games First-person shooters Indie games Linux games MacOS games Milkstone Studios games PlayStation 4 games Single-player video games Video games developed in Spain Video games using procedural generation Windows games Xbox One games