Halls of Torment
- September 24, 2024
- Chasing Carrots
- 22h median play time
Get on Steam"Halls of Torment" is a horde survival game with a pre-rendered retro art style, where you choose a hero character and fight unholy horrors in procedurally generated dungeons. With a variety of abilities, traits, and items, create new builds and face unique bosses in quick and casual runs. Explore, discover powerful items, and progress through a quest-based meta system.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- graphics3,228 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Halls of Torment" are widely praised for their nostalgic appeal, drawing heavily from the aesthetics of classic titles like Diablo 1 and 2. Players appreciate the retro-inspired pixel art and dark fantasy visuals, which effectively create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. While some critiques mention that the graphics can feel rough or cluttered at times, the overall consensus is that the art style successfully captures the charm of old-school RPGs, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The retro-inspired graphics are a huge part of its charm, blending pixel art with a gritty color palette that brings its dangerous, enemy-filled halls to life.”
“The art style is wonderfully retro, bringing back the feel of old-school RPGs while adding a modern polish that makes it visually engaging.”
“The graphics gave me a nostalgic feeling reminiscent of Diablo 2, which I loved.”
“Bridge graphics generation lags constantly.”
“Graphically, it's kind of rough and crude and they certainly aren't as polished as similar games of the genre, but they do the job and kind of fit the grungy hellish worlds that the game takes place in.”
“The graphics could be better, personally i'm bored with pixel art, but i understand that this was the artistic vision.”
- gameplay2,836 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Halls of Torment" is widely praised for its addictive and engaging mechanics, blending the nostalgic aesthetics of classic titles like Diablo with the horde survival gameplay popularized by Vampire Survivors. Players appreciate the depth of character builds, unique abilities, and the strategic elements introduced through gear and item retrieval mechanics, which enhance the overall experience. However, some critiques highlight issues with repetitiveness, unclear mechanics, and a desire for more meaningful interactions and faster-paced gameplay, suggesting that while the game is enjoyable, it could benefit from further refinement and content expansion.
“With its addictive gameplay loop, engaging retro aesthetics, and well-paced difficulty, Halls of Torment is an easy recommendation for fans of action RPGs and roguelikes.”
“Halls of Torment is a fantastic blend of classic RPG mechanics with intense roguelike action, creating an experience that’s both challenging and addictively fun.”
“The gameplay loop is solid, and the controls work well - you can dance between enemies within a hairs breadth if that's what it takes to survive.”
“Gameplay: it is unfortunately very boring.”
“Bland vampire survivors clone, was expecting something really new and unique in the gameplay/mechanics, according to overwhelmingly positive reviews, but no, it's just another clone.”
“The gameplay overall is decent but it didn't scratch the same itch provided by the dopamine drip feed that was vampire survivors.”
- story974 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely absent, with many players noting that it lacks a cohesive narrative or character development, often describing it as a series of quests that function more like achievements than traditional storytelling. While the quest system provides a sense of progression and unlocks various gameplay elements, it does not contribute significantly to an overarching plot, leaving players engaged primarily through gameplay mechanics rather than narrative depth. Overall, the focus is on completing numerous quests for rewards, which enhances replayability but may disappoint those seeking a rich story experience.
“The quest system to unlock permanent upgrades is also brilliant and motivating to just do 'one more run'.”
“As you dive deeper into the game's ominous dungeons, you'll uncover intriguing storylines that add depth to the relentless demon-slaying action.”
“The quest system is abysmal.”
“While the story is pretty average and doesn't stand out, the thrill of hunting for achievements and completing numerous runs kept me engaged and entertained.”
“From a story standpoint, I still have no idea why we are here... what are the halls of torment and why do I keep waking up here???”
- music662 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in "Halls of Torment" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric qualities and nostalgic ties to classic titles like Diablo. However, several users noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive due to a limited number of tracks, leading to a desire for more variety. Overall, while the music enhances the game's dark ambiance, there is a consensus that expanding the soundtrack would significantly improve the experience.
“The soundtrack complements the dark ambiance perfectly, offering haunting melodies that ebb and flow as you descend deeper into the halls.”
“With its classic Diablo-inspired visuals, engaging gameplay, and fantastic music, it's a journey well worth embarking on.”
