High Hell

Short but sweet, High Hell could benefit from a bit more variety in player abilities and weapons, but nonetheless makes the most of what it has to create a chaotic, challenging and gratifying few hours of vulgar, hilarious mayhem.

85%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

grinding, stability

85% User Score Based on 843 reviews

Critic Score 76%Based on 8 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $9.99

Buy NowGet on Steam$9.99

Buy NowGet on itch.io Store$9.99

About

In High Hell, players engage in fast-paced, arcade-style first-person shooter combat with a neon-soaked aesthetic. Complete over 20 outrageous missions, where you'll save sacrificial goats, infiltrate drug labs, and defeat eccentric bosses. Utilize an array of weapons, including a powerful shotgun, while executing drop kicks and pyromania to bring down the criminal underworld.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 843 reviews

gameplay65 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Fast-paced and fun gameplay that keeps players engaged.
Unique art style and great soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
Interactive loading screens add a humorous touch and keep the game entertaining.

Very short game length, typically completed in under two hours.
Only one weapon available, which can make gameplay feel repetitive.
Boss fights can be frustrating and lack clear mechanics, leading to a less satisfying experience.

gameplay
197 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The gameplay is characterized by its fast-paced, twitch shooter mechanics that emphasize speed and precision, often drawing comparisons to titles like Hotline Miami. While the core loop is easy to grasp and addictive, many players find it repetitive due to a lack of variety in levels, weapons, and mechanics, leading to a short overall experience of about one to four hours. Despite its stylish presentation and engaging soundtrack, the simplicity and limited content may leave some players wanting more depth and replayability.
- “You dance and shoot to the beat of the music, memorize paths and shortcuts, and then execute them all in a gratifying display of mechanical prowess.”
- “Frenetic, arcady, super fun FPS set in a ridiculous world with spot-on gameplay mechanics and fresh ideas.”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced and unforgiving with an emphasis on speed and accuracy.”
- “If you're not into speedrunning you probably won't replay it, so the full 10 bucks for about an hour of gameplay might be a bit much.”
- “The gameplay, while fast-paced and fluid, got very repetitive with little to no changes in enemy AI or player weaponry; you just click until they die.”
- “Overall there isn't enough content to warrant anything over £2, and the content that is there is copy and paste enemies and environments and janky mechanics that make the game more frustrating than enjoyable.”
graphics
178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and vibrant art style, often described as cartoonish, psychedelic, and reminiscent of indie titles like "Sludge Life." While many reviewers appreciate the aesthetic and how it complements the gameplay, some note that the visuals can become repetitive and that the game's simplistic graphics may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, enhancing the game's charm and atmosphere despite some technical limitations.
- “The visuals and overall weird theme (including the interactive cutscenes) are great, and actually deliver more environmental storytelling than I was expecting.”
- “The graphics are beautifully simple and ironic and run extremely well even on integrated graphics.”
- “High Hell is a fantastic indie shoot-em-up title with cartoon-style graphics developed by Terri Vellmann and published by Devolver Digital.”
- “Locking this game's framerate at 60 fps might be an aesthetic choice, but it is a bad one.”
- “The graphics and presentation definitely got me in, but I was becoming disappointed the more I played it due to the gameplay.”
- “The cartoony low-detail cel-shaded graphics fall in with the theme of 'this game is barebones'.”
music
137 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
43%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its energetic and engaging soundtrack by doseone, which complements the fast-paced gameplay and vibrant visuals. Many players describe the soundtrack as a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience with its catchy electronic beats and unique style. While some critiques mention repetitiveness in sound design, the majority agree that the music significantly elevates the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
- “The soundtrack of this beautiful game is an absolute banger set of funky, wubby and colourful synth goodness, handcrafted and full length, so every single level has different and unique music.”
- “The music aesthetically fits the vibe and the style of the game perfectly and could hardly be any better made, it's absolutely beautiful what they did with the music.”
- “High Hell is a fun little FPS with an amazingly stylish art style and a bopping soundtrack that you can probably 100% within a couple of hours.”
- “The sounds are repetitive and the music is this kind of unending clamor with no rhythm to it.”
- “The gameplay loop is too repetitive and I don't think the other aspects (soundtrack, visuals, etc.) pull their weight enough to keep you engaged.”
- “1 gun, repetitive levels, droning music.”
story
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
79%
6%
The game's story is often described as minimal and nonsensical, serving primarily as a backdrop for its fast-paced gameplay rather than a central focus. Players appreciate the quirky and absurd themes, with some environmental storytelling elements, but many note that the narrative lacks depth and coherence. Overall, while the missions are entertaining and encourage replayability, those seeking a rich story may find it lacking.
- “The visuals and overall weird theme, including the interactive cutscenes, are great and actually deliver more environmental storytelling than I was expecting.”
- “It's got some really wacky visuals and the story is as nonsensical as it comes, but it feels unique, and that's more than most games accomplish these days.”
- “I really enjoyed the weird quasi-story going on that you pick up purely through level design and load screen minigames.”
- “There's not really much of a story in High Hell.”
- “The story, such as it is, is definitely... offbeat.”
- “It's a weak story, but obviously that doesn't matter.”
humor
