One Way Heroics

About

"One Way Heroics Plus" is an indie pixel RPG where you play as an adventurer trying to stop the end of the world by defeating the Demon Lord. The screen's left side is constantly consumed by darkness, forcing you to move right and confront various creatures and obstacles. With multiple classes to unlock and an endless supply of procedurally generated worlds, the game offers nearly infinite replayability. The "Plus" DLC adds even more content, including new classes, enemies, and features.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

+16

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,861 reviews

gameplay196 positive mentions

grinding25 negative mentions

Unique and engaging gameplay that combines roguelike mechanics with a compelling story.
High replayability due to procedurally generated worlds, multiple classes, and various endings.
Charming pixel art and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.

Can feel repetitive after multiple playthroughs, especially once the player has unlocked most content.
Some classes may feel underpowered compared to others, leading to frustration.
The user interface can be cluttered and overwhelming for new players, making it difficult to navigate.

gameplay
582 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
63%
4%
The gameplay of this game is characterized by its unique mechanics, including a constant forward movement due to an encroaching darkness, which adds urgency and strategic depth to the experience. Players appreciate the blend of simple controls with complex decision-making, allowing for a variety of playstyles and high replayability through randomized elements and multiple classes. While some find the gameplay repetitive over time, many agree that the engaging mechanics, charming aesthetics, and excellent soundtrack make it a worthwhile and addictive experience, especially given its low price point.
- “The combination of RPG and strategy elements, random level generation, and compelling gameplay make it an engaging and entertaining experience for any fan of the genre.”
- “Addicting gameplay loop, amazing music, surprisingly deep amount of freedom and flexibility to play how you want.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are relatively straightforward, with players needing to gather resources, upgrade their equipment, and manage their health and stamina as they progress.”
- “The gameplay is very simple, there's not much of interest in terms of character development, and the constant pressure from the encroaching darkness leaves little time for exploration, even at times when there's actually something to explore.”
- “Gameplay is terrible... lightweight RPG Maker tier rubbish combined with endless running, you have to travel in one direction all the time, fighting and avoiding the edge of the screen.”
- “The gameplay gets repetitive after a while so I doubt anyone would be playing it 24/7 nonstop, but nevertheless it's a good experience for its price.”
story
359 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
72%
3%
The game's story is generally perceived as simple and somewhat generic, revolving around a quest to defeat a demon lord and stop the encroaching darkness. However, players appreciate the depth that emerges through multiple playthroughs, with unique character backstories and various endings that add layers to the narrative. While some find the story lacking in complexity, many enjoy the humor, charm, and emotional moments that unfold as they engage with the game's characters and quests.
- “The game's plot centers around a world that is being consumed by darkness, and the player must journey through various environments to reach the 'last demon king' and stop the spread of darkness.”
- “The story is surprisingly deep and well-written, with party member plotlines and NPC dialogue helping reinforce the overall theme.”
- “There's also quite a bit more story than you'd expect from the game's description; each recruitable party member has their own backstory they'll slowly share as you progress through a run with them, and each has their own unique ending.”
- “Buried deep under several playthroughs may be a story, yet with no developed world or characters to care about, what's the point or value?”
- “The story is rather basic and drab.”
- “The plot is a throwaway plot; you are a hero out to slay the dark lord and stop the spread of the darkness throughout the world.”
music
344 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and quality, with many reviewers noting its nostalgic, JRPG-inspired sound reminiscent of classic titles. While the soundtrack enhances the atmosphere and gameplay experience, some players mention that the tracks can become repetitive over time due to their short length. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal, with requests for a downloadable soundtrack reflecting its popularity among players.
- “The music is fantastic and sets the tone, while the sound effects give everything weight.”
- “The soundtrack is absolutely amazing.”
- “I love the music, I love the gameplay, I love the story and characters.”
- “The music is ear-bleedingly bad and manages to sound repetitive without actually being repetitive.”
- “It's extremely bland and the music makes everything even more dreary than it should.”
- “Music while what little there is is serviceable but I do wish there was more as it becomes quite repetitive.”
replayability
333 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
50%
1%
The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, driven by its procedurally generated worlds, numerous character classes, multiple endings, and various difficulty levels. Players appreciate the depth and variety of gameplay options, which encourage experimentation and exploration, making each playthrough feel unique. With a low price point and a wealth of content, many reviewers find the replay value to be outstanding, often leading to hundreds of hours of engaging gameplay.
