Is it Worth Playing Temtem Swarm?
Temtem Swarm takes the world of Temtem in a completely new direction, swapping out turn-based battles for fast-paced, survival-style gameplay. Entering Early Access on November 13, 2024, this standalone roguelike ditches traditional team-building in favor of relentless waves of enemies, much like Vampire Survivors or Brotato. Instead of carefully training a team over time, players must adapt on the fly, collecting upgrades and new Temtem mid-run to survive increasingly difficult swarms.
Jumping into my first run, I quickly realized that this isn’t just a spin-off—it’s a full-fledged action-packed experience. The game throws you straight into the chaos, forcing quick decisions as waves of enemies close in. Collecting power-ups, unlocking stronger abilities, and experimenting with different Temtem keeps every session fresh. The signature charm of the Temtem universe is still here, but the gameplay loop is pure roguelike intensity.
Of course, Temtem Swarm has its challenges. The fast-paced nature means strategy takes a backseat to quick reflexes, and like any roguelike, death resets your progress, which might not be for everyone. Runs can feel unpredictable, and the difficulty ramps up fast, making it both exciting and punishing. But for those who enjoy high-action survival games, this is a fresh and engaging take on the genre.
So, what does Fayie think Temtem Swarm is worth playing in 2025?
Publisher
Temtem Swarm is developed and published by Crema, the same studio behind the original Temtem. Known for their work in the creature-collecting genre, Crema has taken a bold step in reimagining the Temtem universe with a roguelike survival twist. While the main game focused on exploration and strategic battles, Swarm shifts gears toward fast-paced action, catering to a different kind of player.
As an indie studio, Crema has built a reputation for engaging with its community, frequently updating its games based on player feedback. With Temtem Swarm still in Early Access, ongoing updates and balance changes are expected, potentially shaping the game into an even more refined experience over time. Whether they can successfully bridge the gap between Temtem fans and roguelike enthusiasts remains to be seen, but their track record suggests they’re committed to delivering a polished game.
Combat
Temtem Swarm’s combat is a drastic shift from the turn-based battles of the main game, embracing the chaos of real-time survival gameplay. Instead of carefully selecting moves in a traditional battle system, players must dodge, attack, and manage their abilities on the fly while being swarmed by relentless enemies. Much like Vampire Survivors or Brotato, the challenge comes from surviving increasingly difficult waves while collecting power-ups and evolving your team mid-run and post-run.
Each run starts with a single Temtem, but as you defeat enemies, you’ll earn upgrades, unlock new abilities, and recruit more Temtem to fight alongside you. Different Temtem bring unique attacks and effects, allowing for a variety of playstyles. Some specialize in area-of-effect damage, while others excel at fast, single-target strikes. As the difficulty ramps up, choosing the right upgrades and managing your positioning becomes crucial to survival.
The combat feels fast, fluid, and intense, rewarding quick reflexes and smart decision-making. However, it can also be unforgiving, as each run resets your progress, forcing you to adapt to new Temtem and power-ups each time. This roguelike nature makes for highly replayable gameplay, though it may not appeal to those who prefer more structured progression.
Gameplay Loop
The gameplay loop in Temtem Swarm is straightforward but addictive, designed to keep you coming back for more. Each session begins with you picking your starting Temtem, followed by a series of waves of enemies that grow in difficulty as you progress. The key to success lies in continuously upgrading your team, collecting power-ups, and finding synergies between your Temtem and abilities. Unlike traditional creature-collecting games, there’s no long-term team-building here—each run is a fresh start where your choices and adaptability dictate your survival.
As you defeat enemies, you earn resources to strengthen your Temtem or unlock new abilities that modify the way your team fights. The challenge comes from learning how different Temtem complement each other, as well as how to strategically manage your health, positioning, and available resources. You’ll often be faced with tough decisions, such as choosing between upgrading an ability or recruiting a new Temtem to your squad. The randomized nature of power-ups and enemy spawns ensures no two runs are ever the same, making each attempt feel unique.
