HELLCARD
- February 15, 2023
- Thing Trunk
- 65h median play time
Hellcard is a decent if unremarkable card-battler with some cool ideas that offers a decent challenge for fans of the genre.
Get on SteamHELLCARD is a fantasy turn-based strategy game with single-player and multiplayer modes, where up to three players can cooperatively battle against the Archdemon's hordes. Its unique feature is the tactical placement of monsters, adding a strategic element to the deck-building mechanics. With sensational graphics and a potential for grinding, HELLCARD offers an engaging and challenging experience for players.
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Fun and engaging gameplay, especially when played with friends.
- Unique mechanics with a focus on positioning and teamwork.
- High replayability with various classes and card combinations.
- Single player experience is less enjoyable and can feel unbalanced.
- Some cards and mechanics are overpowered, leading to infinite combos.
- Matchmaking can be difficult, making it hard to find players for co-op.
- gameplay132 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Hellcard* is often compared to *Slay the Spire*, featuring engaging deck-building mechanics and cooperative multiplayer elements that enhance the experience. While many players appreciate the strategic depth and unique mechanics, some criticize the steep learning curve, repetitive gameplay, and poorly designed boss mechanics that can undermine player strategies. Overall, the game offers a solid foundation with room for improvement, particularly in balancing and expanding its mechanics for a more rewarding experience.
“The gameplay is easy to pick up, and complex enough to make you want to stick around.”
“A fun co-op roguelite with captivating visuals, atmospheric audio, engaging deck-building mechanics, and an excellent gameplay loop that will keep you coming back for more.”
“The gameplay is enjoyable, the mechanics are unique, and it's a great game to play with friends.”
“Consistently ends runs by turning off the key mechanic of some builds for no other reason than being a 'ha, gotcha!' Sadly, you won't experience that in the allotted 2-hour Steam refund policy.”
“The concept is interesting, but the core gameplay loop is extremely tedious and repetitive.”
“In my case, I played around and quickly realized the gameplay felt like a tedious chore.”
- graphics41 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming and unique origami-inspired art style that many players find endearing and visually appealing. While some critiques mention inconsistencies and a retro feel, the overall consensus highlights the graphics as fun, engaging, and well-suited to the gameplay, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere. However, there are mixed opinions regarding the user interface, with some players finding it lacking despite the strong visual elements.
“The art style is amazing, runs smooth.”
“I absolutely love the art style and combat flow.”
“The paper-craft art style honestly stuck out to me as being really charming and well done.”
“The art style and theme is ambiguous and inconsistent; it doesn't feel like anything belongs in the same world.”
“The graphics are lazy and oddly demanding on your system, and the story is non-existent.”
“The 2D Lego-like characters used in the game are kind of retro but functional, so don't expect to be wowed by graphics.”
- replayability25 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, particularly when played with friends, thanks to enjoyable mechanics and strategic elements. However, some players note limitations due to a small number of character classes and a desire for more content, which could enhance the replay experience. Despite these concerns, many find the game fun and engaging enough to warrant multiple playthroughs.
“This game is criminally underrated, and whilst it could benefit from some more updates with new characters, enemy types, and more, it is very much replayable and fun with friends!”
“If you have 2 other people to play with, and are clever with your use of items and card picks, this game has amazing replay value.”
“Fun and addicting card battler with good replayability.”
“Even though I enjoyed the other Hellcard game, I downvoted that one because of the lack of content and replayability.”
“I will say that it could still have some more replayability; however, after 16 hours, I feel that I've tried (and won, I think) all builds I could think of for the two characters I enjoyed playing.”
“Replayability is a bit limited as there are only three classes.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players finding the combat slow and frustrating. While some acknowledge the game's interesting concept, the grind often feels like a chore, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Despite its fun elements, the excessive grind and poor combat UI lead to a frustrating experience for many players.
“The concept is interesting, but the core gameplay loop is extremely tedious and repetitive.”
“The whole grind feels ungodly slow and each battle feels ungodly tedious.”
“I'll be doing the same exact, tedious, visually identical thing, slowly, painfully, just to unlock small boons that may not have any actual influence on your playability.”
