Source of Madness

Source of Madness is a side-scrolling dark action roguelite for PC, developed by Carry Castle and published by Thunderful Publishing. The current Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and publisher listings continue to use the name Source of Madness; no verified rebrand, replacement edition, or renamed definitive version is required when searching for the game.

Its identity comes from the combination of procedurally generated levels, physics-driven monsters, close-range spell combat, and permanent progression through classes, abilities, and equipment. The result is a deliberately unstable Lovecraftian action game where learning enemy behavior matters, but every encounter can still behave differently.

A side-scrolling roguelite built around dangerous runs

Each run places an Acolyte in the Loam Lands, a hostile world connected to the wider mystery of the Tower of Madness. The camera stays in a 2D side view, so movement, jumping, dashing, vertical positioning, and control of narrow platforms are central to survival.

Exploration moves through changing environments rather than a fixed campaign map. The world can rearrange its routes and encounters between attempts, while the campaign gradually leads through multiple acts and distinct regions, including locations such as the Dungeon of Forgotten Knowledge, Forest of Lies, and the citadel of R’Lyeh.

Death resets the current Acolyte’s equipment and run state, but it does not erase all progress. The long-term loop is built around spending earned resources in the skill tree, unlocking new classes and spells, and using knowledge from previous attempts to make better decisions in the next run.

The structure is closer to a roguelite than a traditional Metroidvania. Exploration is important, but the game does not rely on a single permanent map with conventional checkpoint progression. Players return to the beginning, rebuild a character, and try to push farther through increasingly dangerous areas.

Combat where monsters are assembled, not simply placed

The defining technical feature is the monster-generation system. Enemies are assembled from combinations of body parts and animated through a neural-network-driven system, producing creatures with unusual proportions, movement patterns, and attack behaviors.

These monsters are also physics-rigged, which gives encounters a less predictable rhythm than standard sprite-based enemies. Limbs can stretch, swing, collide, and react to attacks in ways that create both tactical opportunities and chaotic situations. Some updates have specifically adjusted limb damage, monster punches, projectiles, and body-part damage propagation.

Combat is based on explosive magic rather than conventional weapons. Spells can cover different ranges and attack patterns, letting players combine direct attacks, area effects, projectiles, and movement-based abilities. Positioning is critical because a spell may be powerful but leave the Acolyte exposed during its casting or recovery period.

The most reliable approach is to control space before committing to damage. Players who rush into every monster may be overwhelmed by overlapping limbs and projectiles, while careful use of platforms, dashes, and spell timing can separate individual threats from a larger group.

Classes, skill tree progression, and loot decisions

Source of Madness includes five playable classes, each changing the way an Acolyte approaches combat. Class selection affects the available abilities and spell profile, so choosing a new class is more meaningful than selecting a minor statistical variation.

The skill tree is the main permanent progression system. It contains upgrades connected to abilities, classes, spells, and other improvements that become available across repeated runs. Blood gathered from defeated enemies can be invested at magical altars and used to expand the tools available to future Acolytes.

Loot adds a temporary layer of build construction. Equipment and items left behind by previous explorers can improve offensive power, defenses, or other character properties during the current attempt. Since this equipment is lost on death, deciding whether to explore for better loot or move toward the next objective is a meaningful risk calculation.

The game therefore has two different progression speeds. The current run is shaped by the spells and equipment found along the way, while the account-wide or campaign-level skill tree gradually broadens the pool of possible builds. This separation prevents every death from feeling completely empty without removing the pressure of losing a developed Acolyte.

Loam Lands, cosmic horror, and environmental discovery

The setting uses a Lovecraftian-inspired world rather than a conventional medieval fantasy backdrop. The Loam Lands are presented as an alternate reality influenced by cosmic entities, with the Tower of Madness serving as a major destination in the Acolyte’s search for answers.

Environmental exploration is more than a transition between fights. Labyrinthine routes, elevation changes, hazards, hidden spaces, and shifting terrain can influence how safely a player reaches the next encounter. The changing world supports the roguelite structure by making familiarity useful without making every future run identical.

