Heroes of Hammerwatch

An enjoyable little rogue-lite with a mountain's worth of replayability, Heroes of Hammerwatch is the perfect game for killing a little time either alone or with friends

86%Game Brain Score

gameplay, replayability

grinding, story

88% User Score Based on 8,656 reviews

Critic Score 82%Based on 9 reviews

Platforms

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About

Heroes of Hammerwatch is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Crackshell and was released on March 1, 2018. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Heroes of Hammerwatch" is a hack-and-slash action-adventure game set in a fantasy universe. Players can choose from various character classes, each with unique abilities, and venture into procedurally generated dungeons to fight enemies, collect loot, and level up. The game also features a town defense mode, where players must work together to protect the town from enemy invasions. Cooperative multiplayer is available for up to 3 players.

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,656 reviews

gameplay434 positive mentions

grinding748 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay with a variety of classes and abilities that provide a unique experience for each run.
Satisfying progression system that allows players to upgrade their town and characters, creating a sense of achievement.
Fun to play with friends, enhancing the overall experience and adding to the game's replayability.

Extremely grindy, especially in the early game, which can lead to frustration for players.
Multiplayer connectivity issues, including frequent disconnections and lack of a rejoin option, detracting from the co-op experience.
Some design choices, such as hidden buttons and traps, can feel tedious and frustrating, impacting the overall enjoyment.

