Hellboy Web of Wyrd

About

Developed by Upstream Arcade, Hellboy Web of Wyrd utilizes an art style faithful to Mike Mignola’s original masterpieces. Like in the comics, the game sends Hellboy on a series of vastly different and wholly-unique adventures; and while each story stands on its own, they are all tied to the mysterious legacy of The Butterfly House. Built in 1962 by occultist Pasquale Deneveaux, The Butterfly Hou…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 762 reviews

graphics176 positive mentions

grinding22 negative mentions

Incredible art style that faithfully captures Mike Mignola's comic aesthetic.
Satisfying combat mechanics that feel impactful and engaging.
Strong voice acting, particularly from Lance Reddick as Hellboy.

Clunky controls and camera issues that hinder gameplay experience.
Repetitive enemy types and level design that can lead to boredom.
Lack of depth in roguelike elements and upgrades, making runs feel less rewarding.

graphics
317 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
40%
5%
The graphics of "Hellboy: Web of Wyrd" have been widely praised for their stunning, comic book-inspired art style that faithfully captures Mike Mignola's iconic visuals. Many players appreciate the cel-shaded aesthetic and atmospheric design, which evoke the feel of the original comics, although some note issues with frame rate and repetitive environments. Overall, while the visuals are a highlight, they are often seen as compensating for the game's more mediocre gameplay elements.
- “The graphics are like the comics came to life!”
- “The devs have deftly captured Mignola's art style; as someone who loves the comics, it really does look like I'm playing a glossy version of the comic books themselves.”
- “Web of Wyrd absolutely knocks it out of the park when it comes to its art style.”
- “Aside from this, there are some decisions made for visuals [like the stuttering movement for Hellboy (which could be removed in the settings) and the lack of lip or character model movement during dialogue] that give the game a 'cheaply made' feel.”
- “While I love the art style, the graphics aren't great, especially for that poor performance.”
- “I love the art style of the game, it's the closest to Mike Mignola's art style in 3D that we've ever gotten, and it sucks there's no way to smooth out the frames, making everything feel like it's covered in a cloud of motion blur, solely for how choppy it makes everything move and look.”
gameplay
242 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
62%
12%
The gameplay of this title has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its solid combat mechanics and satisfying moments, particularly in melee combat. However, a significant number of users have criticized the gameplay for being repetitive and lacking depth, especially in the roguelike context, leading to a sense of boredom after a few runs. Additionally, issues such as clunky controls, frustrating camera angles, and technical bugs have detracted from the overall experience, making it feel less polished than expected.
- “Using them effectively has a lot of strategic depth and feels really rewarding, which is nuts because it's the simplest combat mechanic.”
- “The satisfyingly addictive consecutive punches during a combo, only punctuated with the tightening of your iron's trigger, is some of the best gameplay I have played this year.”
- “Incredible atmosphere, gameplay starts a bit slow but is super satisfying once you get into the meat of the game.”
- “The gameplay is extremely repetitive, even by roguelike standards.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay just feels really plodding and labored, and the level art is comprised of endlessly repeated elements to a much greater extent than I feel like I can put up with.”
- “The gameplay is abhorrent and it felt like every move I did was delayed by 2 seconds; enemies got boring real quickly because they don't have really any different patterns.”
story
224 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
4%
The story of "Hellboy: Web of Wyrd" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its comic book aesthetic and connection to Mike Mignola's original works, while others find it simplistic and lacking depth. While the dialogue and character interactions are often praised, the overall narrative is seen as inconsistent and underwhelming, leaving some players wanting more from the plot and character development. Despite these criticisms, fans of the Hellboy franchise may still find enjoyment in the game's unique art style and the nostalgic feel of exploring a new story within the beloved universe.
- “The writing and story feel right out of a Hellboy comic, which itself is enough of a selling point.”
- “I enjoyed following the story, talking to the characters, and uncovering the mysteries of the wyrd.”
- “The story is interesting so far and while it feels a bit different than the stories from the comics, I think it definitely fits within the Hellboy universe mythos.”
- “It has no soul: story-wise and gameplay-wise this game just doesn't make me think I'm reading a Hellboy comic.”
- “Boring after a few sessions of playing, dropped the game for months just to pick it up again and be bored out of my mind; also, the story is not even there.”
- “You don't get that here, with a lackluster cast of characters and a story that doesn't feel rewarding to play or complete.”
music
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its fitting and engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere, particularly during combat. However, some players express frustration with issues like repetitive combat music and glitches that disrupt the experience. Overall, while the music is often described as fantastic and well-suited to the game's aesthetic, there are calls for more ambient sounds to fill quieter moments.
- “Voice acting is on a great level, music is fitting and touchy, art style is simply superb.”
- “The presentation (music, voice acting, graphics and art style) is a 10 out of 10.”
- “Great soundtrack that fits Hellboy perfectly.”
- “Only thing I wish is there was a bit more ambient music/sounds to make it not feel as empty at times.”
- “The game glitches every run with music not starting or stopping randomly, enemies not despawning after combat, and one I spawned in under the floor and my run instantly ended.”
- “It even copies the exact same style of music as Hades, without any of the impact or memorability.”
optimization
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
44%
21%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting performance issues such as lag, camera glitches, and crashes, particularly during combat. While some users noted smoother performance on Steam and praised the cell-shaded graphics, others felt that the overall visual quality and character animations contributed to a "cheaply made" impression. Despite these drawbacks, the game is appreciated for its artistic style and strong voice performances, especially by Lance Reddick.
- “Once I got it on Steam, it runs smoothly and so far without issue.”
- “All my playtime has been on the deck either in handheld mode or docked to a 4K TV with an Xbox controller, and performance, visuals, and controls were flawless.”