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky, absurd, and often surreal nature, with many players enjoying the interactive and funny loading screens, as well as the bizarre enemy designs and mission objectives. While some find the humor to be a bit random or crude, it generally adds a charming and entertaining layer to the gameplay experience, making it a highlight for many reviewers. However, a few players noted that the humor sometimes gets overshadowed by gameplay frustrations or the game's brevity.
- “The humor is great, with the funny loading screens between levels (that are all different from each other!) and the absurd mission goals.”
- “It's so densely packed with moments of hilarious ingenuity.”
- “High Hell is an extremely charming, funny, and well-designed game.”
replayability
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
64%
7%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the addictive nature of speedrunning and high-score challenges, others find the short length limits overall replay value. Some enjoy the pursuit of achievements and collectibles, but the lack of substantial content beyond the main missions leaves others feeling that replayability is minimal. Overall, it caters well to perfectionists and score-chasers, but may not appeal to those seeking deeper, varied gameplay experiences.
- “The game has 20 (or 21, including the tutorial mission?) levels, which can be finished in one to two hours max, but the game has huge replay value, as speedrunning the levels is a true feast of pleasure.”
- “I really enjoyed replaying levels for collectibles, high scores, and fast speeds, so I got plenty of replay value out of the levels.”
- “Every level is meticulously crafted to be very replayable.”
- “It's a very short game with no replay value outside of maybe speedrunning.”
- “I beat it in one sitting in a little over an hour and though there are plenty of opportunities for achievement hunting, that is the only replay value you are going to get from this game.”
- “The only issue is that it's very short with no endless or replayable mode (you can still replay missions).”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
30%
60%
Reviews on grinding in the game highlight a mix of enjoyment and frustration. While some players appreciate the thrill of speedrunning and collecting items, finding pleasure in the arcade-style gameplay, others find the grinding experience tedious and repetitive, leading to a decline in enjoyment over time. Overall, the game offers a satisfying grind for completionists, but it can become monotonous for those seeking a more engaging experience.
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The enjoyment doesn't last when the game just becomes tedious and annoying.”
- “Very tedious product with very boring gameplay.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players report that while the game is enjoyable initially, it suffers from noticeable glitches and bad mechanics that become apparent during replay, particularly when collecting items or speedrunning. Issues with settings, such as mouse sensitivity, also contribute to a generally unstable experience.
- “It really was quite enjoyable at first, but as with most games, when you start going back for collectibles or speedrunning, the bad mechanics and glitches become blatant and obvious.”
- “Setting options is buggy; I had specific issues with setting up mouse sensitivity.”
- “The game feels glitchy sometimes and never glitches in your favor.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some players experience random performance issues despite having high-end hardware, others report no performance problems at all. The game is well-suited for speedrunners and high score chasers, featuring systems that support competitive play, such as level scoring and leaderboard integration.
- “I can very easily see myself playing this multiple times too, as each level lends itself to optimized routes if you're into speedrunning and that sort of thing.”
- “+no performance issues.”
- “I also had random performance issues on some levels, which is weird because I have an i9 9000 and an NVIDIA 2060 Super, which well exceeds the requirements.”
- “If you're a speedrunner or high score chaser, this game will last you for its price: what few systems it has outside its gameplay are oriented toward those two crowds, with your performance each level scored, Steam leaderboard integration, and a built-in playthrough timer.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The atmosphere of the game is polarizing; while some users appreciate the distinctive graphics and energetic music that contribute to an engaging experience, others criticize it as lacking depth and being visually unappealing. Overall, opinions vary significantly, with some finding it vibrant and others deeming it boring and pointless.
- “The graphics and sound create a very distinctive atmosphere.”
- “An energetic atmosphere due to creative visuals and great music.”
- “Pointless, boring, short, ugly, lacks atmosphere... pointless!”
- “The graphics and sound create a very distinctive atmosphere, but it ultimately falls flat.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of "High Hell" has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that it exploits nostalgic appeal through retro ads while failing to deliver on the promised gameplay experience.
- “As it is, High Hell appears to be a quick cash grab to capitalize on the screenshots looking mildly similar to Superhot.”
- “The one with cool retro ads that were promising old-school gameplay with breakneck speeds?”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its unique visual style and quirky design, which contribute to an engaging and entertaining experience. The minimalist and bizarre aesthetics, along with the humorous lore, enhance the overall appeal, although some character interactions, like the beezlebot fight, may feel awkward due to the design choices.
- “It has its own special visual style that makes it stand out from most of the game at first sight, and it just screams something that's published by Devolver Digital; the minimalist and bizarre style that predominates in all the levels of the game in its character design and levels and all the funny little lore that the game builds is quite attractive and entertaining.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players often find the emotional aspect of the game deeply impactful, with many expressing that it evokes strong feelings, including the urge to cry. This suggests that the narrative and character development resonate powerfully, creating a poignant experience.
- “This game made me feel a whirlwind of emotions; I found myself crying at several points.”
- “The story was so touching that it brought tears to my eyes.”
- “I was completely immersed in the characters' struggles, and it left me emotionally drained but fulfilled.”