Loop Hero

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 29,825 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Loop Hero Game Cover
Regardless of whether or not you enjoy the sound of a “top-down rogue-like deck & dungeon-building auto-battler”, Loop Hero will graciously guide you along its path - only to ensnare you in its devilishly addictive short gameplay loops.
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In Loop Hero, you are a lone hero on a journey through a constantly changing loop. Plan and build the best path to defeat monsters and collect resources, using cards to shape the landscape and control enemy encounters. Strategize and optimize your equipment, skills, and camps to survive and deepen the loop, uncovering more of the mysterious world.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Android
  • Cloud
  • Epic Games
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 29,825 reviews
gameplay2,299 positive mentions
grinding1,919 negative mentions
  • gameplay5,684 mentions

    The gameplay of "Loop Hero" is characterized by its unique blend of mechanics, combining elements of roguelikes, deck-building, and idle games. Players engage in a loop-based system where they strategically place cards to shape the world around their hero, who automatically battles enemies. While many find the gameplay addictive and rewarding, especially as they unlock new mechanics and classes, others criticize it for becoming repetitive and grindy over time, with a lack of clear explanations for various mechanics. Overall, the game offers a compelling experience for those who enjoy strategic planning and experimentation, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its passive nature and reliance on RNG.

    • “Loop Hero is an incredibly addictive and unique game that masterfully combines roguelike mechanics with strategic deck-building and resource management.”
    • “From the moment I started playing, I was immediately drawn in by its distinct gameplay loop, where you lay down cards to create a dynamic world full of dangers and opportunities.”
    • “The gameplay loop is engaging and rewarding, and I really enjoyed the aesthetic the devs went for.”
    • “It all contributes to a slow, depressing gameplay loop that just isn't fun or exciting to interact with and leaves you with no sense of accomplishment.”
    • “Core gameplay is shallow and repetitive.”
    • “The gameplay loop quickly becomes boring and repetitive.”
  • music2,779 mentions

    The music in "Loop Hero" has received widespread acclaim for its captivating and atmospheric chiptune soundtrack, which enhances the game's retro aesthetic and complements its gameplay. Many players describe the soundtrack as a standout feature, with some tracks being so memorable that they find themselves humming them long after playing. However, a few reviews note that the limited number of tracks can lead to repetitiveness over extended play sessions, though the overall quality of the music remains highly praised.

    • “The music has no right to bang this much.”
    • “The soundtrack is equally impressive, complementing the atmosphere with eerie, captivating tunes that keep you engaged for hours.”
    • “The music complements the gameplay beautifully, evoking haunting desperation and mystery, tinged with a glimmer of hope and serenity that will have you humming along.”
    • “The music is so repetitive that you'll find yourself humming the same three notes for hours after you've uninstalled the game.”
    • “Soundtrack has many highlights, sadly the heavy chiptune distortion and the static effect over the tracks wears out its welcome fast.”
    • “There's also only, like, 3 songs as you loop around the screen endlessly.”
  • graphics2,364 mentions

    The graphics of "Loop Hero" are characterized by a charming retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic games, appealing particularly to fans of 8-bit aesthetics. While many players appreciate the unique art direction and cohesive visuals, some criticize the simplicity and occasional lack of clarity, which can hinder gameplay. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received, with a strong emphasis on atmosphere and thematic consistency, complemented by an engaging soundtrack.

    • “The pixel art style is stunning, invoking a sense of nostalgia while still feeling fresh and detailed.”
    • “The graphics are amazing and so are the character designs :) I really recommend this game!!”
    • “The art style is charming, the sound effects are on point, music is good.”
    • “The graphics are a sad excuse for nostalgia.”
    • “The retro aesthetic is so overused that it's practically a meme at this point, and Loop Hero doesn't do anything to make it feel new or interesting.”
    • “If you're going for retro, at least make it charming, not something that makes you question if you need to upgrade your graphics card.”
  • story2,193 mentions

    The story of "Loop Hero" is described as intriguing and mysterious, effectively intertwining with the gameplay mechanics to enhance the overall experience. While some players appreciate its philosophical depth and character development, others find it minimalistic or repetitive, leading to mixed feelings about its engagement level. Overall, the narrative is seen as a compelling backdrop that motivates players to explore and progress, despite some critiques regarding pacing and depth.

