DWARRF: A Pinball Roguelike

DWARRF: A Pinball Roguelike combines pinball, pachinko and bubble shooter elements. The player controls Arf, a self-styled pirate dwarf who travels alone into the mines to defeat the evil below. Rather than fighting up close like other dwarves, Arf attacks with a variety of balls fired from a cannon, while remaining at a safe distance inside his pirate ship.

Each encounter has two phases. In the mining phase, the player launches a ball into the mine shaft, where it hits pegs and bumpers to power up. Striking ores builds frenzy, which raises potential damage. Flippers keep the ball in play, and the board contains special objects such as extra cannons and a wyvern head. In the battle phase, the powered-up ball is released onto the battlefield. Balls have individual traits, including explosions, area electrification and summoning a dwarf ally. Ball board effects, such as multiball, scattershot and feather, change the mining phase, while ball battle effects, such as totems, shields and area damage, change the battle phase.

Players progress through four levels and build a loadout from relics, balls and runes. Relics take effect at any time, for example by buffing balls, offering protection or spawning a parrot. Runes add extra enchantments to balls. The game is designed so that its systems interact, allowing combinations of balls, relics, events and enemies to produce different outcomes. Travel between encounters takes place on a 3D map with random events, including meetings with other dwarves and the option to befriend an elf. Completing challenges repairs the player’s stronghold and unlocks new balls, runes and relics for future runs, as well as abilities such as freezing balls in the shop for later purchase.