- optimization9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and high frame rates, others experience significant issues like memory leaks and poor optimization on specific platforms like the Steam Deck. The randomization factor encourages creative builds, but the need for further optimizations is evident, particularly in addressing performance drops over time. Players hope for continued improvements from the developers to enhance the overall experience.
“The randomization factor adds a different flavor to play, so you're always thinking about builds and optimizations not on pre-conceived concepts but on what you're drawing.”
“Similar to STS, decks and builds are fully emergent based on what you find, and there are abundant opportunities to thin and upgrade your deck and artifacts to improve your performance.”
“I'm sure the developers are working hard on these interactions as some had already been optimized, such as the shrapnel card.”
“The game has definitely got a memory leak: when I start playing I have no performance-related issues, but after a few runs, my FPS goes down.”
“Horribly optimized.”
“Even though it's not optimized for the Steam Deck, that's what I've exclusively been playing it on.”
- music7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as atmospheric and fitting, though opinions vary, with some finding it lacking or mood-killing. While the sound design for actions like card plays and enemy deaths is praised for its satisfying quality, comparisons to other games highlight a desire for more engaging music. Overall, the soundtrack contributes to the game's ambiance but may not stand out significantly.
“Great music and atmosphere as well.”
“The art direction is not cheap and the epic music really sets the mood.”
“Another game called Cobalt Core (another Slay the Spire-like) has really great sounds and music that I always wanted to hear.”
“The music is eerie and in-flavor, but nothing to write home about. However, the sound design on cards and enemy deaths is super chunky and satisfying.”
“The music is lacking.”
“The music is such a mood-killer.”
- story7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and presence, with many reviewers noting that it feels non-existent and primarily serves as a backdrop for gameplay rewards. While the unique storybook design and polished art style are appreciated, the overall narrative experience is minimal, focusing more on gameplay mechanics than a cohesive campaign. Players can choose character classes and build decks, but the absence of substantial story events leaves a desire for more narrative content.
“The storybook pop-up/origami design is very unique.”
“The art style and voice acting are surprisingly polished for an early access game; I found the pop-up storybook theme quite charming and would love to see what they manage with future books!”
“I wish there were more events and story beats, but everything is just about the rewards and not much else.”
“There is no story campaign, or at least as of yet, meaning the core of this game is the gameplay loop—great for multiplayer, less so for solo play.”
“The graphics are lazy and oddly demanding on your system, and the story is non-existent.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its multiplayer experience, which leads to amusing coordination mishaps and plenty of laughter among players. Additionally, the developers' active engagement on forums and their lighthearted approach to feedback contribute to the overall comedic atmosphere surrounding the game.
“Multiplayer is hilarious, because even if we were in voice chat we still made so many coordination mistakes!”
“Lots of laughing and 'OMG Emanuil, what are you doing!?' situations for a low price.”
“The devs are very active on the Steam forums and on their own Discord for their games, and seem to take feedback (positive and negative) very well, with a good sense of humor.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating visuals and enjoyable audio, creating an immersive experience that enhances gameplay. While the art style contributes positively to the overall ambiance, some users noted issues with the user interface. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a strong point, adding depth and engagement to the game.
“The atmosphere is really nice and enjoyable.”
“A fun co-op roguelite with captivating visuals, atmospheric audio, engaging deck-building mechanics, and an excellent gameplay loop that will keep you coming back for more.”
“It's got depth, it's got atmosphere, it's got a future.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates commendable stability for an early access title, with users reporting minimal glitches and bugs. While some quality of life improvements are needed, the overall experience is positive, leading to a rating of 7.5.
“A little buggy and lacking in quality of life features at the moment, but otherwise it's great.”
“It's one of those rare cases where early access is not a huge buggy mess.”
“Overall, I would rate the game a 7.5 in its current early access state, and I didn't encounter any glitches.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While some users acknowledge that there are games with superior writing and character development, they find themselves repeatedly drawn to this game, suggesting that its character development, despite its flaws, has a compelling quality that keeps players engaged.
“The character development in this game is incredibly deep and engaging, making each character feel unique and relatable.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, with their backstories and motivations being revealed at just the right pace.”
“The way the game handles character arcs is impressive; I found myself genuinely invested in their journeys and growth.”
“The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
“I expected more depth in the characters, but they all seem one-dimensional and forgettable.”
“The lack of meaningful character progression left me feeling disengaged from the story.”
