Tax-Force is an action roguelite platformer developed by Outsider Games for PC. Players take on the role of an elite tax enforcer tasked with hunting mutant billionaire tax evaders across a debt-ridden planet called Farset 13. The hand-drawn art style draws from 1990s comic books, featuring bold lines and dynamic panels that set the tone for close-quarters melee fights and branching narrative decisions.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on melee combat in side-scrolling levels that remix with each run. Players punch, kick, and dodge through groups of mutant henchmen using a souls-lite approach that rewards timing and positioning over button mashing. Special abilities inspired by comic-book mutant powers, such as astral projection, metal manipulation, and optical blasts, provide temporary advantages during tougher encounters.
After defeating targets, players collect resources and face moral choices about how to allocate them. Funds can go directly toward the planetary debt or toward city investments that alter future runs. Public spending might improve healing options or add infrastructure like rain shelters and transport routes, while private investment boosts direct payments but shifts enemy behavior and weapon availability. These decisions feed into a card-based economy system that carries consequences across the seven-cycle structure.
Biomes such as Fortuna City and the Drill-It Mines feature hand-drawn layouts that change between runs, with acid rain hazards and new enemy types appearing as the city evolves. A giant robot boss and wave-based challenge rooms appear in the launch build, alongside mini-boss fights against specific billionaires.
Game Modes
Tax-Force operates as a single-player experience built around repeated roguelite runs within a seven-cycle time limit. Each cycle sends players through enemy-filled areas to confront tax-evading targets, with procedural remixing of layouts and enemy placements. The structure encourages multiple attempts as choices reshape the city and narrative branches.
Progress carries forward through unlocked upgrades and story developments that reflect prior decisions on economic policy. There are no separate multiplayer or competitive modes; the focus remains on solo runs that blend combat, exploration, and strategic resource management.
Supporting Development
The Tax-Force Supporter Pack provides cosmetic options for players who want to back the indie team without altering core mechanics. It adds exclusive graffiti designs to city border walls, an alternative player HUD, and a collector portrait. These elements appear during runs but introduce no new abilities, items, or gameplay changes.
Is It Worth Playing?
Tax-Force suits players who enjoy melee-focused roguelites with strong narrative and economic layers. The comic-inspired visuals and morality-driven choices create a distinct identity within the genre. Early Access launches with a complete seven-cycle loop, multiple biomes, and several boss encounters, with plans for monthly content updates that add new villains and abilities.
A demo is available for those who want to test the combat and decision systems before committing. Because the game remains in active development, expectations should center on the verified features rather than polished final content. Those drawn to hand-drawn platformers, tough close-range fights, and systems that react to player choices will find the most value in following its progress through Early Access.
