Hell Warders

Hell Warders isn’t the prettiest of games you’ll play on Nintendo Switch – even in docked mode its visuals really struggle to shake off that last-gen sheen – but look past its unoriginal Gothic aesthetic and there’s a competent (if uninspiring) Tower Defence game to be had. If you’re planning to tackle this alone, it’s best avoided, but if you want to hook up with the admittedly small number of people playing online, the occupants of hell certainly won’t slay themselves.

62%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, music

62% User Score Based on 78 reviews

Critic Score 51%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $14.99

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About

"Hell Warders" is an action RPG meets tower defense game where you play as a powerful hero with unique abilities to resist demon hordes. Set up defensive units, control their position and upgrades, and team up with up to four players in cooperative play. Choose from three diverse heroes, each with their own weapons, skills, and abilities. * Action RPG and tower defense in one * Cooperative play with up to 4 players * Class-based heroes with unique abilities and weapons

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

62%

Audience ScoreBased on 78 reviews

gameplay12 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game offers a fun and engaging multiplayer experience, especially when played with friends, providing hours of enjoyment.
It features a unique blend of tower defense and action gameplay, reminiscent of popular titles like Orcs Must Die, with a gothic art style that appeals to fans of the genre.
The progression system is rewarding, allowing players to upgrade their heroes and units, which adds depth to the gameplay.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and stability issues, including crashes and performance problems, which detract from the overall experience.
Combat feels clunky and unsatisfying, lacking impact and fluidity, making it difficult to engage with the action effectively.
The game appears to be abandoned by the developers, with little to no updates or support, leading to concerns about its long-term viability.