The art direction is built around an AI-assisted visual style and grotesque creature silhouettes. That presentation is closely connected to the procedural systems: the monsters are intended to look unfamiliar, physically unstable, and difficult to classify at a glance.

Players who enjoy eldritch settings but want a more established ability-gated map and local co-op can compare the structure with dark 2D metroidvania roguelites such as Sundered: Eldritch Edition. Source of Madness is more run-focused, while Sundered places greater weight on persistent world exploration and ability-based backtracking.

Content model and current PC edition

The PC version is a paid standalone game rather than a free-to-play title. The current Steam content listing identifies a separate Source of Madness Soundtrack product, but no paid gameplay expansion, season pass, or alternate campaign edition is listed as required for the main experience.

That means buyers should distinguish the base game from the optional music product. The playable content is centered on the campaign, the Acolyte classes, the skill tree, the spell system, procedural environments, generated monsters, bosses, and the separate multiplayer mode.

The publisher identifies PC availability through Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store. Storefront-specific DRM behavior can vary, and the available official information does not identify a separate third-party launcher or a dedicated anti-cheat system for the PC game.

PC controls, multiplayer, and localization

On Steam, Source of Madness supports keyboard and mouse input as well as full controller support. The game is designed around directional movement and spell aiming, and its PC settings include control-mapping options that let players adjust how movement and dash direction behave.

The main campaign is a solo experience. It does not provide a conventional online co-op campaign, but PC players can access a separate local PvP mode with shared or split-screen support.

The multiplayer update adds a Death Match Versus mode for up to five players, dedicated multiplayer maps, modified spells, and multiplayer modifiers. Steam Remote Play Together can be used to stream that local multiplayer setup to invited players, but it should not be confused with dedicated online matchmaking or a cooperative story mode.

Steam also lists Steam Cloud, achievements, Family Sharing, and Remote Play features. The storefront lists interface and subtitle support for English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Thai, and Turkish. English is the only language listed with full audio support.

Players seeking a separate co-op campaign should set expectations correctly. Multiplayer is an additional competitive mode, while the procedural Acolyte progression and campaign exploration are designed primarily for one player.

Who should play Source of Madness?

Source of Madness is a strong fit for PC players who enjoy action roguelites, dark fantasy, cosmic horror, experimental enemy design, and progression systems that expand after repeated failures.

It is especially suited to players who want more than fixed enemy patterns. The generated creatures and physics-based movement create encounters that can look and behave differently, making improvisation part of the appeal.

Players who prefer highly precise, tightly choreographed combat may find the monster physics less readable than the pattern-based enemies in other action roguelites. The same unpredictability that makes the creatures distinctive can also make some fights feel messy rather than cleanly telegraphed.

For a more polished and route-focused alternative with fast 2D combat, permanent unlocks, and weapon-driven build variety, consider precise action roguelites such as Dead Cells. Source of Madness is the stranger and more physics-driven option, while Dead Cells emphasizes consistent movement, readable enemy patterns, and carefully tuned loadouts.

Source of Madness FAQ

The following answers cover the questions most relevant to PC buyers comparing the current storefront version, gameplay structure, and multiplayer features.

Has Source of Madness been renamed on PC?

No verified rebrand is currently associated with the PC version. Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and Thunderful continue to identify the game as Source of Madness.

Is Source of Madness a roguelike or a roguelite?

It is best described as a dark action roguelite. Runs reset the current Acolyte’s equipment and progress, while the skill tree, unlocked classes, spells, and player knowledge provide longer-term progression.

Does Source of Madness have co-op?

No. The main campaign is not a cooperative story mode. The PC version does include shared or split-screen PvP through a Death Match Versus mode for up to five players, and Steam Remote Play Together can stream that local multiplayer setup.

How many classes are available?

The official game information identifies five classes. Each class changes the available abilities and combat approach, and class-related options are connected to the permanent skill tree.

What is the main progression loop?

You guide an Acolyte through changing regions, defeat procedurally generated monsters, collect equipment and blood, unlock spells and class options, and invest in the skill tree. Death removes the current run’s equipment, but permanent progression remains.

What languages does the PC version support?

Steam lists English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Thai, and Turkish for interface and subtitles. English is listed for full audio.