“The best thing is the gothic doomy soundtrack; to say it is an accomplished piece of music for each stage is underselling it. It's better than you'd find in AAA games and any competitors.”
“The soundtrack is made up of atmospheric dark fantasy songs that suit the area they are played in but are otherwise forgettable and often get lost among the sonorous sound effects; however, there is only one final boss theme in the entire game for five of the six stages and it becomes extremely repetitive when you are playing on the shrine of torment mode and the final bosses have a copious amount of hit points.”
“The major criticism I have against this game is that the soundtrack is forgettable, consisting of serviceable fantasy schlock.”
“First of all, the music is incredibly dull and forgettable.”
- grinding530 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the sense of progression and the satisfaction of unlocking new abilities and items, numerous reviews highlight that the grinding can become tedious and repetitive, especially in the late game. Some players enjoy the grind as part of the gameplay loop, while others find it overly burdensome, leading to a lack of engagement and enjoyment over time.
“You also get a potion master who needs rare plants and such, but again it's not tedious as 1 of each allows infinite potions of that type, so it's content you're not hurt for using per run.”
“Good progression system; things are slowly unlocked for you as you play, but it's not too grindy. You always feel a little more powerful each run, and the achievements are actually mostly fun to go for as it makes you try new things while also unlocking new things!”
“Really dig the Diablo 2 graphics; the loop isn't tedious and there's a lot of unlockables.”
“The issue with the game is the amount of grinding it takes to get the full experience.”
“Unfortunately, the game design just doesn’t hit well enough to really offer such potential and ultimately culminates in a slogging grind, slow and tedious gameplay, and a lack of replayability.”
“It is extremely grindy, drawn out, and punishingly difficult, but I can't help but feel like it's one of the absolute cream of the crop offerings in the bullet heaven genre.”
- replayability420 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
"Halls of Torment" is praised for its exceptional replayability, offering a wealth of character builds, quests, and unlockable content that keeps players engaged. The game features a variety of mechanics, including an endless mode and a compendium, which enhance its replay value significantly. Many reviewers highlight the game's addictive nature and the depth of its progression system, making it a standout title in the genre, especially considering its low price point.
“Halls of Torment offers tons of replayability with minimal fuss, and is just challenging enough to keep you engaged for every moment.”
“The replayability is vast, with new items, characters, and abilities unlocking over multiple runs.”
“This game has by far the most insane replayability out of any game I have played ever, I was hesitant to buy it at first because of how overdone this genre is, however I was proven incredibly wrong about how this game plays and feels.”
“Unfortunately, the game design just doesn’t hit well enough to really offer such potential and ultimately culminates in a slogging grind, slow and tedious gameplay, and a lack of replayability.”
“I don't see the replayability for hundreds of hours, but the game is fun, make no mistake.”
“Sure it's super fun for a bit but there is really no replay value, just an illusion of it.”
- atmosphere344 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, gothic aesthetic reminiscent of classic titles like Diablo, creating an immersive experience filled with suspense and nostalgia. Players appreciate the detailed pixel art, eerie environments, and atmospheric sound design that enhance the overall gameplay, making it a compelling choice for fans of roguelite and bullet-hell genres. While some critiques mention the soundtrack's repetitiveness, the game's rich atmosphere and engaging visuals are consistently highlighted as standout features.
“The game’s dark, atmospheric setting draws you in from the start, capturing a sense of suspense and excitement that keeps you on your toes.”
“From the instant I stepped foot into the hauntingly atmospheric world of Halls of Torment, I was entranced by its richly detailed landscapes, eerie ambiance, and a level of artistry that can only be described as pure genius.”
“The dark, gloomy environments are masterfully crafted, creating an immersive atmosphere that constantly keeps you on edge.”
“When it comes to the soundtrack, however, it falls flat with very bland background music that barely adds to the game's atmosphere and isn't memorable either. Most of the time, I felt like it mentally pulled me out of the game and sometimes even annoyed me.”
“The game's atmosphere is tense and foreboding, with a sense of dread that permeates every level.”
“It's not perfect, though—I personally wish the game leaned even more into this direction, shortened the gameplay time, and instead created a denser atmosphere with more NPC interactions and lore or a different style of gameplay beyond the classic vs horde mode.”
