Ethan Crossfield 
Turn-based strategy has never fully left the mainstream, and Steam continues to be the proving ground for new spins on the formula. This week, the spotlight lands on Dead Weight, a steampunk pirate roguelike that launched with an 85% Very Positive review score—backing up its pitch with a strong early reception.
A new pirate captain in the sky
Dead Weight is a steampunk roguelike built around tactical, turn-based combat and a loop that mixes RPG progression with exploration from the deck of a flying ship. Developed and published by Kluvka Games, the game casts players as the captain of an airborne pirate vessel, tasked with navigating a world of floating islands.
Instead of treating every run as a simple grind, the structure centers on what players can gather and improve: loot, new crew members, and ship upgrades all contribute to how subsequent attempts feel. The end goal goes beyond classic treasure-chasing, too—Ancient Gods are awakening across the skies, and each run presents choices about how (and whether) to confront them, or instead pursue forbidden knowledge.
Why early Steam reviews are trending positive
With nearly 300 reviews at launch, Dead Weight sits at an 85% “Very Positive” rating on Steam. Reviewers highlight the satisfying combination of turn-based tactics, roguelike progression, and flying-ship exploration, describing it as an easy recommendation for fans of tactical roguelikes.
The game’s presentation also leans into a distinct “small” pixel art style, which supports the roguelike identity while keeping the experience readable during combat and exploration. Each run allows players to experiment with different characters, skill-tree paths, equipment builds, and strategic decisions—especially around whether to fight the godlike threats or take a different approach.
Launch strengths, plus the issues players are flagging
As is common with new indie releases, the conversation isn’t entirely one-sided. While the overall consensus points to a mostly polished and unexpectedly deep tactical experience, the biggest criticisms focus on quality-of-life problems and balance concerns.
Performance and usability issues also appear in early feedback, including concerns related to Steam Deck. Even with those caveats, the reception suggests that Dead Weight’s core gameplay loop is delivering on its promise—turn-based fights that feel tactical, progression that encourages experimentation, and a setting that keeps exploration grounded in ship-based movement.
Timing and what to expect if you jump in early
Dead Weight launched on July 16, and the game has a launch sale running through July 30. During that window, it’s listed as 25% off a typical $12.99 retail value, bringing the sale price to $9.74. The developer’s “small world” framing is also tempered by expected playtime: players can generally expect 8–12 hours, with longer sessions possible for those who develop the classic roguelike habit of running again and again.
With Steam’s discoverability challenges continuing to affect many new releases, the game’s early visibility and review momentum could help it find the audience most likely to enjoy its blend of tactical turn-based combat and pirate-in-the-sky exploration.
Key points
- Dead Weight is a steampunk pirate roguelike built on tactical, turn-based combat.
- Players explore floating islands with a flying ship while collecting loot, crew, and upgrades.
- The game launched on July 16 and currently holds an 85% Very Positive rating on Steam (nearly 300 reviews).
- Early feedback praises the tactical/roguelike blend, while pointing to quality-of-life and balance concerns (including Steam Deck performance).
| Game | Release | Steam reception | Core loop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dead Weight | July 16 | 85% Very Positive | Turn-based tactics + roguelike progression + flying-ship exploration |
Expert View
Dead Weight’s strong launch reception signals that there’s still room for fresh hybrids in the turn-based roguelike space—especially when the theme (steampunk sky pirates) is matched with a clear, repeatable structure. For the community, the early “deep but accessible” framing suggests it could become a go-to recommendation for players who want tactics-first combat without giving up the experimentation that roguelikes reward. If indie discoverability remains the main hurdle on Steam, this kind of review momentum may be exactly what helps the game reach the tactical audience it’s built for.
