HELLCARD: Prologue

About

ADD THE FULL GAME TO YOUR WISHLIST About the Game Hellcard: Prologue is a cooperative roguelike deckbuilder that can be played in both Singleplayer and Multiplayer modes. The prologue lets you try a portion of the main game with only a limited number of cards, artifacts, and monsters. What makes HELLCARD unique and different from most card games is that monster placement actually matters and…

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Play Modes

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 178 reviews

graphics13 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features a unique art style and engaging gameplay mechanics that blend elements from popular titles like Slay the Spire and Darkest Dungeon.
The cooperative multiplayer aspect adds a fun dynamic, allowing players to strategize together and enjoy the game with friends.
The card-based combat system is well thought out, providing a variety of tactical options and replayability through different character classes and card combinations.

Many players find the difficulty spikes to be frustrating, with some levels feeling overwhelmingly challenging compared to earlier ones.
The game has been criticized for balance issues, particularly regarding character classes and the effectiveness of certain cards, leading to a lack of variety in gameplay.
Some users report that the game feels unfinished or lacks depth, with limited content in the prologue and a need for more polish before the full release.

graphics
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
30%
13%
The game's graphics have received mixed reviews, with many praising its unique and gorgeous art style, particularly the paper aesthetic, which adds charm to the gameplay. While some players appreciate the clean mechanics and high optimization that allow it to run smoothly on older PCs, others criticize the visuals as subpar or "fugly," noting issues with text size and overall appearance. Overall, the graphics are seen as a defining feature, contributing to both the game's appeal and its challenges.
- “The art style of this game is truly unique and absolutely gorgeous.”
- “The game also runs even on very old PCs, and thanks to its simplistic graphics and highly tuned optimization, I got very high frames even at 4K while keeping the GPU around a cool 50 degrees.”
- “Very difficult, but fascinating, beautiful style of graphics.”
- “Subpar graphics”
- “The visuals are, and I'm putting this mildly, fugly.”
- “Other than the hideous visuals, the game has a problem with text and damage floaters being too small.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
41%
14%
The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players finding it slightly dull despite its unique mechanics and engaging atmosphere. While the game features a blend of strong elements from various genres, including a tactical twist in its deck-building and fast-paced action, some feel it lacks depth in certain areas. Overall, it offers a responsive and enjoyable experience with great replayability, appealing to both newcomers and veterans alike.
- “That being said, this seems like a well-made game that definitely blends a few different strong mechanics of various games that shine in their genre, creating a unique experience that becomes quick and enjoyable with a great replayability factor (if you choose to play the regular mode instead of the endless one).”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced and easy to learn, so both new entrants and gaming veterans would enjoy it.”
- “Gameplay is very unique for a deckbuilder: you play on a large battlefield full of creatures rather than just having a handful of combatants on the left vs right side.”
- “The companion system seems neat, but the gameplay does feel slightly dull.”
- “But the gameplay just isn't engaging.”
- “Would the 'circle' mechanic be essential to the game? I also assume it wouldn't work if enemies just swarm from one side.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many users noting that it feels minimal or non-existent. While some acknowledge that this may not detract from the overall experience, the absence of a compelling narrative is a common point of feedback.
- “I see very little depth to any story or potential story (which is fine, does anyone remember the plot of Slay the Spire? I don't think so).”
- “No story.”
- “- No story.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Overall, the game is praised for its strong mechanics and polished gameplay, offering a high replayability factor, especially in regular mode. However, some players feel that certain classes, like the mage, can diminish replayability after a few runs due to their overpowering abilities. Despite minor bugs, the game remains addictive and engaging for multiple playthroughs.
- “That being said, this seems like a well-made game that definitely blends a few different strong mechanics of various games, creating a unique experience that becomes quick and enjoyable with a great replayability factor (if you choose to play the regular mode instead of the endless one).”
- “Pretty polished, unique gameplay that hits many notes from the genre while still being fresh and replayable.”
- “A few bugs where the game locks up, but other than that... it's incredibly addictive and replayable.”
- “I don't think that this game has any replayability after 2 runs because the mage is an S-tier class that can do global freezes and cast global damage spells like 'Armageddon' - it makes other classes seem subpar by comparison.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting its immersive qualities and strong mechanics, suggesting a promising overall experience.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world.”
- “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
- “The sound design and visuals create a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The music in the game is often overshadowed by the intense focus required for strategic decision-making, leading some players to turn it off in favor of concentrating on gameplay mechanics like spell casting and risk assessment.
- “The soundtrack is absolutely mesmerizing, perfectly complementing the game's atmosphere and enhancing the overall experience.”
- “Each track is thoughtfully composed, immersing players in the world and making every moment feel epic.”
- “The music dynamically changes with the gameplay, creating an engaging and immersive environment that keeps you on your toes.”
- “The background music is so repetitive that it becomes a distraction rather than an enhancement to the gameplay.”
- “I found the music to be bland and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- “The soundtrack feels out of place and doesn't match the game's atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it still feels like I'm nowhere.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, allowing it to run smoothly on older PCs and deliver high frame rates even at 4K resolution, all while maintaining low GPU temperatures.
- “The game runs smoothly even on very old PCs, and thanks to its simplistic graphics and highly tuned optimization, I achieved very high frame rates even at 4K while keeping the GPU around a cool 50 degrees.”
- “The optimization in this game is impressive; it allows for high performance on a variety of hardware setups without sacrificing visual quality.”
- “I was pleasantly surprised by how well the game is optimized, providing a seamless experience even on lower-end systems.”
- “The game runs even on very old PCs, and thanks to its simplistic graphics and highly tuned optimization, I got very high frame rates even at 4K while keeping the GPU around a cool 50 degrees.”
- “The optimization is terrible; I experience constant frame drops and stuttering, even on a high-end system.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the optimization issues make it nearly unplayable at times, with long loading times and frequent crashes.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is impacted by class balance, particularly with the mage class being overwhelmingly powerful, leading to a lack of replayability after a few runs as other classes feel inferior.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users find the humor in the card game to be engaging and entertaining, contributing to an overall exciting experience.
- “This card game is not only interesting but also filled with hilarious moments that keep you laughing.”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, making every round a delightful experience.”
- “I love how the game combines strategy with humor, creating a fun and engaging atmosphere.”