Cogmind review

Cogmind is the most literal robot building game on this list: you are the robot, and you build yourself. Grid Sage Games' Steam page explains that you attach power sources, propulsion units, utilities and weapons found or salvaged from other robots, so you can become a slow tank covered in weapons, a fast flier or a stealthy hacker. When you lose parts in a fight, you rebuild from enemy remains, and there is no XP or grinding. It is a turn-based roguelike with permadeath and procedural maps mixed with hand-made content, over a thousand items, dozens of robot classes and ten animated endings. It costs $24.99 on Steam and runs on almost any Windows PC: 1 GB of RAM and 80 MB of storage. It scores lowest on ease of setup because the terminal-style ASCII look and roguelike rules take time to learn, and Steam still labels it Early Access even though the developer says it is complete.

Who it is for

strategy players who want to build a robot from salvage

Price

$24.99 one-time on Steam.

Explore a living, breathing world through turn-based tactical combat, or sneak, hack, and fly your way to victory. $24.99 Buy on Steam
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Build and modify your robot from parts found or taken from defeated enemies
• Attach power sources, propulsion, utilities and weapons
• Dozens of robot classes with their own behavior
• Over a thousand items and ten animated endings, per Steam
• Full mouse control and full keyboard control

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Runs on 1 GB of RAM and 80 MB of storage
• Strength: No XP grinding: your build is your progression
• Strength: $24.99 is the lowest paid price on this list
• Weakness: Still labeled Early Access on Steam, though the developer calls it a complete game
• Weakness: ASCII-style terminal visuals will not suit everyone
• Weakness: Turn-based roguelike with permadeath, so runs end when you die

Key facts

• Developer: Grid Sage Games
• On Steam since: October 16, 2017
• Minimum RAM: 1 GB
• Storage: 80 MB
• Endings: 10 animated endings

Where it ranks

Cogmind is No. 9 in our Best Robot Games verdict.