ActionFit check
Is The Superfluous worth it for you?
We tell you who should skip it, too.
Play it if you…
Good fit- Players who enjoy side-scrolling action and want randomly generated cave levels
- Local co-op pairs looking for a campaign they can play together
- Players who like managing a squad and deciding when to bank loot or continue
Skip it if you…
Saves you a refund- Players seeking a fixed, authored route may find the randomly generated levels less suited to that preference.
- Players who dislike losing mission loot after failure or character perks on death may find the run structure frustrating.
- Players looking for online multiplayer may not find a fit in the described local co-op modes.
Our take on The Superfluous
The pitch pairs persistent upgrades with a meaningful failure cost: mission loot disappears when a run fails, and character perks are lost on death. That risk-and-reward loop is more central to play than the brief asteroid-rescue premise might suggest.
What is The Superfluous?
The Superfluous is a 2D side-scrolling platformer set in caves inside an asteroid.
Lead a squad through randomly generated levels, fighting enemies and working toward a boss that unlocks the next biome. Jet packs provide movement, while weapons attack in two to four directions. Squad members can include miners, healers and heavy weapons specialists. Mine or blast destructible terrain to collect gems, make shortcuts or change encounters.
Characters gain XP and random perks, which are lost on death; individual characters can die permanently, while upgrades and checkpoints persist. Failed missions cost the collected loot, so the squad must choose whether to leave with it or continue. The campaign supports local co-op. The game includes three biomes: Dark Cave, The Underwater and Lava Zone.
How The Superfluous plays
- 01Persistent Upgrades
- Purchased equipment improvements and reached checkpoints remain saved after a mission failure, but loot from that mission is lost.
- 02Destructible Terrain
- Mining and explosions can expose gems, open shortcuts or alter the route through a level.
- 03Squad Roles
- Crew choices include miners, healers and characters equipped for heavy weapons or explosives.
- 04Local Co-op
- The campaign can be played with a friend on the same system.
- 05Biome Hazards
- Underwater areas slow movement, while heat in the Lava Zone can damage characters who remain on the ground.
Games like The Superfluous
Action
ActionAstebros
PixelHeartFor:Roguelite players who want procedurally generated dungeon runs rather than fixed stagesSkip if:Players seeking a fixed, authored dungeon route may find procedural layouts less suited to that preference
ActionTurret Tech
Bitlock StudioFor:Action-game players who want vehicle combat rather than character-focused fightingSkip if:Players seeking a story-led campaign; the described focus is combat across locations and survival battles
ActionPratfall
Quad HeadFor:Co-op groups who want chaotic cave explorationSkip if:Players seeking a calm or low-risk adventure may find falling, traps, hazards, and explosions too chaotic.Picked by overlapping fit notes and genres, not an editorial comparison.
The Superfluous: platforms & release
Is The Superfluous worth it?
It is worth it if: players who enjoy side-scrolling action and want randomly generated cave levels. Skip it if: players seeking a fixed, authored route may find the randomly generated levels less suited to that preference.
Where can I download The Superfluous?
Use the Download Now button on this page: it opens The Superfluous's store page, where you can choose how to get it.
What platforms is The Superfluous on?
Windows, macOS and Linux.
