Mask Around is the sequel to one of the strangest roguelikes of all time

• Mask Around is the sequel to 2020’s Mask Up
• This time you’ll be running and gunning as well as brawling
• The eponymous yellow ooze makes a return, along with some strange new twists on the formulae

Longtime readers may recall way back in 2020 when we covered the absolutely bizarre Mask Up right here on the site. An out-of-the-ordinary roguelikeish platformer where you developed from a mere puddle of yellow goo to, well, a buff pile of goo. But if you were hankering for more, you’ll be pleased to know developer Rouli has once more delivered the weirdness with the sequel Mask Around.

Unlike the original Mask Up which was more of a 2D roguelike brawler, Mask Around instead mixes in 2D shooting mechanics. This time, your goo abilities aren’t the only ability you have at your disposal, and you can freely switch between running and gunning your way through levels, or masking up and smashing the opposition.

But of course, just like before this all-important yellow ooze is in short supply, and you’ll need to keep an eye on the meter to make sure you don’t run dry, especially in boss battles.

We all wear masks

You can find Mask Around right now on Google Play, no word yet on a potential iOS release. Having not played the original I can’t exactly say how it measures up, but at a glance it looks to me like Mask Around really is a proper development on the formula, maintaining the original gameplay while drastically expanding on it.

No longer is it a simple matter of keeping your meter up, but also of measuring when to use it, while also having weapons to defend yourself if you run dry. That’s alongside some nice, more polished graphics to enjoy.

Once you’ve had a go with Mask Around, why not dig into some of our other recommendations? Our latest list of the top five new mobile games to try this week has just been released with even more great launches!