- “With its charming pixel art, atmospheric soundtrack, and deep replayability, One Way Heroics keeps the adventure fresh while rewarding curiosity and adaptability.”
- “The game has a few interesting objectives woven into it to drastically increase replay value, such as daily campaigns that change up the rules of the procedurally generated worlds you play in, multiple bosses to defeat, 4-5 different difficulties, and 4 different ways to 'win' a playthrough.”
- “The replayability is what makes this game so worth it, with a multitude of unlockables (character classes, starting perks, slots in the 'shared stash'), there is a tremendous amount of replayability here.”
- “The only disappointing part is the limited amount of unlockables (easily obtainable by about 3 hours of play), but One Way Heroics makes up for this with the large amount of replayability.”
- “Short, sweet, and some replayability, but once you hit a certain level of meta knowledge and beat it a few times it gets stale.”
- “While the combat system is not incredibly complex, the different ability choices between the classes and the plethora of equipment available in a given run give the game enough replayability to make it as far as I have, and further if you're truly up for a grind and lots of self-inflicted punishment.”
graphics
253 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
66%
6%
The graphics of the game are primarily simplistic pixel art, evoking a nostalgic 16-bit aesthetic reminiscent of classic RPGs. While some players appreciate the charming retro style, others criticize it as basic or lacking in detail, suggesting that a graphical upgrade could enhance the experience. Overall, the visuals are functional and cohesive with the game's mechanics, appealing to fans of old-school gaming but potentially off-putting to those seeking modern graphics.
- “The graphics blend well with the old-school RPG feeling of the game and controls work well.”
- “The cute SNES JRPG-style graphics work very well, the soundtrack is excellent and atmospheric, and since this game is built around replayability, there is that, too.”
- “It's a frenetic roguelike with an old-school SNES vibe and attractive retro graphics, fast-paced gameplay (despite being turn-based), stacks of content to unlock, huge replayability and variety, cute design and some amusing humor, this game is more than worth the $3.50 asking price.”
- “Graphics are ugly, lazy retro pixel 'art' because they couldn't afford to hire an artist.”
- “The graphics are certainly not a strong point of the game, featuring basic RPG tiles, tiny sprites, and a disappointingly bland palette.”
- “Graphics look a bit weird, the story is lacking (typical roguelike) and the gameplay reminds me a lot of Mystery Dungeon... that's it for the negatives!”
humor
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "One Way Heroics" is widely praised for its lightheartedness and charm, featuring a mix of funny dialogue, quirky character interactions, and unexpected comedic moments that enhance the gameplay experience. While some players noted that the humor can occasionally lean towards the immature or pervy side, it generally adds to the game's appeal, making it an enjoyable and entertaining indie RPG. Overall, the game's comedic elements contribute significantly to its replayability and character depth, making it a standout feature for many players.
- “One way Heroics is also a pretty funny game and it doesn't really take itself too seriously, which fits well with the overall simple style of the game.”
- “Some of the dialogue made me bust out laughing; other times it was weird and unexpected. Either side is offered by pretty much every character you speak to.”
- “The amount of content and humor in this game is definitely worth the money, especially when it goes on sale.”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
7%
83%
Reviews on "grinding" in the game highlight a mixed experience; while some players find the grinding tedious and repetitive, others appreciate the incremental progress and engaging mechanics that make it feel rewarding. Many enjoy the game's ability to keep grinding fresh through varied maps and character unlocks, avoiding the pitfalls of traditional RPG grinding. Overall, the game manages to balance challenge and enjoyment, with some players even expressing surprise at how much they enjoy the grinding aspect.
- “I never thought I would love grinding this much :)”
- “Unlocking new content as you play isn't tedious, especially since none of it is required to win a playthrough.”
- “- UI is not really tedious.”
- “Roguelite mechanics in dungeon crawlers feel grindy in the wrong way, as there's the movement gimmick already.”
- “I think this game has some interesting concepts, but it is quite tedious and boring.”
- “As a roguelike game, it fails because it is much too grindy to be any fun, and as an RPG, it fails because other than having your hero level up, it is missing any other RPG elements.”
emotional
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings through its touching stories, lovable characters, and impactful music. Players report experiencing a range of emotions, from joy to sadness, with many noting that the endings can be particularly heart-wrenching or uplifting. Overall, the game fosters a deep emotional connection, making it a memorable and engaging experience.
- “The strategy, the music, the art (which I freaking love) and the lovable characters just make this game somewhat perfect, without talking about the endings that are straight up emotional rocks thrown at my face.”
- “The game balance is very well done, gameplay is fun, music makes me want to cry, and the story actually made me cry.”
- “This game has an incredibly touching story and nearly infinite, if not infinite, gameplay.”