- optimization186 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance on lower-end hardware and the Steam Deck, while others report significant issues, particularly during late-game scenarios with many enemies on screen, leading to crashes and frame drops. Although there are occasional performance dips and clunky UI elements, many users appreciate the developers' responsiveness to performance-related feedback and ongoing patches. Overall, while the game runs well for some, it still requires further optimization to enhance the experience for all players.
“Absolutely stellar item and ability traits diversity that allows a ton of builds for both massive optimized damage or plain old niche-but-amazingly-fun gameplay.”
“It's optimized well and runs great even with hordes of enemies on the screen.”
“The game is well-optimized for the steam deck and offers enough novelty and differentiation.”
“Serious performance issues in endgame content, clunky menus and UI, and random selection/highlight bugs are a big hindrance.”
“Also the recurrent issue of the poor performance that makes the +10 minute runs not a pleasant experience was the final deal breaker as it seems the devs are unable, even after all the early access time, to fix or even mitigate that.”
“As the number of enemies increases, the game performance becomes terrible and it will frequently crash before you finish a run.”
- stability102 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 61 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting significant bugs and freezes, particularly during extended play sessions. While it runs well on various systems, including the Steam Deck, and offers a fun experience, players have noted that it is still in development and has numerous visual glitches and gameplay issues that need addressing. Overall, while some find it enjoyable despite the bugs, others express frustration with the game's stability.
“It's optimized well and runs great even with hordes of enemies on the screen.”
“Bug free, quite polished even as early access, lots of potential.”
“This game is a ton of fun and looks as well as runs great on the OLED Steam Deck.”
“This game is a buggy mess.”
“It freezes up within a few minutes.”
“Game progress was deleted because of a bad update and none of the troubleshooting options given did anything.”
- humor58 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players noting its clever writing, cheesy voice acting, and amusing gameplay moments that evoke laughter. Many find the game's quirky elements, such as funny character designs and absurd scenarios, to enhance its charm, while others enjoy the comedic potential in various gameplay styles. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch that complements the addictive nature of the game.
“The writing is superb, with clever dialogue and a sense of humor that adds to the game's charm.”
“The voice acting in particular made me laugh; it's cheesy in the best way.”
“Depending on the 'biome' you try to tackle, the end result can be hilarious.”
- monetization36 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 61 % negative mentions
The game's monetization model is praised for its absence of microtransactions and ads, offering a straightforward and enjoyable experience reminiscent of classic titles like Diablo. Many players appreciate the lack of cash grab tactics, although there are concerns about the game's future sustainability and potential for exploitation. Overall, it is seen as a refreshing alternative to the typical monetization practices in the mobile gaming industry.
“This is a nice game without any microtransactions, very straight-forward and fun!”
“Fun, classic concept, buy a game, play it and not worry about in-game purchases.”
“Scratches that Diablo itch, +rep for no microtransactions and seasons.”
“Overall, I would describe this game as a very low effort cash grab.”
“Hope it doesn't get abandoned or become a quick cash grab because it could very easily become one of the best out of this game style.”
“Literally having fun without all of Activision Blizzard's BS monetization.”
- emotional26 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt homage to Diablo 2, evoking a mix of nostalgia and genuine enjoyment, while also delivering moments of heartbreak and frustration due to its punishing gameplay. Players express a deep connection to the experience, feeling both alive and emotionally drained, with some even regretting their investment in other titles like Diablo IV. Overall, the game successfully combines challenging mechanics with an emotional resonance that leaves a lasting impact.
“The last one surprised me after 29 minutes into the session... it was heart breaking.”
“All of this put together made me feel like I was the father of every god man has ever worshiped.”
“So good it physically and emotionally hurts.”
- character development14 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for being engaging and dynamic, with characters improving significantly after each run, contrasting sharply with the slower progression seen in similar titles like Vampire Survivors. The character designs are noted for their visual appeal and alignment with a classic Diablo aesthetic, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience. While some characters may require balance adjustments, they are generally considered powerful and fun to play.
“Super fun survivor with interesting character development and quests.”
“Your characters improve with just about every run, unlike the glacial pace of character development of vampire survivors.”
“The Diablo 1 aesthetic is on point in character design, environments, and mobs, despite it not being the same type of game.”
“Your characters improve with just about every run, unlike the glacial pace of character development in Vampire Survivors.”
