Backpack Hero

About

"Backpack Hero" is a roguelike game with a unique twist on deck-building, where inventory management and item arrangement in your backpack significantly impact your combat abilities. Explore diverse dungeons, meet colorful characters, and engage in battles while organizing your backpack for optimal power. Outside of adventuring, rebuild your hometown, Haversack Hill, by creating a prosperous village to attract new residents, unlock content, and restore the world of Orderia.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,220 reviews

gameplay416 positive mentions

stability90 negative mentions

Unique and engaging inventory management mechanics that add depth to gameplay.
Charming art style and soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
Variety of characters and builds that encourage experimentation and replayability.

Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and cause frustration.
Story mode feels grindy and lacks meaningful progression, making it less enjoyable.
Some characters are poorly balanced, leading to uneven gameplay experiences.

gameplay
1,022 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
57%
3%
The gameplay of "Backpack Hero" is centered around a unique inventory management mechanic that combines elements of roguelike dungeon crawling with strategic item placement, reminiscent of classic games like Resident Evil. Players can choose from multiple characters, each with distinct mechanics that add variety and depth to the gameplay, although some characters may feel less balanced or engaging than others. While the core gameplay loop is generally enjoyable and addictive, some players have noted issues with repetitiveness, lack of polish, and certain mechanics that can detract from the overall experience.
- “Over 100 challenges along with several characters with different backpacks and mechanics; this game delivers on a diverse yet in-depth roguelite experience unlike any other.”
- “The limited space and the way items interact with each other based on their physical position creates some very unique problems to be solved by the player, and it meshes very well with the overall dungeon crawler gameplay loop.”
- “The gameplay loop is fun and addicting, if only there weren't so many bugs.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay doesn’t match the appeal of its presentation.”
- “The repetitive dungeon-crawling and lack of engaging roguelike mechanics make it difficult to stay invested for long.”
- “Gameplay quickly becomes repetitive and boring, the story is plain and the updates can't be felt in-game.”
story
744 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
73%
5%
The story aspect of "Backpack Hero" has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its charming characters and the added depth of the story mode, which introduces quests and town-building mechanics. However, many critiques highlight the story as simplistic and often tedious, with issues such as bugs, unclear progression, and a grindy nature that detracts from the overall experience. While the story mode offers a unique framework for gameplay and encourages experimentation with different builds, it is often seen as less engaging compared to the core roguelike mechanics, leading some players to prefer the quick play mode instead.
- “Its charming pixel art, lovable story, and fitting soundtrack create an inviting atmosphere that immediately draws players in.”
- “The characters and story add a layer of personality that makes Backpack Hero feel unique compared to other roguelikes.”
- “The story mode of the game has the player rebuild a town for the merry woodland critters to return to, while working towards unlocking ways to make runs deeper, more dangerous yet rewarding, as well as unlocking more powerful items to be encountered.”
- “Now the story mode has been out a while now, and it's buggy, the story is boring and bloated with bland characters, the town system is convoluted, and the story mode drip feeds you content at the agonizingly slow rate akin to Chinese water torture.”
- “The story mode is really bad: unappealing story, grindy, cramped city building, optimization is not better than just going for another run, shorter runs... the only good thing is that you are in control of what items you unlock for future runs so you can skip all the bad items to be sure to hit only the good stuff (which makes the runs even easier).”
- “The story mode feels mostly unnecessary, and locks all interesting progression behind repetitive quests.”
replayability
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
41%
3%
The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, with players praising its diverse character options, unique mechanics, and a vast array of items that create varied gameplay experiences. Many reviews highlight the game's roguelike nature, which ensures that each run feels distinct, while additional modes and mod support further enhance replay value. However, some users note that despite the strong replayability, certain aspects may feel lacking or repetitive over time.
- “This game has amazing replayability and the art and music are so good!”
- “The replayability is through the roof, highly recommend.”
- “With so many secrets to uncover, items to find, and levels to complete, the replay value of this game is incredibly high.”
- “Unfortunately, the replayability is a bit lacking.”
- “The above points of critique make the replay value a lot less than it ought to have given the genre.”
