Hammerheart

About

Hammerheart is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Hammerheart and was released on September 6, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Hammerheart" is a hardcore roguelike game set in the Viking age, where you lead an Anglo-Saxon force in battle against powerful Viking armies. Death is permanent, and maps, encounters, and loot are randomly generated for a unique experience each playthrough. The game emphasizes historical accuracy with its characters, weapons, and settings, providing a realistic representation of the early 10th century.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 80 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game offers a tough but enjoyable experience with solid mechanics and engaging combat.
It has great potential with a unique setting and historical accuracy, appealing to fans of medieval combat.
Active development is ongoing, and the developer is responsive to feedback, indicating future improvements.

The game feels abandoned, with no updates since 2022, leading to concerns about its future development.
Gameplay is currently very short, with many players completing it in under an hour, leaving a desire for more content.
There are significant bugs and a lack of guidance, making it frustrating for new players and hindering the overall experience.

gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The gameplay is described as solid and strategically engaging, focusing on controlling the thegn and their retinue, though it is noted to be relatively short, with some players completing the story in under an hour. While the mechanics are simple and accessible, they offer depth that can be challenging to master, and there is a desire for more content and varied terrain to enhance the experience. Overall, the game is praised for its battle mechanics and historical accuracy, but players express a wish for additional gameplay elements.
- “Gameplay is at the forefront, which is nice to see, and despite its simple nature the strategic element of the game is well fleshed out, simple to use yet difficult to master.”
- “Really love it, awesome battle mechanics, smartly developed scenes, beautiful game art and of course huge respect for making it historically accurate.”
- “85 min of solid gameplay!”
- “I will not lie, as of this review it lacks a lot of gameplay (I beat the story on my second attempt at 70 mins of playtime), but what's there really shows how incredible this game could be.”
- “The mechanics are pretty simple though this is really more of a strategy game than it is an action one.”
- “It would have been cool to see changes in terrain like hills and chokepoints; if I could add one thing, it would be more gameplay since the game only took me half an hour to beat.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The game's story features an intriguing premise centered around a Viking skald narrating the struggles of an English thegn defending against Norse raiders, but currently lacks depth and meaningful progression. Players can complete the existing content quickly, suggesting that while the foundation is promising, it is still underdeveloped with potential for future expansions. Overall, the narrative is straightforward and replayable, leaving players eager for updates and additional campaigns.
- “It's an interesting setup for a rogue-like with a Viking skald telling the story of an English thegn fighting off Norse raiders from a village.”
- “As it continues to progress, I'll anxiously await updates to experience the story they're planning on.”
- “Don't give it a go if you expect meaningful story progression, deep tactics, and the possibility to plan ahead.”
- “I will not lie, as of this review it lacks a lot of gameplay (I beat the story on my second attempt at 70 minutes of playtime), but what's there really shows how incredible this game could be.”
- “Based on the setups in the story so far, I would assume there are more campaigns or 'stories' to come, but the current setup is at least fairly straightforward and replayable.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
66%
17%
Players find the game to have a surprising level of replayability, particularly enjoying the time run aspect and the straightforward nature of the current campaigns. There is anticipation for additional campaigns or stories, which could further enhance its replay value.
- “I enjoy the time run aspect of this and it has surprising replay value.”
- “Based on the setups in the story so far, I would assume there are more campaigns or 'stories' to come, but the current setup is at least fairly straightforward and replayable.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The music in the game is generally considered acceptable, but a common complaint among users is the inability to turn it off, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “I can't turn the music off, and honestly, it's pretty good!”
- “The music is so engaging that I can't bring myself to turn it off.”
- “I find myself unable to turn off the music because it's quite enjoyable!”
- “I can't turn the music off, even though it's okay.”
- “I can't turn the music off, even though it's okay.”
- “I can't turn the music off, even though it's okay.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are characterized by a minimalist style reminiscent of games like Stygian, creating a unique and atmospheric visual experience.
- “The visuals remind me of Stygian and the like minimalism.”
- “The visuals remind me of Stygian and the like minimalism.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with players expressing strong appreciation for its immersive environment, alongside the weapons and characters that enhance the overall experience.
- “I absolutely love the atmosphere, weapons, and characters.”
- “The atmosphere is immersive and captivating, drawing you into the game world.”
- “The game's atmosphere is rich and detailed, making every moment feel alive.”