Imbroglio is a masterclass in minimalist roguelike design. Michael Brough has created a game that is played on a tiny 4x4 grid, yet it contains more strategic depth than most full-budget RPGs. The brilliance lies in the 'deck-building' aspect—except instead of a deck, you are building the floor tiles. Every tile you move onto is a weapon or a tool, and you choose how to level them up.
It’s a game of perfect information; you know exactly what the enemies will do, and the challenge is navigating the board without getting cornered. The art style is unique and lo-fi, which might be an acquired taste, but the gameplay is beyond reproach. It’s the kind of game that you can play for five minutes or five hours, and you will still be discovering new tile combinations and strategies months later.
Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod
Version 1.09cFri May 08 2020
Sorry it hasn't been a smooth release, thanks everyone who's let me know what's up, hopefully this version fixes all the main issues!
- fixed another game center crash on startup with previous version.
- fixed problem with displaying draft scores.
- fixed problems with Anchor stunning the wrong things.
- fixed problem with ranged weapons when using Brainspoon.
- fixed problem with Starshine not working correctly with Figurehead.
Mizzenmast expansion is available to purchase! 4 new heroes, 16 new weapons, and a new game mode: Draft.
"Every individual element of Imbroglio’s design coalesces into an elegantly complex whole. Nothing is out of place. It’s the kind of game that I just want to think and talk about all the time." - Pocket Tactics review
Finalist for Excellence in Design, Independent Games Festival 2017.
Named best game of 2016 by iPhone GameCast.
Named one of the ten best British games of 2016 by Kotaku UK.
Honorable Mention for Best Mobile Game in Game Developers Choice awards 2017.
Survive in an ever-shifting labyrinth filled with vicious monsters and valuable gemstones. Choose your hero, arm them with magical weapons, spend runes to invoke special powers, and fight for a high score in this deck-building tactics game where the deck is the dungeon.
At least four enigmatic enemies to battle.
Eight different heroes to play as.
Thirty-two weapons to level up.
Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch."Every individual element of Imbroglio’s design coalesces into an elegantly complex whole. Nothing is out of place. It’s the kind of game that I just want to think and talk about all the time." - Pocket Tactics review
Finalist for Excellence in Design, Independent Games Festival 2017.
Named best game of 2016 by iPhone GameCast.
Named one of the ten best British games of 2016 by Kotaku UK.
Honorable Mention for Best Mobile Game in Game Developers Choice awards 2017.
Survive in an ever-shifting labyrinth filled with vicious monsters and valuable gemstones. Choose your hero, arm them with magical weapons, spend runes to invoke special powers, and fight for a high score in this deck-building tactics game where the deck is the dungeon.
At least four enigmatic enemies to battle.
Eight different heroes to play as.
Thirty-two weapons to level up.



Imbroglio is a roguelike about managing a 4x4 grid of weapons. You choose 16 weapons and place them on the board; when you stand on a tile, you use that weapon to attack. As you defeat enemies, the tiles level up, becoming more powerful or gaining new abilities. With multiple characters each possessing unique traits, Imbroglio is a game of tight margins, careful planning, and infinite replayability. It is a distilled strategy experience where every single move is a life-or-death decision.
Unique tile-based combat and deck-building mechanics
8 distinct characters with different playstyles
Deeply strategic, turn-based gameplay
Hand-drawn 'lo-fi' aesthetic and haunting sound
Global leaderboards for high-score chasers
Don't put all your heavy hitters in one corner. Distribute your long-range magic and short-range melee weapons so that you always have an answer for an approaching enemy, no matter where you are forced to move.
TouchArcade Rating: There are two things I know when I fire up a new game from Michael Brough. One, its presentation is probably...
TouchArcade - Sun Apr 29 2018
Imbroglio (Michael Brough); Ultimate Chicken Horse (Clever Endeavour Games); Duskers (Misfits Attic); Overcooked (Ghost Town Games); Event[0]...
Polygon - Sat Dec 29 2018
TouchArcade Rating: One of the things that makes games from developer Michael Brough so great is in how much there is to discover in each...
TouchArcade - Fri Nov 29 2019
... Michael Brough. Imbroglio. Imbroglio is Michael Brough's take on the RPG dungeon crawl, condensed into a four-by-four grid, with randomised...
CNET - Tue May 29 2018
... Michael Streight. Curb Your Enthusiasm: “JEFFREY” by Clayton Jordan ... Imbroglio by Benjamin Kramer. Imperatus by Ted Omo. In Absentia by Dante...
Austin Film Festival - Thu Aug 29 2024
... Michael Brough, then you need to pay attention to this slide. Brough's games, 868-HACK, Imbroglio, and now Cinco Paus are single-screen grid...
GameSpot - Fri May 29 2020
Michael Brough's latest game is once again built around chance and ... If you're familiar with Brough's previous games 868-HACK and Imbroglio, you...
Paste Magazine - Sun Nov 29 2020
Imbroglio, $3.99 – Review – Forum Thread – Michael Brough knows how to make some truly intriguing games, and Imbroglio maintains his...
TouchArcade - Thu Nov 29 2018
『Imbroglio』 (Michael Brough) 4�4マスの1画面で展開されるローグ ... iOS向けに配信中。 Michael Brough. 24 subscribers. imbroglio. Michael Brough.
ファミ通 - Sat Dec 29 2018
Killing an enemy grants XP to the tile you are standing on. Try to finish off enemies while standing on your most important defensive tiles first to boost your survivability early in the run.
The star represents the tile's current level. Collect 4 souls (kills) while on that tile to increase its level and power.