Cladun Returns: This Is Sengoku! is an action RPG that drops players into a setting drawn from Japan's Sengoku Era. The story begins when the player character awakens in Arcanus Cella, a realm where the souls of the deceased gather before reincarnation. Those with unfinished matters must resolve them first, and the player helps by venturing into recreated locations from feudal Japan to clear hazardous dungeons.
Gameplay
Progression centers on real-time dungeon exploration and combat against monsters and environmental hazards. Players move through procedurally challenging layouts while managing positioning and attacks to overcome waves of enemies and reach the exit. The loop repeats across multiple locations, with each run building familiarity with trap patterns and monster behaviors.
The Magic Circle system forms the heart of character development. As allies level up they unlock new circles that let players position vassals and equip artifacts in specific formations. These arrangements directly influence stats, grant protective effects, and unlock additional abilities during combat. Careful arrangement turns the circle into a strategic layer that rewards experimentation with different party compositions.
Pixel-Perfect Customization lets players edit every visual element of their character and gear at the individual pixel level. Finished designs can be shared so others may import them directly into their own sessions. This level of detail extends to weapons and armor, giving each run a personal visual identity without altering core mechanics.
Game Modes
Co-op Mode supports up to several players working together to tackle the same dungeons. Teams coordinate to handle tougher enemy groups and navigate complex trap sequences more efficiently than solo play allows.
Versus Mode shifts the focus to competition. Participants race to accumulate the highest point totals by defeating enemies and completing objectives within shared dungeon spaces. The format emphasizes quick decision-making and efficient routing.
Online leaderboards track the fastest dungeon clear times. Players who enjoy optimizing routes and minimizing deaths can compare their best runs against others worldwide. These speed-run challenges add a long-term goal beyond standard progression.
Customization and Progression
Beyond the pixel editor, character growth ties directly into the Magic Circle mechanics. Each new artifact or vassal placement opens fresh tactical options, encouraging repeated dungeon visits to test different setups. Shared custom data further expands the pool of available appearances and equipment looks for every participant.
The combination of precise visual editing and formation-based power management creates a steady stream of small discoveries. Players often return to earlier dungeons with improved circles to experiment with higher-risk strategies that were previously unviable.
Is It Worth Playing?
The game suits players who value detailed customization and cooperative or competitive dungeon crawling. Those drawn to pixel-art action RPGs with strategic layering through formation systems will find the Magic Circle and editor tools particularly engaging. Multiplayer modes extend replay value for groups that enjoy tackling the same content together or testing speed against the community.
Single-player runs remain fully viable, yet the co-op and versus options provide meaningful variety once the core loop is mastered. The title continues to offer its complete feature set without requiring additional purchases or seasonal content. Fans of methodical exploration paired with creative expression through pixel-level design tend to appreciate the focused scope and the tangible results of their customization efforts.
