Jupiter Hell

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,619 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Jupiter Hell Game Cover
This is one of the granddaddies of the traditional roguelike genre and while being any good at it requires a time commitment, the rewards are exhilarating.
Starting at €6.29Buy now
Get on Steam Get on itch.io Store

"Jupiter Hell" is a turn-based strategy game that takes place on the moon of Jupiter, Io. As a space marine, players must fight their way through hordes of alien creatures to complete various missions. With a variety of weapons, upgrades, and abilities to choose from, players can customize their marine to fit their playstyle. The game features procedurally generated levels, ensuring a unique experience every playthrough.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,619 reviews
gameplay120 positive mentions
grinding20 negative mentions
  • Incredibly fun and engaging gameplay that combines turn-based mechanics with a fast-paced Doom aesthetic.
  • High replayability due to diverse character builds, weapons, and challenge modes.
  • Excellent sound design and voice acting that adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The game can be brutally difficult, especially on higher difficulty levels, which may frustrate some players.
  • Limited enemy and weapon variety can lead to repetitive gameplay over time.
  • Lack of meta-progression means players start from scratch with each run, which may not appeal to everyone.
  • gameplay369 mentions

    The gameplay of "Jupiter Hell" is characterized by its deep mechanics and tactical turn-based combat, emphasizing positioning and cover while allowing for a variety of character builds and playstyles. Players appreciate the blend of roguelike elements with a focus on ranged combat, which creates a unique and engaging experience, though some find the mechanics can feel repetitive over time. Overall, the game is praised for its addictive gameplay loop, solid graphics, and a satisfying progression system, making it a worthy successor to its predecessor, "DoomRL."

    • “All builds are ultimately viable, thanks to a surprisingly deep and varied set of mechanics; this becomes quite obvious once you get a good feel for the game, and even more so once you start playing its many unlockable game modes.”
    • “Fun, snappy gameplay that gets you right into the turn-based action.”
    • “The gameplay is both fast-paced and intense while still forcing you to stop, hold your breath while you analyze the situation and try to strategize as best as you can to survive a genuine challenge.”
    • “This thing is mechanically lacking and sadly very short.”
    • “The gameplay loop is relatively tight and limited and as a result personally I find the tactics a bit repetitive once locked into a particular style, but maybe a higher difficulty will at least add more spice.”
    • “The gameplay is too high risk no reward, the immersion is way too short-lived and the game overall lacks the small, easily forgotten touches that makes a great gaming experience.”
  • graphics253 mentions

    The graphics of Jupiter Hell have received widespread praise for their modern 3D aesthetic, which effectively captures the nostalgic 90s sci-fi and Doom-inspired atmosphere. Many players appreciate the polished visuals, smooth animations, and immersive lighting effects, although some have noted that the darker environments can make it difficult to distinguish characters and enemies. Overall, the game is considered a significant graphical upgrade from traditional roguelikes, enhancing the gameplay experience without detracting from its core mechanics.

    • “The graphics are amazing for a traditional roguelike, and you can really tell the amount of optimization and coding effort that went into the game.”
    • “The graphics and the lighting are pure eye candy with the highest quality settings on a 4K monitor.”
    • “Jupiter Hell is a no-bullshit, no-tedium streamlined traditional roguelike with 3D graphics, animations, and a physics engine, making it truly unique and one of the more stunning titles in the genre to look at.”
    • “The graphics are very dated for a modern game, and the main character's movements seem forced and abnormal.”
    • “The graphics leave a lot to be desired.”
    • “Graphically speaking, looking at Jupiter Hell you might immediately think that it was written in Unity or Unreal.”
  • music204 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its heavy metal soundtrack for enhancing the gameplay experience and evoking nostalgia, particularly for fans of classic titles like Doom. However, some players find the music repetitive and generic, leading them to mute it or seek alternative playlists. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received for its energy and fitting atmosphere, there are calls for more variety and dynamic elements to keep it engaging throughout longer play sessions.