gameplay
1,052 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The gameplay of "Heroes of Hammerwatch" is characterized by a mix of fun, addictive mechanics and a grind-heavy progression system that can feel repetitive over time. Players appreciate the variety of classes and the depth of gameplay, especially in co-op mode, but many express frustration with the game's reliance on grinding and the lack of meaningful rewards, leading to a sense of staleness in the gameplay loop. While the game offers a satisfying challenge and engaging mechanics, some players find the overall experience marred by clunky controls and a lack of clarity in certain mechanics.
- “Running through the dungeons is very enjoyable and you can feel your character getting stronger as you unlock skills and various mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is great and there are a lot of aspects to it that add a lot of depth to the experience.”
- “The mechanics are overall pretty solid, the classes are unique enough to keep the gameplay loop interesting without having to relearn how to play every time you pick up a new character, and there's a definite and clear sense of progression throughout the game.”
- “The main gameplay loop is annoying and you either have to farm early levels for town progression or skip levels to get experience and level progression.”
- “There's a whole buttload of mechanics that exist solely to extend the grind.”
- “The gameplay is just...boring.”
grinding
756 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The game is widely regarded as extremely grindy, with many players noting that progression often requires repetitive tasks and significant time investment to upgrade characters and resources. While some enjoy the grind as part of the experience, finding it rewarding and engaging, others feel it becomes tedious and unfulfilling, especially in solo play. Overall, the grinding aspect is a defining feature of the game, appealing primarily to those who appreciate long-term progression and cooperative gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Not very grindy.”
- “Not only that but this game is extremely grindy.”
- “By the end you'll be dreading playing because all you're doing is mindlessly grinding to have any chance at progressing.”
- “It's not that good, it feels extremely grindy but with no real reward.”
replayability
386 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
43%
1%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, largely due to its New Game Plus (NG+) system, random gear pickups, and procedurally generated levels, which keep each run feeling fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the variety of classes, upgrades, and cooperative gameplay, contributing to a nearly limitless replay value, especially with the addition of DLC content. While some find the grind-heavy nature of certain aspects a drawback, the overall consensus is that the game offers a wealth of content and replayability that can keep players engaged for hours.
- “Replayability is very high as the NG+ system offers prominent additional features such as new boss mechanics to keep the game fresh.”
- “This game is one of my favorites because it has nigh limitless replayability.”
- “The game plays so much better than it ever looked on video and has such an addicting progression with incredible depth and replayability.”
- “The DLC and NG+ system is a way to extend the replayability, but it does feel grind-heavy real quick.”
- “I lacked the motivation to replay it after winning a run once; however, I strongly believe most people will find it quite replayable.”
- “But I can’t recommend it for solo play, or if you intend for a long replayable experience.”
graphics
346 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The graphics of "Heroes of Hammerwatch" are predominantly pixel art, evoking a nostalgic 16-bit aesthetic that appeals to fans of retro gaming. While many players appreciate the charming visuals and the variety of enemy designs, some criticize the graphics as simplistic or lacking detail, with a few noting occasional graphical glitches. Overall, the game's art style is generally well-received, particularly among those who enjoy pixel graphics and the indie game aesthetic.
- “The graphical style evokes the old game even though it is really nicely done.”
- “The graphics and animation work together nicely.”
- “Beautiful pixel graphics, catchy music and tons and tons of content between leveling & upgrading all the classes, as well as upgrading your town and guild, this game is a steal and an absolute gem.”
- “Some of the sprite artwork is very ugly, gold is scattered in such large amounts it feels like the kingdom is suffering deflation, and gameplay is very dull.”
- “Interesting gameplay, but awful UI and graphics.”
- “Too many puzzles, graphics are very bad and not in a cute way.”
music
274 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
43%
3%
The music in "Heroes of Hammerwatch" has received widespread acclaim for its catchy and engaging soundtrack, which many players find memorable and enjoyable even after extended playtime. While some reviewers noted that the music can become repetitive, the overall quality and thematic variety across different areas are praised, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, enhancing the gameplay experience and evoking nostalgia for classic gaming.
- “After 80 hours, the soundtrack is still masterful, and has never gotten grating or overplayed in the time I've enjoyed the title.”
- “The individual pieces are very long compared to some other games that put music on a loop, so it always feels fresh.”
- “The music is incredible.”
- “The soundtrack is catchy enough, but could use more variety within areas, perhaps with a handful of different tracks to each dungeon environment that change randomly on playthrough or floor.”
- “Soon it became dull and repetitive with the same unnerving music.”
- “What I didn't like about the game was the re-use of the old game's soundtrack and effects, even though they improved it and added new ones obviously and it's really great I loved the old game's soundtrack but it felt lazy.”
story
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
88%
9%
The game's story is generally considered minimal or shallow, with many players noting that it lacks depth and motivation to progress. While some appreciate the basic narrative structure, such as defeating bosses, most agree that the gameplay is the primary focus rather than the story itself. For those seeking a rich narrative experience, titles like Hades are recommended instead.
- “Plenty of things to kill and the DLCs are no joke; every one of them adds more to the story and gives you other things to do as well.”
