HELLCARD: Prologue

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HELLCARD: Prologue is a single player and multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by Thing Trunk and was released on January 30, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

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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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 181 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

monetization13 negative mentions

Unique and engaging co-op gameplay that enhances the experience with friends.
Visually appealing art style and well-designed mechanics that add depth to the gameplay.
Offers a fresh take on the deck-building roguelike genre with strategic positioning and card synergies.

Severe balancing issues, particularly with character classes and enemy difficulty spikes.
The game feels unfinished and lacks depth in story and content, making it less appealing for a full purchase.
Some gameplay mechanics can be confusing and lead to frustrating experiences, especially in single-player mode.

gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
45%
13%
The gameplay is characterized by a unique blend of co-op roguelike deck-building mechanics, featuring light positioning elements and a companion system, which adds depth but can feel slightly dull at times. Players appreciate the fast-paced, responsive nature of the game, with its engaging battlefield layout and variety of mechanics that cater to both newcomers and veterans. While the aesthetics and overall design are praised, some feel that certain gameplay elements may be lacking, leaving room for improvement.
- “Really fun co-op roguelike deck builder with light positioning mechanics added to the mix.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced and easy to learn, so both new entrants and gaming veterans would enjoy it.”
- “The companion system seems neat, but the gameplay does feel slightly dull.”
- “But the gameplay just isn't engaging.”
- “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.”
graphics
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
30%
13%
The game's graphics are a mixed bag, with many praising its unique and gorgeous art style, particularly the paper aesthetic, which enhances the overall experience. While some players appreciate the clean mechanics and optimization that allow for high performance even on older PCs, others criticize the visuals as subpar or "fugly," particularly in terms of text readability. Overall, the graphics contribute to a distinctive aesthetic that some find captivating, while others feel it detracts from the gameplay.
- “The art style of this game is truly unique and absolutely gorgeous.”
- “I love the paper aesthetic.”
- “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.”
monetization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for being misleading, as it primarily serves as an advertisement rather than a full game, charging players $25 for what feels like a low-quality product. Reviewers express frustration over the prevalence of such ads masquerading as games on platforms like Steam, arguing that they detract from genuine developers and mislead consumers. Overall, the monetization strategy is seen as exploitative and harmful to the gaming community.
- “The purpose of this advertisement is to get you to fork out a completely insane twenty-five US dollars for the full low poly 'I can't believe it's not a mobile app' game, and I really don't recommend you do.”
- “While it might seem like an innocuous mistake, publishing demos and advertisements as if they are full games is misleading and in some ways harmful.”
- “It's impossible for me to recommend this incorrectly published advertising spam to gamers; you deserve better than adverts.”
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 a simple narrative can be acceptable, the overall consensus is that the story does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience.
- “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, contributing to a high replayability factor, especially in regular mode. However, some players feel that certain classes, like the mage, can diminish replay value after a few runs due to their overpowering abilities. Despite minor bugs, the game remains addictive and offers a fresh experience 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 engaging environment and 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 to fully concentrate on gameplay mechanics like spell casting and risk assessment.
- “The music in this game perfectly complements the gameplay, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances every moment.”
- “I love how the soundtrack evolves with the game, making each level feel unique and engaging.”
- “The sound design is top-notch, with every note and sound effect adding depth to the overall experience.”
- “The background music is so repetitive that it becomes a distraction rather than an enhancement to the gameplay.”
- “The soundtrack lacks variety and fails to create an engaging atmosphere, making the experience feel dull.”
- “I found the music to be uninspired and forgettable, which detracted from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring an unrealistic amount of effort to progress, likening it to needing a second life to manage the demands.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 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 lacking, causing frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the poor optimization leads to long loading times and crashes on mid-range systems.”
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%
Players find the card game to be both exciting and humorous, highlighting its ability to deliver engaging and entertaining experiences.
- “This card game is not only interesting but also incredibly funny, making every session a blast.”
- “The humor in this game keeps me laughing, adding a delightful twist to the gameplay.”
- “I love how the game combines strategy with hilarious moments that catch you off guard.”