    • “The story is mysterious and keeps you hooked.”
    • “Its combination of strategic depth, stunning pixel art, and an enigmatic story make it one of the most unique games I've played in a while.”
    • “The story, while shrouded in mystery, is intriguing.”
    • “The story, or lack thereof, is a snooze-fest.”
    • “You play as a hero trying to rebuild the world, but the plot is as thin as the paper it's written on.”
    • “The game is a slog, the story is nonexistent, the graphics are a throwback to the days of dial-up internet, and the sound design is enough to make you want to pull your hair out.”
  • grinding1,949 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "Loop Hero" has received mixed feedback from players. Many reviewers note that while the game can be engaging and addictive, it often becomes excessively grindy, particularly in the mid to late game, where players must repeatedly farm resources to progress. This grind can feel tedious and repetitive, with some players expressing frustration over the reliance on RNG and the slow pace of unlocking new content. However, others appreciate the grind as a core part of the gameplay loop, finding satisfaction in the incremental progress and strategic elements involved. Overall, the game's grindiness is a significant factor that potential players should consider, as it can either enhance or detract from the experience depending on individual preferences.

    • “There is an inevitable degree of repetition especially when starting a new expedition again, but the speed sliders make this not really tedious.”
    • “Not that grindy despite what other reviews may say.”
    • “Fun and not too grindy, unlike 95% of idle games.”
    • “It's too grindy, but with a boring way.”
    • “The game is very, very grindy, and that is what makes me give it a downvote.”
    • “The end can be a bit too grindy for my liking, but ultimately I would absolutely recommend this game.”
  • replayability504 mentions

    The replayability of "Loop Hero" is a mixed bag, with many players praising its initial depth and variety in gameplay, offering numerous strategic options and unique builds that can lead to hours of enjoyment. However, several reviews note that once players unlock most content and master the mechanics, the game can become repetitive and lose its appeal, leading to diminished replay value over time. Overall, while it provides a solid experience for a significant duration, the lack of endgame content and variety may limit long-term engagement for some players.

    • “This game offers hours of replayability due to each run/loop being different.”
    • “Incredibly fun and endlessly replayable.”
    • “The gameplay provides RNG-based replay value, while also having casual strategic potential with the various build options.”
    • “Only negative thing I have to say is that once you discover everything and beat the final boss a few times, the replayability kind of falls off.”
    • “Content limitations: lack of content after the initial 10-15 hours might diminish replay value.”
    • “There is very little replayability once you have discovered the basics, and that is done fairly soon.”
  • atmosphere198 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of dark, gothic elements, captivating pixel art, and an immersive soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the oppressive yet engaging ambiance, which draws players into a world filled with despair and danger, complemented by well-crafted sound design and visuals. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest aspect, creating a memorable and addictive experience that keeps players coming back for more.

    • “The soundtrack is equally impressive, complementing the atmosphere with eerie, captivating tunes that keep you engaged for hours.”
    • “I love this style: the intricate pixel art, the sound design, the storytelling -- it all works together to create a beautiful atmosphere.”
    • “It's absolutely dripping in style, with a unique gritty, autumnal feel to the pixel art, and wonderful music and sound design that make the atmosphere in Loop Hero incredible.”
    • “The atmosphere it creates is just a little oppressive.”
    • “The existential dialogue that's scattered throughout also adds to the depressing atmosphere that keeps sucking me back in.”
    • “The only thing the game has going for it is the art style and atmosphere.”
  • humor158 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by clever writing, quirky character interactions, and a mix of absurd and dark comedic elements. Players appreciate the nostalgic visuals and engaging dialogue that often poke fun at gaming tropes, creating a lighthearted atmosphere even amidst repetitive gameplay. While some find the humor hits the mark consistently, others feel it can occasionally miss, but overall, it contributes significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.

    • “The story is compelling, the characters funny, the visuals retro, and the music perfectly right.”
    • “What absolutely floored me was a rich sense of world building, genuinely funny dialogue, and a much deeper plot than I would've imagined from such a simple presentation.”
    • “Just start up Loop Hero and watch the funny little man run in a circle and existence doesn't feel painful anymore.”
    • “The writing is terrible, unfunny drivel; I almost wish there was no plot like in other roguelikes because it just makes me mad.”
    • “The writing is terrible, unfunny drivel; I almost wish there was no plot like in other roguelikes because it just makes me mad.”
  • optimization96 mentions

    The game's optimization mechanics are a central focus, offering players a satisfying loop of resource management, gear upgrades, and strategic tile placements that enhance performance. While the initial gameplay is engaging and encourages experimentation, the reliance on optimized builds can lead to repetitive runs and frustration, particularly when influenced by RNG. Overall, it appeals to fans of optimization and strategy, though some may find the depth of choices diminishes over time.