    • “The music, environments, and gameplay are all really great, so I'd say it's worth getting on sale.”
    • “The soundtrack is heavy metal, because you're throwing lead at your enemies, and lead is a heavy metal.”
    • “The music is awesome and the voice acting for the main character is just perfect for the mood they're going for.”
    • “Tough I am a passionate metalhead, I play with the music muted because the metal soundtrack is too repetitive and generic for my taste.”
    • “Only negative thing is the music.”
    • “The music is not my cup of tea as it is very repetitive.”
  • replayability97 mentions

    The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, with players praising its diverse classes, numerous weapons, and various difficulty levels that encourage experimentation and strategic play. Many users report investing hundreds of hours, highlighting the game's ability to offer fresh experiences through randomized levels and character builds. While some mention a desire for more content to enhance replay value, the overall consensus is that the game provides endless fun and replayability, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of the genre.

    • “Very deep game with endless replayability.”
    • “There's a lot of replayability with different difficulty levels and challenges, and the different builds you can make vary up the gameplay quite a bit.”
    • “With multiple challenge modes and skill trees to customize your progress, as well as further unlockable challenges, this game's replayability is very high and enjoyable.”
    • “Hardly any replay value so far.”
    • “I feel like it's still a little bit lacking in replayability as of now, I'd really like to see more memorable side areas and a couple of cool boss encounters - the final boss also was a bit of a letdown and seems more like a placeholder.”
    • “It would have been ok if we had more enemies/weapons variety, but the combination of both really reduces the replayability by a lot to me, which is a shame for a classic roguelike.”
  • atmosphere51 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its gritty, doom-inspired aesthetic, enhanced by a strong soundtrack and immersive sound design. Reviewers highlight its ability to evoke a nostalgic 90s vibe while maintaining modern gameplay elements, creating a tense and engaging experience. Overall, the combination of visuals, audio, and thematic elements contributes to a captivating atmosphere that resonates well with fans of the genre.

    • “The spooky, isolated atmosphere, and fun gunplay, and great audio is really cool.”
    • “The atmosphere, music, and sound effects are just top notch.”
    • “The game's atmosphere and story is reminiscent of and clearly heavily inspired by Doom.”
    • “Perhaps it's for atmosphere, but it just went too far with it.”
    • “The graphics, sounds and general atmosphere really draw you in.”
  • story36 mentions

    The story in the game is often compared to Doom, featuring a simple plot centered around a character's quest to uncover the truth behind a military facility's dark past. While some players appreciate the environmental storytelling and lore presented through logs and terminals, many feel the narrative is limited and lacks depth, with gameplay taking precedence over a rich story experience. Overall, the game offers a basic narrative framework that serves more as a backdrop for its roguelike mechanics rather than a focal point.

    • “The character seems to believe, at first, this is someone's idea of a really crappy prank, and it's an entertaining hook for this kind of plot as well as shows what kind of place was being run there and what kind of corporation it was.”
    • “The story, told through emails left on long-forgotten access terminals strewn across the various satellites of Jupiter, is exactly as invasive as it needs to be: not at all.”
    • “It's essentially a direct sequel to DoomRL with an original story and manages to maintain everything great about that wonderful game while massively upgrading the visuals, sound effects, and has a wonderfully respectful hint system to teach you the ropes.”
    • “By design, this game features no proper level design or game/story flow/plot, as they opted to use repetitive procedural generation algorithms as a substitute for adding such content to the game, avoiding the important job of level/map design.”
    • “There is no story-rich environment or characters like in 'Hades', nor any expansive gameplay like in 'Stoneshard', both of which are also roguelikes.”
    • “Not much in the way of story or conceptual reflection though -- beyond an incessant recognition by the game that life in an isolated military facility is even more hellish than slaughtering demons.”
  • humor24 mentions

    The game is praised for its humor, featuring a blend of crass and witty dialogue that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the hilarious voice acting, particularly from Mark Meer, and the retro sci-fi aesthetic that complements the comedic elements. While some find the humor to be hit-or-miss over time, the overall consensus is that it adds a fun and engaging layer to the game.

    • “The game is pretty damn funny too.”
    • “I also love the funny, witty stuff the character says throughout the game.”
    • “Absolutely fantastic roguelike, great soundtrack, sharp graphics, hilarious flavor text, and incredibly addicting gameplay.”
    • “This targeting AI is an unfunny joke.”
  • grinding23 mentions

    Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" highlight a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the streamlined mechanics that reduce tediousness and enhance fast-paced gameplay, others find the need for extensive farming and item management to be a significant chore. The game is praised for its tactical depth and variety, but it can become grindy, especially for those less familiar with turn-based systems. Overall, the balance between engaging gameplay and repetitive tasks varies widely among players.

