Continuing the recent roguelike trend of “a game of X, but with items,” CloverPit takes it to the slot machines. You are locked in a room with gambling being your only way to freedom. Developed by Panik Arcade and published by Future Friends Games, CloverPit is all about winning big or going home – through a trap door lever to your death!

A debt to pay

CloverPit has a simple premise. You wake up in a room with the door bolted shut. There is a slot machine, a shelf, a gift store behind you, and an ATM. A speaker tells you that you’re here to pay off your debt to earn your freedom using the slot machine. On your last spin, the floor below will threaten to open up and send you falling to your demise if you fail. There is also some Satanic imagery, like a little devil mascot in the machine and the numbers, including 666, implying some sort of demonic pact is going on. 

The debt system operates similarly to that in Lethal Company. There is a quota of money you need to earn in three rounds of using the machine in CloverPit. At the end of these rounds, the money threshold will increase. That said, CloverPit does have multiple endings promised for the full game, along with an endless mode. Completing the demo will also reward the player with an in-game upgrade upon release.

There are a few other mechanics that add to the excitement. You have the option to either spin the wheel seven or three times. Spinning three instead of seven costs less money to spin, but also earns the player green tickets. The tickets can be exchanged for items, which will be touched on later. You earn interest on the money you save, and have the option to withdraw your hard-earned cash early. Doing so nets a small cash bonus depending on how early you meet the quota.

Four-leaf clovers 

Like other recent roguelike games such as Inscryption and Buckshot Roulette, CloverPit decides to make things more interesting with the inclusion of items that rig the chances in your favor. What’s interesting is that most of these items are also dependent on luck. A lot of them only increase the chances of specific labels appearing or increase the amount of luck you have on a spin. Strangely, there are times when I was playing CloverPit that it almost felt like a deckbuilder roguelike. The items focus more on synergy and snowball potential rather than being a straightforward upgrade. However, you have a limited number of inventory slots, and some items are single-use or rechargeable. I did not initially understand why the Steam page listed Balatro as an inspiration, but I see it now. Well, besides the fact that both games involve gambling.

Additionally, CloverPit has a phone inside your jail cell. You get calls from unknown numbers, offering immediate upgrades, sometimes at a price. All of them are phrased as questions and responses, which is neat. It gives the unseen characters and our otherwise silent protagonist some neat characterization. 

Final Thoughts

CloverPit is an intriguing experience. Roguelikes have been in a particular setup as of late – quasi-horror, industrial environment, using items to cheat in otherwise “normal” games. Yes, I am stretching the definition of “normal games” for Russian Roulette. But to get back to the topic, CloverPit is an addictive experience that makes for fun, short rounds. 90% of gamblers quit before they get dropped to their death. Are you brave enough to test your luck when the full release comes out?

CloverPit demo is available for free on Steam as part of Steam Next Fest. The full version is planned for release in 2025, but a specific release date has not been announced yet.