Antihero

About

Antihero is a single player and multiplayer turn-based strategy game. It was developed by Tim Conkling and was released on July 10, 2017. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

Run a thieves’ guild in a gas-lit underworld. Antihero is a fast-paced strategy game with an (Oliver) Twist. Recruit urchins, hire thugs, kit out your master thief, upgrade your guild… and bribe, blackmail, and assassinate your opposition. A turn-based multiplayer strategy game about running a thieves' guild. Antihero is all about short play sessions with super-interesting decisions. Recruit stre…

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 507 reviews

gameplay55 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Great art style and charming visuals that enhance the game's atmosphere.
Engaging and strategic gameplay that allows for multiple paths to victory.
Fun single-player campaign that serves as a tutorial while introducing various mechanics.

Short campaign length that may leave players wanting more content.
AI can be predictable and lacks depth, making single-player less challenging.
Multiplayer mode suffers from a low player base, making it difficult to find matches.

gameplay
149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
59%
4%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its easy-to-learn mechanics that offer a blend of strategic depth and simplicity, making it accessible for newcomers while still providing challenges for experienced players. However, some reviewers noted that the gameplay can feel shallow and lacks long-term engagement, particularly in multiplayer settings, with a limited number of strategies and a short campaign that primarily serves as a tutorial. Overall, while the game features charming art and a unique setting, its mechanics may not satisfy players seeking more complex or varied gameplay experiences.
- “The gameplay is enjoyable and challenging, definitely setting the game up to be a thinking man's game.”
- “Antihero is an approachable turn-based strategy game with a unique setting and compelling gameplay mechanics.”
- “Really fun gameplay, many interesting and meaningful decisions to make.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay mechanics are very shallow and are very easy to learn and get bored of.”
- “The game itself revolves around snowballing and does not have much 'thief-y' feel to the mechanics.”
- “At the end of the day, the praise this game receives is much to do with its art style and theme, and less so to do with its gameplay, which is... not great.”
graphics
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
41%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, cartoonish style that effectively captures the dark, whimsical atmosphere of a Victorian-inspired underworld. Many reviewers appreciate the unique art direction, which combines cute and edgy elements, alongside polished animations and a fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall aesthetic experience. While some players find the graphics engaging and enjoyable, a few express that the visual appeal may not compensate for gameplay shortcomings.
- “The graphics are charming, the art style is consistent, and sound and music fit the theme nicely.”
- “Amazing visuals, supportive devs that are still working on the game to push some more features!”
- “Great game to chill out with... and the atmosphere is absolutely fantastic, held up by well-designed graphics, fantastic animations, and a sound effects board that goes with the game very well.”
- “Disliked: if you peel away the cute graphics, it may detract from what you're really doing.”
- “Graphics-wise, Antihero won't blow you away, but the graphics look professional and stylistic.”
- “At the end of the day, the praise this game sees is much to do with its art style and theme, and less so to do with its gameplay, which is... not great.”
story
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
73%
3%
The game's story is generally described as light and simplistic, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a central focus. While the campaign is short, typically around 4-8 hours, it features charming aesthetics and humorous elements that enhance the experience. Many players express a desire for a more extensive narrative and additional content, as the current story lacks depth and replay value once completed.
- “The aesthetic is great, and through the scenarios you'll guide street urchins, gangs, thugs, and eventually even a sisterhood of assassins in your quest to rule the gaslit streets.”
- “The campaign, while not story heavy, sets up a nice context in addition to a charming and fun world which supports the mechanics used in the singleplayer and multiplayer.”
- “Delightful story, interesting mechanics that reward patience and optimization.”
- “The story is short, but the aesthetic is fantastic.”
- “The single player campaign is an extended tutorial across 10 levels that tells a side story that you will not be able to remember in a week from now.”
- “The story isn't important because it isn't important.”
music
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
52%
8%
The music in the game is generally praised for its fitting Victorian-inspired themes, enhancing the overall atmosphere with a mix of serious, industrious, and playful tones. While many players appreciate the evocative and charming soundtrack, some note that it can become repetitive and occasionally feels unremarkable. Overall, the combination of music, sound effects, and voice acting contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience, despite a few criticisms regarding its thematic consistency.