While the loop itself is simple, the depth comes from experimentation. You’ll want to try out different Temtem, explore various strategies, and optimize your setup to survive the ever-increasing waves. The game’s rogue-like structure encourages replayability, with each failure providing new insights into how to approach the next run. But with each new attempt, the pressure is on to make smarter choices and survive just a little longer.
Customization
In Temtem Swarm, character customization centers around unlocking and upgrading skills as you progress through the game. During each run, you earn credits that can be spent post-game to further enhance your Temtem’s abilities, adding a layer of progression to each session. These credits allow you to tailor your skills to fit your preferred playstyle, with a variety of offensive, defensive, and utility upgrades available. This system ensures that each run feels rewarding, as your progress continues even after you’ve completed a session.
State of Game
Updates
Since its Early Access release on November 13, 2024, Temtem Swarm has been steadily evolving through regular updates, with Crema actively listening to player feedback to refine the game. The Early Access phase allows the developers to test out new features, balance changes, and content additions while fine-tuning the gameplay experience. These updates often focus on improving core mechanics, adding new Temtem, and adjusting the difficulty curve based on player response.
One of the standout aspects of Temtem Swarm’s updates is the introduction of new Temtem types and abilities. As the game progresses, players can expect fresh creatures with unique abilities, opening up new tactical possibilities for their runs. Additionally, the developers have been working on expanding the variety of power-ups and upgrades, further enhancing the replayability and strategic depth of the game.
Crema has also been addressing quality-of-life improvements, such as streamlining the interface, optimizing performance, and balancing the randomness of each run to ensure a fair yet challenging experience. These ongoing updates are a clear indication that Crema is committed to evolving Temtem Swarm into a polished and engaging title, but there’s still work to be done as the game continues to grow during its Early Access phase.
For those who enjoy seeing games evolve over time, Temtem Swarm’s Early Access journey offers an exciting opportunity to experience the game as it changes, with each new update bringing something fresh to the table.
The latest update, Patch 0.5.3 (released on January 10, 2025), brought several improvements and bug fixes to Temtem Swarm. One key addition is the “Dash direction” setting, allowing players to control whether their dash follows their Temtem’s movement or the direction they’re aiming. The patch also revamped features like blocking perks during level-ups and reworked Aohi’s Sacred Pillars. Additionally, visual updates were made to moves like Water Cannon and Tentacle Slash, improving clarity and aesthetics. Bug fixes addressed various issues, such as getting stuck in trees or improper interactions with evolving Temtem.
Population
Currently, Temtem Swarm sees an average of 50-70 active players per day on Steam, with a peak player count of 3,064 during its launch period about three months ago. While the game is still in Early Access, these numbers suggest a growing player base and interest, especially during major updates or events. As the game continues to evolve, it’s likely that the player population will continue to fluctuate and expand with new content and improvements.
Cash Shop
Temtem Swarm does not have an in-game cash shop yet. While many games in Early Access feature such stores, Temtem Swarm might still be focused on core gameplay and balancing, leaving cosmetic or microtransaction features for later implementation. It’s possible that Crema plans to introduce a cash shop in the future, but as of now, there doesn’t appear to be one available in the game.
Artwork
The artwork in Temtem Swarm keeps the playful, colorful style of the original Temtem while adapting it to a more action-oriented, fast-paced environment. The character designs are vibrant and varied, with each Temtem boasting unique shapes and animations. The game’s environments are equally charming, with clean, stylized visuals that make each wave of combat visually exciting. While the focus is on gameplay, the visual aesthetic still manages to capture the essence of the Temtem universe, making it both familiar and refreshing for players.
Fun
Temtem Swarm is fun and engaging, offering solid character customization and cute artwork that adds to its charm. The mix of skill-based gameplay and post-run upgrades keeps things fresh, and there’s a lot of potential for strategic depth as you experiment with different Temtem and abilities. The visuals are vibrant, and the fast-paced combat is enjoyable, making it an entertaining experience for fans of action roguelikes.
However, the game is still in Early Access, and its current content feels limited for the $9.99 price tag. While the foundation is solid, there’s not enough variety or polish to make it worth the full price yet. The promise is there, but it might be better to wait for further updates before diving in. The game will likely improve over time, and when it does, it could justify the cost more fully.
