Minos: Build Deadly Dungeons as a Fed-Up Minotaur - Roguelite

Last Updated: October 30, 2025

The classic tale of the labyrinth has always been told from the hero's perspective, but a new title from developer Artificer, published by the renowned Devolver Digital, flips the script entirely. In Minos, a unique maze-building roguelite slated for a 2026 release, players step into the heavy hooves of the titular minotaur. Tasked not with escaping a dungeon but with building one, you get to be the final boss.

Tired of so-called heroes invading your home? Now you can build the ultimate deadly maze to stop them in their tracks, and a playable demo on Steam already gives players a taste of the architectural carnage.

A Labyrinth of Your Own Design

Minos puts a compelling twist on both the roguelite and dungeon-crawling genres by putting the player in the role of the architect. The core gameplay loop revolves around constructing an intricate, trap-filled labyrinth designed to thwart waves of increasingly capable adventurers. Instead of finding the perfect weapon or spell, your goal is to find the perfect corridor placement, the most devious trap combination, and the most confusing layout to protect your inner sanctum.

This unique premise masterfully blends elements of tower defense and dungeon management with the procedural nature of a roguelite. Players must strategically manage resources to build and upgrade their maze's defenses. From classic spike pits and arrow traps to more elaborate magical contraptions, the potential for creative and deadly designs is the central pillar of the experience. The objective is simple: stop the heroes from reaching the center of your labyrinth and claiming your head. How you achieve that is entirely up to your own devious ingenuity.

The Roguelite Twist on Dungeon Keeping

Where Minos carves its own niche is in its roguelite structure. Each attempt to defend your maze is a new "run." Adventurers arrive with different classes, abilities, and strategies, forcing you to constantly adapt your designs. When your defenses are inevitably breached and your minotaur is defeated, the run ends. However, as is common in the genre, you earn persistent upgrades and unlock new traps, rooms, and abilities to use in subsequent attempts. This creates a highly replayable loop where failure is just a stepping stone to building an even more formidable and inescapable dungeon.

This structure ensures that no two playthroughs are the same. The challenge lies not only in designing a single perfect maze but in mastering a versatile set of tools to counter the unpredictable threats that come knocking. Players must think on their feet, reacting to the types of heroes they face and leveraging the procedural layouts to their advantage. Will you build long, open corridors perfect for charging enemies, or tight, winding paths that create bottlenecks for powerful traps?

From the Acclaimed Minds at Artificer

Developed by Artificer, the Warsaw-based studio behind tactical titles like *Showgunners* and *Sumerian Six*, Minos showcases the team's talent for creating deep strategic experiences. As part of the Devolver Digital family, the game benefits from a publisher known for backing unique and stylish indie hits. The game's protagonist carries the weight of his mythological baggage with a clear sense of being fed up, adding a welcome dose of humor and personality to the strategic gameplay. You aren't a world-ending evil, just an overworked homeowner trying to keep intruders out.

By focusing on creation and strategic defense rather than exploration and offense, Minos is establishing a promising and distinct identity for itself within the crowded roguelite landscape.

Play the Demo on Steam

For those eager to start building their own deadly domains, there's no need to wait for the full release. A playable demo for Minos is available now on PC via Steam, offering the first public opportunity to dive into its unique blend of maze-building and roguelite action. This early look gives players a chance to experiment with the core mechanics, test out a selection of traps, and see just how long they can survive against the onslaught of treasure-hungry adventurers before the game's full launch in 2026.