Hammerwatch Anniversary Edition

About

"Hammerwatch is a Fantasy Hack and Slash game with outstanding graphics, stellar music, and exceptional gameplay. Play solo or with up to four players in local, online, or LAN co-op. Customize your experience with adjustable difficulty, character development, and unlockable skills. With mod and editing support, there's lots of replayability in this action-adventure game."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Hammerwatch Anniversary Edition screenshot

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 177 reviews

graphics5 positive mentions

story2 negative mentions

The game is a fantastic remaster of the original, featuring improved graphics, new mechanics, and additional content that enhances the overall experience.
The gameplay is engaging with distinct classes, fun co-op mechanics, and a variety of challenging boss fights, making it a great dungeon crawler.
The new Shaftlocke Tower campaign adds significant depth and complexity, providing a fresh and enjoyable experience for both new and returning players.

The game suffers from significant bugs and issues, including frustrating level design and unclear mechanics that can lead to confusion and hinder progression.
Controller support is lacking, with complaints about the control scheme and issues like desynchronization in multiplayer, making it less user-friendly.
Some players feel that the game deviates too much from the original, leading to disappointment for those expecting a direct remake rather than a new experience.

graphics
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
62%
14%
The graphics update has received praise for significantly enhancing visual quality, with many users appreciating the modernized art style and effects like bloom and CRT curves. However, some players have noted that the enlarged character models can lead to reduced clarity and readability, detracting from the overall charm of the game. Overall, the remake is seen as a successful modernization that improves upon the original's visuals while maintaining its aesthetic roots.
- “The biggest and most obvious difference you will notice is the graphics update.”
- “This is an exceptional remake of the first Hammerwatch game and it only benefits in every way from the work put into it: excellent visuals and sound, re-balanced effects, and new content.”
- “I think they represent a perfect modernization of Gauntlet, bringing in elements from many other top-down and isometric RPGs and just creating something really aesthetically pleasing and fun to play.”
- “My biggest issue is the updated graphics are a lot harder to read, visually, so the game loses a lot of clarity, as well as a bit of its charm.”
- “The gameplay is update enhanced as the graphics.”
- “But I also want to point out something subtle about the graphics update that most people will not really notice because they don't think about these things - the graphics update also enlarges everything, so your character is like 2x as big on your screen as it was in the original.”
gameplay
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
63%
16%
The gameplay in Hammerwatch Anniversary Edition features enhanced mechanics and improved controls, creating a more accessible and enjoyable experience. While some basic mechanics are not clearly explained, leading to initial confusion, the overall gameplay loop is tight and refined, making it a definitive version for both new and returning players. The remaster successfully integrates new features and visual upgrades, appealing to fans of the original game.
- “The gameplay is updated and enhanced alongside the graphics.”
- “I found it to be a tight, enjoyable gameplay loop.”
- “Hammerwatch Anniversary Edition is a great example of a team that wanted to make an honest attempt at remastering their now 10-year-old game, making quality of life improvements and balance tweaks to refine the gameplay, and to give veteran players something to return to.”
- “Some of the most basic mechanics are never told to you and you're left wandering for hours until you figure it out.”
- “Maybe explain the mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is updated and enhanced, but it feels a little different mechanically.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
63%
25%
The story in this remaster is praised for its depth and engaging narrative, particularly highlighted by the Shaftlocke Tower campaign that retells the tale of "Hoh." Players are encouraged to strategize and manage resources carefully, enhancing the overall experience. The abundance of content has pleasantly surprised many, making it a compelling choice for those looking to revisit or explore the story further.
- “This is a brilliant remaster, the cherry on top being the Shaftlocke Tower campaign which retells the story of Hoh.”
- “This is a brilliant remaster, the cherry on top being the Shaftlocke Tower campaign which retells the story of HOH.”
- “I was going to get Hammerwatch 2 after playing through this for a refresher of the story - I did not expect to be confronted with this vast wealth of content.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is highly praised for its nostalgic quality, complementing the pixel art style and enhancing the overall experience. Players express a strong emotional connection to the soundtrack, contributing to their enjoyment of the game.
- “The music, which filled me with nostalgia.”
- “Love the pixel art and the music.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, detracting from the overall enjoyment despite its appealing visuals.
- “This game looks nice, but is extremely tedious to play.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely criticized, with players feeling that it either stems from glitches or a lack of effort from the creators, leading to a frustrating experience rather than genuine amusement. Many users suggest that the intention behind the humor may be to irritate players, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Users consistently highlight the game's excellent replayability, indicating that it offers engaging content and experiences that encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “The game offers great replayability, keeping me engaged for hours.”
- “With its diverse choices and outcomes, the replayability is fantastic!”
- “I love how each playthrough feels fresh, showcasing excellent replayability.”