Core Loop

The current prototype focuses only on the Core Loop of the game: Typing words, dealing and receiving damage and managing resources (stamina).  Although, there is another possible element to be added: the possibility to erase letters from the screen with DELETE to better deal with "bad hands".

Next Steps

The next step is to add the real FUN roguelike element: Upgrades after every combat, or something of the likes. Actually, may as well borrow one of the systems of Scrabble that I am not using: scoring words, as a sort of XP.

A few things that come to mind: In the spirit of games like Hades that lock certain upgrades to certain actions (Dash attack, attack, special, cast, etc.), I imagine also managing the upgrade assignment for different actions; in the case of this game that would be like: 

• Do something when sending a word
• Do something when deleting a letter
• Do something when sending a word with a specific length (i.e. Heal 1 when sending a word with 5 letters, 3 letters words deal double damage).
• Do something when sending a word that starts with a specific letter
• Do something (special) when sending certain word (good for common and easy words like: "As", "Me", "Sea, "Be", etc.). Here the 'pool' of actions is big, so maybe the scope of these special words is limited.

And the upgrades itself would go along the lines of:

• Reduce [Stamina] (stamina is placeholder) consumption by typed letters
• Reduce [Stamina] consumption by pressing backspace, enter, etc.
• Increase [Stamina] gain passively or after certain conditions are met.
• New mechanic: Ghost Notes (consumables that allow to "fill in" missing letters when typing a word, allowing for a more reliable word generation)
• Deal extra flat damage, deal damage with a mult. (For the Balatro fans) when certain condition is met.
• New mechanic: [Shield] (Defends from 1 Cursed Letter and gets consumed)
• New mechanic: Push (pushes all/near falling letters slightly if conditions are met)
• New mechanic: Affinity (make the spawning of certain letters more likely than others)
• You get the idea

This would also allow for more nuance on the way the game is played (currently there is no incentive for writing long words more than the fun of doing in, and maybe min-maxing stamina consumption, and better deal with pressure. Ok, there are some incentives, but not explicitly), having to manage what upgrades go with what action, depending on multiple factors like: "what words do I tend to use?", "How fast can I type to better manage stamina?", "What style  of game do I prefer? Writing fast short words and spamming enter? Holding letters, waiting for the opportunity for the right word?", "What synergies do I have with X letter?".

Luck Based

It is possible that the RNG for letters (while using weights recommended for Scrabble, and biasing the generation to ensure a balanced mix of vowels and consonants) pulls a fast one on you. No worries, it is not a skill issue (not entirely at least, for now).

Hidden Mechanics

Whether they remain to be truly hidden or are just yet to be better communicated to the player, here are some of the not so explicit mechanics.