    • “First impression: the solid roguelike shooter base from d**mrl is still there, but with streamlined gameplay (no tediously emptying every weapon of its clip) and more tactical options like cover and aiming.”
    • “There's no grinding for higher HP or starting perks here, folks.”
    • “You'll spend too much time farming for good items and proper builds rather than just getting given items to carry you, as opposed to games like Risk of Rain.”
    • “Really tried hard to like it, but the game is tedious most of the time and a hell of a grind.”
    • “Fun for the first few levels, but becomes increasingly tedious over time.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players praise its impressive graphics and smooth performance on high-end systems, others report significant issues, particularly on lower-end hardware, leading to poor frame rates. There are calls for a low-performance mode to accommodate a wider range of systems, indicating that while the game excels in certain areas, it still requires further optimization for broader accessibility. Overall, the optimization efforts are acknowledged, but improvements are needed for players with less powerful setups.

    • “The graphics are amazing for a traditional roguelike, and you can really tell the amount of optimization and coding effort that went into the game.”
    • “It's a challenging and entertaining game; it looks good and runs smoothly, the sounds and music work and fit well, the guns and items are fun and plentiful, it's inexpensive, and it feels fair for a rogue game!”
    • “As far as gameplay is concerned, the game is very solid and runs smoothly.”
    • “Forgive me, as I haven't fully completed the game, but it just seems like optimizations of the same trivial gameplay mechanics, over and over.”
    • “Worst performance of my life - slideshow game on a pretty good PC.”
    • “A couple of complaints: the graphics aren't optimized, so I can only get about 10 fps on my integrated Intel chip even on low settings, while I can easily get 60 if I switch to my NVIDIA discrete card.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    Jupiter Hell is priced at $25, which some users feel is steep compared to older AAA games, leading to mixed feelings about its value. However, players appreciate the absence of microtransactions, suggesting that while the price may be high, the game's quality and content justify the cost for many. Overall, opinions on monetization are divided, with some viewing it as a cash grab and others recognizing the effort behind the game.

    • “One of the things I really appreciate is that there are no microtransactions.”
    • “The game offers a fair monetization model that doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
    • “I love that I can enjoy the game fully without being bombarded by in-game purchases.”
    • “Jupiter Hell has the cash grab price of $25 USD, for which you could easily get any number of older AAA games.”
    • “I won't go so far as to call it a cash grab given the work put into it.”
    • “This game has been fun since it was called DoomRL, before Bethesda got their assholes twisted over free advertising.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate the character development in the game for its straightforward yet engaging mechanics, allowing for significant customization and replayability. While the story may be minimal, the well-balanced system draws on familiar gameplay elements, reminiscent of classic titles, enhancing the overall experience. Many express a desire for a more structured career mode to further enrich character progression.

    • “Nevertheless, I think the game has a well-thought-out and well-balanced character development system.”
    • “If I had a wish: a career mode with level-by-level character development and no permadeath.”
    • “Light on story but huge replayability and refined CRPG character development.”
    • “Character development is straightforward but offers a lot to play with!”
  • emotional5 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting moments of heartbreak when progress is lost and praising the impactful music that evokes strong feelings. The voice acting, particularly by Mark Meer, enhances the emotional experience, contributing to the game's overall masterpiece quality.

    • “Seeing a promising build die stupidly is always heartbreaking.”
    • “This is a beautiful masterpiece of an experience; the music on Europa made me cry. I loved it.”
    • “As a side note, and touching on sound design a bit, the hero is voiced by none other than Mark Meer (Commander Shepard), and he is absolutely chewing the scene with his voice as a pseudo Doom Guy.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its strong performance and visual presentation, running well on various platforms, including the Steam Deck. However, some users have reported stability issues, particularly with freezing on specific hardware configurations, indicating the need for future updates to address these bugs.

    • “Presentation is spot on; it looks and runs great.”
    • “Runs great on the deck and has mouse support.”
    • “The game looks great and runs smoothly, offering a lot of replayability.”
    • “The game freezes on my laptop's integrated graphics card at the same spot in the tutorial mission every time, so I'm going to have to wait for updates until they start fixing the bugs.”
    • “I experience frequent crashes that make it impossible to progress in the game.”
    • “The stability issues are so severe that I can't even complete the first level without the game crashing.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

82% average critic score

Buy Jupiter Hell

Play time

18hMedian play time
110hAverage play time
9-160hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News