- “For an indie game, it has so many things to do. If you got the 3 DLCs as well, then there's probably a ton more stuff to do. There's also different classes to explore and experiment with different builds on, dungeons are never the same, and a decent storyline.”
- “The story (although not the main focus of the game) is clear and concise; your progression actively feels like you are getting closer and closer to slaying the 'big bad' of the world.”
- “There is extremely little story.”
- “I got this game for about 12 USD and I did enjoy it enough for that price, but it lacks a story and I lost motivation to actually finish the game.”
- “Some titles like Hades really weave their story into the cyclical nature of these kinds of games, but this one definitely does not.”
stability
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting crashes at critical moments, persistent bugs, and glitches that affect both single-player and multiplayer experiences. While some players find it mostly playable, many express frustration over issues like freezing pets, connection problems, and the need for frequent restarts. Overall, the game is described as unpolished and buggy, though some players still enjoy it despite these shortcomings.
- “Runs great under Linux. Thanks for the support once again.”
- “Fun, fast RPG rogue shooter hell, and pretty much bug-free on my PC.”
- “My only issue is that it crashes in vital spots in the game, whether it be a red and black screen to the point you could try to open your map and guide your character through the gauntlet before your game freezes or it crashes, leaving your 897 ore and 300k gold gone.”
- “Kind of buggy -- launching the game is sometimes glitched which requires a computer restart for some reason, and you can't launch from a shortcut; it just won't work.”
- “Finally, the game is also a buggy piece of shit.”
humor
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying hilarious moments such as cascading deaths and unexpected mishaps during co-op play. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to create funny in-jokes among friends, thanks to its engaging mechanics and amusing spell effects. Overall, the combination of polished gameplay and comedic elements makes it a highly entertaining experience for both solo and multiplayer sessions.
- “It's a dungeon crawler with RPG elements, pretty engaging and funny.”
- “You and the bois running in and laughing at each other stepping on spike traps; getting your jimmies rustled when your one friend Leeroy Jenkins into a swarm of skeletons and dies.”
- “I am deeply offended that it took me so long to find this game. I have been playing it like crazy with a friend, and it has become a bit of an in-joke for us to compliment the game while playing it. You can say whatever you want about this game, but it's obvious that a lot of time and polishing has gone into it.”
optimization
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
28%
36%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering, random crashes, and poor performance on integrated graphics. While some users report smooth gameplay and a good cost-performance ratio, others highlight that the game struggles with optimization, particularly in massive server scenarios and specific acts. Despite its engaging gameplay and features, the optimization flaws detract from the overall experience.
- “Game runs smoothly.”
- “Gameplay is responsive and runs smoothly.”
- “- excellent cost-performance ratio”
- “There is definitely something missing, and/or there are clear flaws in performance.”
- “Great game with lots of features, exciting gameplay and pure atmosphere of Hammerwatch, but bad optimization for integrated graphics, such as my Intel HD Graphics 4000.”
- “Either way, while the massive servers are a hoot and a half, they are not optimized and no matter the computer you can still crash on Act 3.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its polished graphics, impressive sound design, and immersive medieval setting, particularly within the dungeons. While many players appreciate the nostalgic elements of the soundtrack, some feel that the reuse of old audio content comes off as lazy. Overall, the game successfully creates a captivating environment that enhances the dungeon-crawling experience, despite some concerns about optimization for lower-end graphics.
- “I've never seen a game pull off certain atmospheres like this game.”
- “The graphics also look really nice, and the awesome details like the occasional eagle flying over really add to the atmosphere.”
- “If you love dungeon crawlers, an amazing medieval atmosphere and a fair amount of grinding to buy upgrades and level up your character, I would highly recommend it.”
- “Great game with lots of features, exciting gameplay and pure atmosphere of Hammerwatch, but bad optimization for integrated graphics, such as my Intel HD Graphics 4000.”
- “What I didn't like about the game was the re-use of the old game's soundtrack and effects, even though they improved it and added new ones obviously. I loved the old game's soundtrack, but it felt lazy in my opinion. Or maybe they just saw how the community loved the game and wanted to re-create the atmosphere again, I don't know.”
- “If you love dungeon crawlers, an amazing medieval atmosphere, and a fair amount of grinding to buy upgrades and level up your character, I would highly recommend it.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
The game offers a mix of deep character development and RPG growth mechanics, appealing to players who enjoy permadeath and diverse character design. However, some users note a lack of meaningful choices in character development, which may limit the depth of customization. Overall, it combines engaging gameplay with varied character options, though it may not satisfy those seeking extensive development choices.
- “If you like random dungeons that are never the same, making your run fresh every game, or you're into deep character development with permadeath, then this game is for you.”
- “I got this game because of the character development features.”
- “Character design and variety, with lots of RPG growth mechanics on top of gauntlet action gameplay.”
- “There is also almost no choice in character development.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The monetization model is criticized for resembling a pay-to-win structure, where players must invest significant time to progress, leading to perceptions of it being a cash grab rather than a genuine improvement over previous titles like Hammerwatch.
- “It's almost like playing a free-to-play game with pay-to-win monetization, except you just pay with your own time here.”
- “It feels like a loveless cash grab instead of a better Hammerwatch.”