    • “An excellent more laid-back rogue-like that encourages optimization in a fun Bloons Tower Defense kind of way.”
    • “The gameplay boils down to a satisfying optimization loop.”
    • “A great ~40 hour experience from start to finish with systems and gameplay optimizations that feel great to learn, gorgeous pixel art, and a surprisingly fleshed out lore and plot.”
    • “The end of the game seems to be dependent on you grinding up all your village buildings and having an optimized build to take on the final boss.”
    • “I could just see the extra 10 hours of grinding ahead of me to finish the game (after already putting in 20) and realized that I would get no joy out of it, especially when I had already optimized my runs as much as possible.”
    • “In a game that's almost entirely about optimization, this is just not excusable.”
  • character development38 mentions

    The character development in the game is highlighted by its stunning pixel art and unique character designs, which are both visually appealing and contribute to the overall ambiance. While the designs are not necessarily groundbreaking, they are interesting and varied, enhancing the gameplay experience. Players appreciate how the character development unfolds alongside the story, revealing new combat mechanics and paths as the game progresses.

    • “Beyond its great gameplay experience, Loop Hero offers a somewhat unique pixel art style deliberately emulating the 8-bit era, with its limited color palettes and black void backgrounds which, when combined with its great character designs, makes the game a treat for the eyes.”
    • “At a surface level, the game is straightforward, but continuously reveals new and interesting combat and character development aspects that progress both story and gameplay mechanics, subsequently creating new paths for enjoying the game as the story continues.”
    • “From music to character design, to even the color palette, this game oozes with a sort of ambiance that just provides such a good experience.”
  • stability36 mentions

    The stability of the game is mixed, with some players reporting a bug-free experience and smooth performance, while others highlight significant bugs and glitches that detract from gameplay. Overall, many users appreciate the game's execution and aesthetics, noting that it generally runs well despite some minor issues.

    • “This game has great presentation and a neat concept and isn't buggy.”
    • “Thumbs up for being on the better side of forgettable and a playable, working, and seemingly bug-free game.”
    • “The game runs great and doesn't even require Wine (I use Kubuntu 20.10 for those interested).”
    • “The game is plagued with bugs and glitches, making you wonder if they ever playtested it.”
    • “The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs and glitches.”
    • “It has 2 different pauses, one of which is buggy.”
  • monetization30 mentions

    The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, allowing players to enjoy the experience without the pressure of additional purchases. However, some users find the progression pace slower than typical mobile games that rely on microtransactions, leading to a sense of confusion about its design. Overall, players appreciate the creativity and fun of the game, hoping it sets a precedent for future titles to avoid cash-grabbing tactics.

    • “What I will do is thank the devs profusely for creating an incredibly fun game that doesn't have microtransactions, doesn't require a persistent online connection, and most importantly, doesn't nerf my necromancer build with every patch.”
    • “Loop Hero is what happens when you take a clicker/idle/progression game, add some sim/management elements, add some style, add some story, and get rid of microtransactions.”
    • “Firstly because it's not stinging you for microtransactions, and secondly because there is creativity behind it.”
    • “This game feels like it's been designed as a free-to-play mobile game with in-app purchases designed to lure you in, get you hooked, and then take your money, but this game already took my money; just let me enjoy playing it.”
    • “As much as the simple mechanics are fun, I can't stop seeing this as a mobile game that would sell packs of building materials or extra lives/HP for ads.”
    • “It just feels like a mobile game without the microtransactions.”
  • emotional22 mentions

    Players report a deeply emotional experience, characterized by a sense of pride in overcoming challenges and the weight of meaningful decisions throughout gameplay. The game’s subtle storytelling, touching on themes of loss and faith, combined with its soothing atmosphere, creates a heartfelt journey that resonates with players, often evoking strong feelings and nostalgia. While some find the gameplay dull at times, the emotional engagement and personal connection to the narrative leave a lasting impact.

    • “The decisions you make about where to place cards, which items to equip, which structures to build between loops, and even whether or not to retreat or go for the boss will have you on an emotional roller-coaster of the best kind.”
    • “10/10 a heartfelt experience”
    • “It also has chill tunes, a subtle wistful story touching on loss and nihilism and faith, lots of secrets to unlock, and a cute pixelated style that will encourage you to sink a bunch of soothing hours into this first chance you get.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

83% average critic score

Buy Loop Hero

Play time

14hMedian play time
25hAverage play time
29hMain story
55hCompletionist
7-41hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 274 analyzed playthroughs

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