- “I think it is really fun, but for a roguelike, it has shockingly poor replay value in my eyes, considering you don't really get much out of new runs.”
music
187 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
48%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and nostalgic quality, often compared to classic titles like *Chrono Trigger* and *Lufia 2*. While many players find the soundtrack engaging and fitting for the whimsical atmosphere, some note that it can become repetitive over extended play sessions. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, contributing to the game's inviting and enjoyable ambiance.
- “The music complements the experience well, enhancing the whimsical and adventurous tone of the game.”
- “The charming and immersive soundtrack is incredibly catchy and will have you humming the tunes long after you're done playing.”
- “The music is gorgeous.”
- “Further, the art style is fine but not overly engaging and the soundtrack is a bit lackluster.”
- “The music selection is rather small and becomes repetitive very quickly.”
- “The music is just incredibly boring.”
graphics
141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
5%
The graphics of "Backpack Hero" are generally described as charming and cute, featuring a pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for retro games. While many players appreciate the aesthetic and find it visually appealing, some critiques highlight a lack of polish and distinctiveness, particularly in enemy designs and town graphics. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's cozy atmosphere, though they may not impress those seeking cutting-edge graphics.
- “The graphics, mechanics, and score are all excellent and fit in extremely well with the overall theme of the game.”
- “Backpack hero is a charming game with stylized visuals and a solid rewarding game loop.”
- “The game has a very charming art style, and the music fits it all so well.”
- “The graphics in the dungeon crawling portion are fantastic, but the graphics in town are horrifyingly poor and the audio is so simple and repetitive that I just turn off the game's audio and play something else - not a good sign.”
- “If you're sensitive about graphics, this game is a bit rough around the edges.”
- “Gameplay is clumsy, you get little to no agency, the map system is a joke that might as well not exist, the art style is inconsistent and often ugly.”
stability
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which significantly hinder gameplay and can lead to frustrating experiences, such as losing progress or being unable to interact with items. While some players find the core mechanics enjoyable, the overall stability is deemed unacceptable for a full release, with many recommending avoiding the story mode due to its particularly buggy nature. Despite occasional improvements, the game remains a "buggy mess," leaving players disappointed with its current state.
- “It's everything modern gaming isn't: great gameplay loop, great value for your money, no microtransactions, bug-free, feature complete at launch.”
- “Runs great.”
- “Not very buggy; some things could be worked out to be smoother.”
- “Shame the devs have left it in a buggy, near unplayable state with its campaign mode.”
- “There's a lot of potential here, but it's absolutely inexcusable how janky and buggy this game is.”
- “I want to enjoy this game, but it's become so broken and buggy that it's way too frustrating to play.”
grinding
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
1%
95%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in story mode where progression feels slow and often unclear. While some enjoy the addictive nature of the gameplay loop, others criticize the excessive resource gathering and town-building mechanics as filler tasks that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as overly grindy, especially in the late stages, which can lead to frustration rather than enjoyment.
- “My only complaint is that on Steam Deck, or I assume on controller, you have to rely on using a mouse or finagling with the joysticks as items may overlap. The town hall lets you look at the research, but hitting interact does nothing. A few quality of life improvements for controllers in general would be nice since it is a little tedious putting all the slime in my sack.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “No idea if the devs walked back their policy of nerfing any fun combos because I'm not grinding out easy enemies for hours.”
- “The village you build is a tedious filler task to motivate you to do more runs and gather resources.”
- “It is very grindy, gating content behind many many runs with just slightly varying constraints on what you can take or do.”
- “The story mode is really bad: unappealing story, grindy, cramped city building, optimization is not better than just going for another run.”
humor
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its whimsical and absurd elements, featuring funny characters like rats and engaging scenarios that elicit laughter. Players enjoy the combination of witty dialogue, ridiculous situations, and the satisfaction of creating overpowered builds, all contributing to a lighthearted and entertaining experience. While some note the need for balance and quality-of-life improvements, the overall comedic tone and charm keep players engaged and amused.
