Derelict delivers a dark, hybrid action RPG experience on Roblox, blending deliberate Soulslike combat mechanics with profession-based progression reminiscent of classic MMOs. Developed by Scrambledly Studios, the title sets aside standard bandit-beating loops in favor of stamina-governed encounters, intricate gathering trees, and challenging boss fights in an atmospheric dystopian fantasy setting.
Core Gameplay and Setting
Players begin Derelict by awakening in captivity before breaking out into an unforgiving world where dystopian tech meets medieval ruins. Following an introductory sequence and an encounter with an overpowered adversary, a survivor named Gustavo transports the player via a giant snail wagon to the main encampment in Desolate Valley.
The starter hub introduces fundamental gameplay through Gideon the blacksmith. Rather than following a linear string of fetch quests, progression requires developing specific skills to interact with the environment. Players must chop oak logs, mine copper and tin ore, smelt bronze bars, and smith their first bronze dagger before moving outward into dangerous territories like the Crooked Cave and the Feeding Grounds.
Checkpointing and travel revolve around Bonsai trees. Activating a Bonsai establishes a permanent teleportation waypoint, refills health, and serves as an ability station where players equip unlocked weapon arts and spells.
Combat Mechanics and Class Structure
Combat in Derelict requires patience, positioning, and strict stamina management. Players cannot mindlessly spam attacks without leaving themselves vulnerable to heavy counter damage from even basic bandit mobs.
- Light and Heavy Attacks: Basic strikes deplete stamina progressively, while charging a heavy strike (M2) can destabilize an opponent.
- Stance Breaking and Ripostes: Sustained offensive pressure breaks an opponent's posture, allowing the player to trigger a high-damage riposte.
- Dodging and Positioning: Tapping the dodge key provides invulnerability frames (i-frames) to slip through hostile swings.
- Shield Defense and Parrying: Equipping a shield in the off-hand enables parrying. Parries require timing the shield swing against incoming strikes rather than holding guard continuously.
Class identity is defined entirely by equipped weaponry rather than rigid class selection at character creation:
- Swords and Daggers: Fast-paced melee options, with daggers offering rapid attacks and skills like Overcharge, which converts damage to true damage and increases attack speed.
- Greatswords and Hammers: Heavy, high-impact options featuring sweeping weapon arts such as Great Carver.
- Bows: Ranged physical gameplay that uses crafted ammunition (such as wooden arrows) to chip down targets from safety.
- Staves: Arcane combat utilizing mana and spells, including projectile siphon abilities like Soul Vortex.
Gathering, Crafting, and Skill Progression
Skill progression directly mirrors classic MMO systems like RuneScape. Players cannot gather higher-tier materials or wield advanced equipment without leveling corresponding proficiencies through active gameplay.
- Logging and Mining: Chopping trees and striking ore deposits feature interactive skill checks that grant bonus efficiency. Progression unlocks advanced tiers, moving from basic oak and copper up through iron, coal, and silver.
- Forging and Smelting: Combining mined materials at a forge produces intermediate alloys, such as combining coal and iron ore to forge steel bars for durable weaponry and tools.
- Cooking: Food preparation at campfires yields vital consumable buffs. Basic recipes like Herring Delight or roasted meats grant passive health regeneration and strength boosts.
- Combat Attributes: Receiving damage increases Vitality, blocking attacks raises Defense, and using melee armaments levels Strength.
Upgrades are handled at anvils using forging stones, allowing players to elevate weapon and armor grades to significantly raise base attack power and resistance.
Technical Performance and Design Flaws
While Derelict excels in atmosphere and mechanical depth, community playthroughs highlight technical friction typical of an ambitious alpha project:
- Visual Lighting: Several cavern interiors and night cycles suffer from extreme darkness, making hostile animations difficult to track without cranking display brightness or equipping lanterns.
- Fall Damage Sensitivity: Players frequently report erratic fall damage triggers, where short drops off rocky ledges can instantly kill an avatar.
- Post-Action Delays: Brief animation freezes can occur immediately following item pickups or riposte animations, interrupting the flow of movement.
- Hardware Demand: The game is resource-intensive for Roblox. Scrambledly Studios recommends a minimum of 3 GB of dedicated RAM, alongside a keyboard and mouse setup, as mobile and controller support remain in active development.
Despite these rough edges, Derelict treats player death generously. Unlike punishing Soulslikes where all currency or inventory drops upon defeat, players retain their gathered materials, equipment, and quest items when respawning at a Bonsai.
Feature Overview
| Feature | In-Game Mechanics | Status and Impressions |
|---|---|---|
| Combat Style | Stamina-based action RPG with light/heavy attacks, dodges, and parries | Highly tactical; rewarding against bosses, though hitboxes occasionally desync |
| Class System | Freeform, gear-dependent (Swords, Greatswords, Daggers, Bows, Staves) | Balanced across melee, ranged, and magic playstyles |
| Lifeskills | Logging, mining, smelting, smithing, and cooking with active minigames | In-depth MMO crafting loop; necessary for survival and gear progression |
| Death Penalties | Character respawns at the most recently unlocked Bonsai tree | Casual-friendly; full inventory retention upon death |
| World Navigation | Open-world biomes linked via unlockable Bonsai fast-travel warp points | Rewarding exploration, though mountain climbing can trigger fatal drop bugs |
| Monetization | Cosmetic outfit collections (1499–1999 Robux) and gesture packs (200 Robux) | Non-pay-to-win vanity sets; minor Early Sponsor pack for 399 Robux |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Derelict pay-to-win?
No. The available game passes in Derelict focus primarily on cosmetic vanity sets (such as the Fallen Warriors and Supreme Divinity collections for 1499 to 1999 Robux) and gesture packs. While the 399 Robux Early Sponsor pass unlocks two exclusive spells (Angel's Respite and Arbiter's Penance), progression gear, high-grade armor, and weapons must be forged and earned entirely through in-game gameplay.
Do you lose your items when you die in Derelict?
No. Derelict does not use a full-drop or corpse-recovery system. When your character runs out of health, you respawn at your last activated Bonsai checkpoint with all inventory, weapons, and gathered materials intact.
Can you play Derelict on mobile or console?
Mobile and gamepad controller support are currently listed as in early development by Scrambledly Studios. While mobile users can load into the game, keyboard and mouse controls on PC are strongly recommended to properly execute dodging, blocking, and parry inputs.