- “The music is relaxing; the characters are cute; the difficulty level is about right; the gameplay is decent.”
- “The music track sets the mood of the game: I feel like I'm in Victorian England where I burgle my way around the city.”
- “The music is delightfully evocative; so are the accents to my American ear.”
- “The music and sound effects are okay but repeat often.”
- “Not to mention the music which absolutely does not fit the theme whatsoever (although it's nice music if you like Pachelbel's Canon, which I think it is based on).”
- “During cutscenes, the building music just gets slightly annoying, but that's the only problem I have with it.”
replayability
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
63%
11%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its solid multiplayer options and customizable arcade mode that enhance replay value, while others criticize its limited single-player content and short campaign length. Although there are opportunities for varied playthroughs through different win conditions and difficulty levels, many feel that the overall replayability diminishes after completing the story. The community's longevity and the potential for expansions could further influence the game's replay value.
- “A deep and atmospheric game with solid replayability.”
- “Aside from that, the multiplayer lobby adds to the replayability, and the game has a dedicated Discord server for matchmaking if you want to meet up and play with someone.”
- “Each time you replay, the game feels slightly different, adding replayability.”
- “The replayability is also really low.”
- “Still, I was able to beat the campaign in 4 hours of play, and once you've done that, the game doesn't have much replay value.”
- “So in all, the game doesn't have much replay value once you've completed the story.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of dark and goofy elements, complemented by a distinctive art style and effective sound design. Reviewers appreciate the engaging setting, clever gameplay, and the light-hearted story that enhances the overall experience, making it enjoyable for both solo and multiplayer modes. Overall, the game creates a captivating environment that encourages replayability and immersion.
- “A deep and atmospheric game with solid replayability.”
- “The atmosphere and setting are fantastic, and I appreciate that there are both a campaign mode as well as a multiplayer one.”
- “The art style is unique and suits the atmosphere and world that the game takes place in, and the sound design complements the atmosphere perfectly.”
- “If you're into the Charles Dickens atmosphere and you love intelligent, demanding board games, then this one is for you.”
- “The art, gameplay, and atmosphere.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
91%
9%
The humor in the game is described as light and entertaining, with a mix of dark comedy and charming art style that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the funny neighborhood names and the engaging antihero, although some find the humor inconsistent and not always effective. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with strategic gameplay, making it an enjoyable, albeit sometimes flawed, experience.
- “The story is very light and does not strain itself (it's more here to give a justification to that kind of campaign) but it succeeds atmospherically and has funny neighborhood names.”
- “To my surprise, it's awesome and fits the 'dark humor' and storylines that look like a comic of some sort.”
- “The campaign is funny and there is a lot of depth to the strategy in this game.”
- “I dunno, it's a mixed bag. This sort of dominant strategy that sees infinite trade wars favoring whoever makes the first move, due to the inability to train multiple thugs early, causes so many frustrating issues it's not funny.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find that grinding in the game can lead to a quick completion of the campaign, typically within one or two days. The art and systems are praised for being engaging without becoming tedious, though the multiplayer experience can feel grindy and lead to stalemates, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- “You probably can finish the whole campaign in one or two days of grinding.”
- “It works much better as a short, single-player game instead of a long, grindy multiplayer where both players come to a stalemate after gathering the map's resources.”
- “While it sounds fun and competitive, it can be somewhat tedious.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Overall, the game runs well on systems like the iMac with Big Sur, though some users have reported occasional bugs and glitches during gameplay.
- “Runs great on my iMac with Big Sur.”
- “The game has been incredibly stable, with no crashes or bugs during my playthrough.”
- “I appreciate how smooth the gameplay is; it never lags or stutters.”
- “I think one or two parts of the game may have been a bit buggy.”
- “I encountered several glitches while playing.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers appreciate the character designs for their cuteness and commend the quality of the voice acting, indicating that these elements contribute positively to the overall character development experience.
- “The character designs are very cute.”
- “As it says above, I like the character design, and the voice acting is pretty good.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's delightful story and engaging mechanics, which encourage patience and strategic optimization for a rewarding experience.
- “Delightful story, interesting mechanics that reward patience and optimization.”