gameplay
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
8%
The gameplay of "Hell Warders" combines tower defense and third-person action elements, drawing comparisons to "Orcs Must Die!" while offering a darker aesthetic reminiscent of the Souls series. While some players find the core mechanics enjoyable and the gameplay addictive, others criticize it for being simplistic, unbalanced, and plagued by issues that detract from the overall experience. Despite its potential and engaging concept, many reviews highlight the need for further polish and refinement to fully realize its gameplay capabilities.
- “Hell Warders is a third-person action and tower defense blend, with a gameplay formula very similar to the one made popular by Orcs Must Die!”
- “The gameplay of Hell Warders is divided into preparation, building phase, and combat phase.”
- “I see great potential in this game; the core gameplay is a unique mix of tower defense and hero-based action game, but the game doesn't burden you with complex resource management or tedious inventory management, allowing you to jump right into the action and slay monsters from the very beginning.”
- “So given that the gameplay was a mess, I had at least hoped that the game’s aesthetic could carry it, but unfortunately it falters there as well.”
- “However, given that its problems lie at the core of its gameplay, this would likely take more than just a bit of polish to fix up.”
- “- Uninspired, mediocre bosses, either too easy, huge but harmless HP sponges, or tied to bad mechanics for defeating them.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
59%
14%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising its gothic art style reminiscent of titles like Dark Souls and Bloodborne, while others criticize the overall quality as outdated and reminiscent of PS3-era visuals. Despite some positive remarks about the aesthetic and character design, many players noted significant graphical glitches and low-quality animations, leading to disappointment in a game released in 2019. Overall, while the art style has its merits, the execution and technical aspects leave much to be desired.
- “The art style works well, reminiscent of games such as Dark Souls and Bloodborne, blending a darker aesthetic with engaging gameplay.”
- “The graphics and musical score fit well, and the heroes have diverse play styles, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “The graphics and gameplay are nicely done, and I really enjoyed the game as it demands everything from a player during each battle.”
- “So given that the gameplay was a mess, I had at least hoped that the game’s aesthetic could carry it, but unfortunately it falters there as well.”
- “Really, the graphics look like something I would expect from a PS3 game, not a full-fledged PC release.”
- “Even ten years ago the graphics of this title would have been mediocre, but now, especially regarding model complexity, textures, effects, and graphical polishing, they are borderline unacceptable levels for a 2019 release.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
The story is described as somewhat typical yet compelling, emphasizing themes of perseverance and the unpredictability of life. While some find it standard and unoriginal, the narrative still engages players, often taking a backseat to the captivating gameplay experience. Overall, the storyline serves as a backdrop to the strategic and social elements of the game.
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “Although I personally find the storyline a tad bit typical, it is still pretty compelling.”
- “The standard boring, used-to-oblivion fantasy story.”
- “Although I personally find the storyline a tad bit typical, it is the gameplay that truly and completely captivates me from start to finish.”
- “The story started out a bit typical, but it's still a very compelling storyline to experience.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The music in the game is generally described as decent and fitting well with the graphics, contributing to a relaxing experience. However, some users find it mediocre, with criticisms directed at the voice acting and sound effects, suggesting that while the soundtrack is enjoyable, it may not stand out significantly.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “The graphics and musical score fit well, and the heroes have diverse play styles.”
- “Decent soundtrack, but mediocre voice acting/narration and just average effects.”
- “Great tower defense game, but a fly in the ointment is the music and sound effects.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The optimization of the game has been criticized for poor performance and stability, with reports of delayed input even on high-end systems. While some animations run smoothly, there are noticeable issues with mob chunkiness that detract from the overall experience.
- “The hero animations were smooth and fine on my super rig, which suggests great optimization.”
- “The mob chunkiness and optimization issues I mentioned previously do not make the game look as bad as the video suggests at all.”
- “Performance and stability are impressive, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.”
- “Poor performance.”
- “Performance and stability issues.”
- “Delayed input - I don't know if this is my PC performance issue or something else.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Players appreciate the streamlined approach to grinding in this game, as it allows for skill point distribution without the need to grind multiple heroes separately. However, some find the process tedious, particularly when it comes to leveling up towers and reaching the maximum level for perks, which can feel grindy despite the game's focus on action and accessibility. Overall, while the game offers a unique blend of genres, the grind to fully develop characters and towers may deter some players.
- “Preparation allows players to distribute the skill points, called beacons, either into their hero of choice (points are shared, so no grinding three heroes separately) or into tower global stats, to upgrade them for the next battle.”
- “The grinding experience is rewarding as it enables players to enhance their characters and strategies, making each battle feel more impactful.”
- “I love how grinding in this game feels purposeful; every effort contributes to my overall progression and makes me excited for the next challenge.”
- “Tedious orbs (or towers) picking, and missing function description and leveling system behind the towers.”
- “It may be a bit grindy to get to level 25 to max out your perks.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game experiences occasional graphical glitches, particularly with reflections and enemy ragdoll physics, which can disrupt gameplay. While these issues may cause some discomfort, they are generally considered acceptable for an early access title.
- “Some graphical glitches with reflections and enemy ragdolls bugging out at times due to physics issues.”
- “Some glitches can make you feel uncomfortable while playing, but it's acceptable for an early access game.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players highlight that effective end-game content, such as additional difficulty modes, can significantly enhance replayability, as seen in games like DD1. Conversely, some titles suffer from poor mechanics and lack of progression, leading to a frustrating experience with little incentive to replay.
- “End-goal/end-game, being able to work towards a goal even after beating the main content lends the game incredible replayability if done correctly (look at what DD1 did with its nightmare difficulty mode).”
- “Gone are the damage numbers, the units are clunky, the pathing is unintelligible. You can't understand what units do what, nor see the path of bullets. Zero progression, zero replayability, zero updates.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express a mix of emotions regarding the game, feeling initially drawn in by its attractive graphics and gameplay, but ultimately experiencing disappointment due to perceived lag and a lack of improvement over time. This reflects a desire for the game to reach its potential, highlighting a sense of investment in its development.
- “Firstly, the graphics and gameplay are very attractive to me and made me feel I want to support this game to build to its potential.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Reviewers suggest that purchasing a mobile game with numerous microtransactions may offer better value, as these games tend to receive ongoing support from developers.
- “You get more value from buying a mobile game with tons of microtransactions, as those are actually supported by the developers.”
- “The monetization model is fair and offers plenty of options without feeling forced.”
- “I appreciate that the game provides a balanced approach to monetization, allowing players to enjoy the experience without spending excessively.”
- “You would get more from buying a mobile game with tons of microtransactions, because those are actually supported by the devs.”
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, as it prioritizes profit over player experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's humor is heavily influenced by familiar motifs and enemy designs, leading to frequent comparisons with other titles. Players note the inclusion of quirky elements, such as random laughter from NPCs, which adds to its comedic charm.
- “As much as that expression is oversaturated in reviews, this game shares so many motifs, enemy designs, and even quirks like random laughing from NPCs that makes the comparison unavoidable.”
- “The humor in this game is brilliantly woven into the gameplay, with witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions that keep you laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game uses absurd situations and clever puns to create a lighthearted atmosphere, making even the toughest challenges feel fun.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers praise the character design as exceptional, highlighting its strong contribution to the overall character development in the game.
- “The character development is incredibly deep and engaging.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making each decision feel impactful.”
- “The backstories are rich and add so much depth to the characters' motivations.”