optimization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
71%
18%
The game's optimization has seen improvements post-launch, addressing initial performance issues and poor porting, which were highlighted in early reviews. Players appreciate the performance-based progression system, where hero points are awarded based on gameplay success, incentivizing repeated playthroughs and strategic optimization. Overall, while there were initial concerns, the game now runs smoothly, even on mobile devices, enhancing the overall experience.
- “And the more I played this game, the better it got, learning little tricks and optimization, learning about the lore, some cool story moments, etc. Support indies!”
- “Every playthrough allows you the chance to purchase perks and transfer items with your hero points (how much you gain depends on your performance).”
- “It isn't as good as this game, but still great, despite its bad reviews on Steam (the majority of them being related to performance issues, poor porting, and bad design decisions that were mostly mended after launch).”
- “Progression system unlocks are paid with points you get for your last playthrough performance.”
- “At the end of each play, you are awarded hero points that depend on your performance in the game (lower levels, monsters killed, dungeons explored increase your points) and those are used to purchase perks and classes, which gives you a reason to challenge yourself while playing.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by charming pixel art, an excellent and immersive soundtrack, and a nostalgic homage to classic 8-bit JRPGs, creating a unique blend of fun and pressure. Players appreciate the deep replayability and the emotional depth conveyed through the visuals and music, which enhance the overall experience. The combination of solid gameplay mechanics and a slightly dark tone further enriches the game's atmospheric appeal.
- “With its charming pixel art, atmospheric soundtrack, and deep replayability, One Way Heroics keeps the adventure fresh while rewarding curiosity and adaptability.”
- “The game has a slightly dark atmosphere, the MIDI soundtracks are majestically composed and every bit memorable, the graphical user interface is both appealing and simple, and it does the job of giving the game a unique presentation.”
- “The cute SNES JRPG-style graphics work very well, the soundtrack is excellent and atmospheric, and since this game is built around replayability, there is that, too.”
- “The game has a slightly dark atmosphere; the MIDI soundtracks are majestically composed and every bit memorable. The graphical user interface is both appealing and simple, giving the game a unique presentation.”
- “The music is also extremely well-done; it contributes to the atmosphere without distracting.”
- “That small sense of sadness coming from them fits very well with the atmosphere and the plot of the game.”
character development
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as limited, with few options for customization and a streamlined combat system that restricts depth. While the character design is appreciated for its retro aesthetic and humor, the overall experience lacks significant exploration opportunities and meaningful growth. However, the game does offer some progression through repeated play, allowing players to invest points into character development after failed attempts.
- “Versatile character design lets you tweak any class.”
- “The character design and great humor guarantees some good laughs and is quite refreshing.”
- “Even a failed adventure yields points to put towards overall character development for subsequent runs, which you may or may not choose to use.”
- “The gameplay is very simple, there's not much of interest in terms of character development, and the constant pressure from the encroaching darkness leaves little time for exploration, even at times when there's actually something to explore.”
- “Character design is very old-school JRPG medieval fantasy, a bit retro while at it, looks more 90s than 2010s if you get what I mean.”
- “With comparatively few options for character development, streamlined combat, and limited variety to be found even in the mix-and-match biomes of the extremely linear maps, One Way Heroics doesn't run quite as deep as the games it seeks to emulate.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
The stability of the game is mixed, with some users praising it as bug-free and enjoyable, while others report frequent crashes and significant performance issues, leading to frustration. Overall, experiences vary widely, with a notable divide between those who find it stable and those who encounter severe instability.
- “Addictive and fun gameplay, and from what I have seen, bug-free.”
- “They're all either people complaining about it being 'too hard and frustrating' or complaining that it crashes and is buggy.”
- “This buggy mess has not been able to run for more than two minutes without crashing, do not buy.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The monetization model of the game is praised for its lack of in-game purchases and microtransactions, offering a straightforward experience for a low price. Players appreciate that what they pay for is all they receive, aligning with expectations for a roguelike title.
- “It means no microtransactions, no extra bells and whistles tugging at your wallet. What you pay for is what you get, and at a mere $3.50, it might as well be free!”
- “Wtf DLC? This is 2016, I don't want microtransactions!”
- “Honestly, I didn't expect much for my $0.87, especially from something advertising itself as a roguelike, which is usually code for badly disguised roguelite.”
- “It means no microtransactions, no extra bells and whistles tugging at your wallet. What you pay for is what you get; while at a mere $3.50, it might as well be free!”