Okhlos

Lore & Background

Okhlos was developed by Argentinian indie studio Coffee Powered Machine, starting in November 2012 after the release of their previous title Gravity Fleet. The team aimed to create a game about an angry mob in ancient Greece fighting the Olympian gods, initially focusing on non-player character flocking behavior. Early procedural generation was deemed too simple, leading to a shift toward static pre-built worlds, but after testing 24 prototypes—including a beat 'em up, stealth game, and the roguelike style they chose—the team returned to procedural generation in early 2014. The project nearly ceased due to lack of funds but was sustained by private investors, and significant progress was made by the end of 2014.

The game was sent to the Independent Games Festival 2015 (2–6 March 2015 in San Francisco) and featured in the Leftfield Collection at EGX Rezzed 2015 (12–14 March 2015 in London). It was submitted to Steam Greenlight on 12 May 2015 and greenlit six days later on 18 May 2015, with pre-orders opening. At Brazil's Independent Games Festival (27 June – 5 July 2015), it won the "Melhor Gameplay" award. Devolver Digital announced a publishing deal on 25 August 2015, and the game was showcased at PAX Prime 2015. Originally slated for March or April 2016, then delayed to June 2016, it was finally released on 18 August 2016.

Reader's Guide

Okhlos is significant as a roguelike that merges real-time mob control with procedural generation, drawing comparisons to Pikmin and Katamari. Its development history illustrates the indie studio's iterative process, including 24 prototypes and a shift back to procedural generation after abandoning it. The game's success on Steam Greenlight—greenlit in just six days—and its award at Brazil's Independent Games Festival highlight its early community and critical reception. Published by Devolver Digital, it gained further visibility at PAX Prime 2015. The game's legacy lies in its unique premise: a philosopher-led mob overthrowing the Twelve Olympians, with permadeath mechanics where the player takes over another philosopher upon death. Its eight procedurally generated worlds, shops for upgrades and trading units for Greek philosophers and heroes, and random encounters with figures like the Oracle of Delphi or the Minotaur, contribute to its replayability. The article notes no direct sequels or long-term impact, but Okhlos stands as a creative example of 2010s roguelike experimentation.

Did You Know?

• The game was developed by Argentinian studio Coffee Powered Machine and published by Devolver Digital.
• 24 prototypes were created during development, including a beat 'em up and a stealth game.
• It won the 'Melhor Gameplay' (Best Gameplay) award at Brazil's Independent Games Festival in 2015.
• The game was greenlit on Steam Greenlight just six days after submission on 12 May 2015.