- “There's a real satisfaction in finding just the right combination of items to make a stupidly powerful build and laughing as even bosses just melt in the face of such ruthless efficiency.”
- “The game is hilarious, from the witty dialogue to the ridiculous situations you find yourself in.”
- “Backpack Hero is like a combination of a puzzle game and a platformer, with a healthy dose of humor thrown in.”
optimization
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
66%
13%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging inventory management and the thrill of optimizing builds, while others report significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues that detract from the experience. While certain setups run smoothly, many users note that the game is not the best optimized overall, leading to frustration with balancing and item performance. Despite these challenges, the core mechanics of optimization and loot collection remain appealing to fans of the genre.
- “Optimization and planning pays dividends when an ideal setup clicks into place and you just start steamrolling baddies, but you also have to be flexible enough to pivot your build if the right items don't drop for you.”
- “The most addictive and unique element is the optimization of the backpack.”
- “Truly brilliant concept that manages to make inventory optimization a game in and of itself!”
- “The game feels very unoptimized.”
- “An amazing game held back by numerous bugs, glitches, and poor optimization.”
- “Partially contains essential game bugs, making the game impossible to play, also performance drops.”
character development
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as underwhelming, with many players finding the writing lacking and the character arcs unengaging. However, the character designs are consistently praised for their charm and personality, contributing to a visually appealing experience. While the gameplay mechanics and aesthetics are enjoyable, the depth of character development leaves much to be desired.
- “The character design is equally stunning, with Matti being especially memorable, cute, and likable.”
- “Great gameplay bundled with amazing art and character design.”
- “The game loop gets repetitive very quickly, and the writing and character development are lackluster, so after just a few hours I lost all sense of engagement.”
- “For now, I'd only ever recommend getting this game on a really good sale, and even then, only if you really like the demo and character designs.”
- “The character designs are full of personality and incredibly endearing.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and engaging narrative, which evokes a range of feelings from joy to frustration. Players appreciate the charming setting and unique gameplay mechanics that allow for diverse character builds, while also expressing disappointment over the game's abandonment and unresolved issues. Overall, the game successfully elicits a mix of positive emotions, making it a delightful yet bittersweet experience.
- “The story plot: very wholesomely simple, yet effective.”
- “This is heartbreaking; this game has such potential, but it was abandoned by the dev to work on a new project, and the same save issues being brought up by the community haven't been fixed in over 2 years.”
- “10/10 amazing game; made me feel rage and joy just because of that specific quest.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by its charming pixel art, nostalgic animations, and a beautiful, relaxing soundtrack that collectively create an inviting and cheerful environment. Players appreciate the blend of retro vibes and engaging gameplay mechanics, which enhance the overall experience and draw them into the game world. The combination of these elements fosters a captivating atmosphere that resonates with both new and seasoned gamers.
- “Its charming pixel art, lovable story, and fitting soundtrack create an inviting atmosphere that immediately draws players in.”
- “The amazing music and the immediate exposure to a charming atmosphere upon launching the game for the first few times instantly got me excited to dig further in.”
- “The lovely animations bring me back decades; there is something nostalgic about it alongside the lovely sprites, and let's not forget the music—it's beautiful, chill, and relaxing, giving this game an easy atmosphere to fall in love with!”
- “The pixel art brings the retro vibes and adds to the atmosphere of the game really well.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for being overly aggressive, with a recent patch cluttering the main screen with advertisements and promoting real-life merchandise. While players can gain in-game advantages by watching numerous ads, this approach raises concerns about the developers' priorities, especially given the game's existing bugs and lack of attention to gameplay mechanics. Overall, the monetization tactics detract from the game's experience, leading to mixed recommendations from users.
- “Unfortunately, a recent patch modified the main screen to be full of advertisements by the publisher.”
- “By just watching dozens of 30-second ads, I could max out my backpack and take as many items as I wanted.”
- “For that reason, and only that reason, I find it concerning that effort and attention is put into advertising plushies of its characters (real-life ones for sale with real money) on the title screen, when both the central mechanics and the UI feel unbaked.”