- “I understand that it's not the most updated looking game; it looks nice and optimized while not giving too much in graphics.”
- “There are also some performance issues, lag, weird attack intervals, and the camera getting stuck.”
- “Game performance drops during combat and often crashes.”
- “Aside from this, there are some decisions made for visuals, like the stuttering movement for Hellboy (which could be removed in the settings) and the lack of lip or character model movement during dialogue, that give the game a 'cheaply made' feel.”
atmosphere
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
50%
12%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, capturing the essence of the original comics through stunning graphics, effective voice acting, and a strong aesthetic that resonates with fans. Reviewers note that while the gameplay may be repetitive, the overall experience feels like a love letter to the source material, making it particularly appealing for those who appreciate its vibe, especially around Halloween. Overall, the game successfully nails the atmosphere, making it a standout feature despite some gameplay shortcomings.
- “Incredible atmosphere, gameplay starts a bit slow but is super satisfying once you get into the meat of the game.”
- “The team has a good handle on how to immerse you in the world, from the look, the atmosphere, and the writing of the characters.”
- “This game is an amazing encapsulation of the original comics' atmosphere.”
- “This game nails the vibe/atmosphere more than anything outside of Mignola’s personal work.”
- “This game is an amazing encapsulation of the original comics atmosphere.”
- “Web of Wyrd gets the aesthetic and the atmosphere correct.”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration due to slow progression and excessive backtracking, especially after dying. While some appreciate the combat mechanics and graphics, many feel that the grind detracts from the overall experience, making it less enjoyable, particularly for those seeking significant upgrades or challenging boss encounters. Overall, the grinding can be a major drawback, overshadowing the fun moments and character interactions.
- “Even if the new Hellboy content is nice, this game is not worth your time. The small fun moments with the characters are completely drowned in grinding gameplay and slow progression. Right before the finale, I had less than half the upgrades, not even counting gear I wasn’t using.”
- “Long, slow, tedious backtracking.”
- “And until the devs fix both the unresponsive dodges and tedious camera, it is unlikely that I will return to this game.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
78%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent bugs ranging from minor annoyances to game-breaking glitches, such as enemies spawning in inaccessible areas and the game freezing during play sessions. While it performs well on the Steam Deck at lower resolutions, the overall experience is marred by these persistent technical problems, leading many users to advise against purchasing it until these issues are resolved.
- “Looks fantastic, plays and runs great.”
- “Also, runs great on the Steam Deck (just change the resolution to 720p).”
- “The game is still really buggy, which can range from mildly annoying (like weird hitboxes, enemies randomly pushing Hellboy away to the other side of the room) to game-breaking (enemies spawning below textures, staying out of range, or Hellboy spawning below the floor and immediately dying).”
- “At least once, sometimes more, during every play session it freezes.”
- “My big problem with it at the moment is that it's very buggy, so I don't recommend buying it yet.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
56%
25%
Overall, the game's replayability is a significant concern among users, with many expressing disappointment due to a lack of variety in upgrades and playable characters. While the initial gameplay is enjoyable, it quickly becomes repetitive, leading to boredom after a few runs. Enhancing the variety of unique upgrades and introducing more playable characters could improve the game's longevity and replay value.
- “Part of the draw for these types of games is the difficulty; the other part is the replayability.”
- “The blessings/upgrades in the game are good, but a wider variety of unique upgrades would have added more replay value.”
- “If you're looking for a game with some replay value and to kill things to a banger soundtrack, this is the game for you.”
- “A great cell shaded visual style and fun gameplay (at first), however sadly there's no replay value like other roguelikes out there making this game very boring after a few runs.”
- “The blessings/upgrades in the game are good but a wider variety of unique upgrades would have added more replay value.”
- “There's no replay value.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a nonchalant attitude that aligns well with the characters, making it both amusing and fitting for the narrative. Players appreciate the blend of macabre humor and engaging character interactions, even those who typically dislike story-driven games find enjoyment in this aspect.
- “His nonchalant attitude to the weight of the plot is both funny and in-character.”
- “How can you hate this funny guy?”
- “I also usually dislike story-driven things, but I'm enjoying the characters and the macabre humor of the occult.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as a cash grab, with players expressing frustration over the lack of clarity in mechanics and poor combat responsiveness, particularly when using mouse and keyboard. The game features janky controls and an inadequate in-game journal, which fails to provide essential information, leading to a tedious and slow combat experience. Overall, the monetization strategy seems to detract from the gameplay quality, leaving players dissatisfied.
- “Feels like a cash grab; the whole time I played, I couldn't open any menus to adjust settings. I chatted with a buddy who bought the game, and apparently 'P' is the menu, but the bind just wasn't working for me.”
- “The in-game journal is quite useless as it doesn't inform you about crucial parts of the game, like your toughness (shield) and the fact that you can't parry without it. The only way to regain it is by killing the ads, but it's nearly impossible due to the janky out-of-lock combat, especially noticeable when using mouse and keyboard with multiple enemies surrounding you.”
- “This leads to a very slow and frankly boring combat scenario where, after taking down the first main enemy, your shield goes away and you can't parry anymore. You have to run away and find one or two ads to kill, but the combat mechanics make it frustratingly difficult to target them effectively.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is enhanced by striking art direction and character designs that evoke the feel of a Hellboy comic, immersing players in a rich narrative experience.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, with some feeling so moved by their experience that they are compelled to leave heartfelt reviews for the first time. This indicates that the game successfully resonates on a personal level, evoking deep feelings and passion.
- “I have never left a real Steam review, and this game has made me feel passionate enough to leave an actual review.”