The Dark Horde

About

In "The Dark Horde," players manage Time Units to play cards and activate actions, with a stopped action clock allowing strategic planning. The game offers a variety of minions, spells, and allies to build combos and synergies, with the objective to plunder an enemy village or survive 3 days of villager assaults.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 24 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features a unique time-based mechanic that adds strategic depth to card plays and actions, making it engaging and fun.
There is a wide variety of decks and card synergies to explore, encouraging experimentation and replayability.
The art style is charming with cute pixel graphics, and the game has a nostalgic feel with its music and themes.

The initial difficulty curve can be steep, making it challenging for new players to feel a sense of progress.
Some players have reported balance issues, where certain decks can trivialize the game while others feel frustratingly weak.
The game has a limited deck size, which some players feel restricts the deck-building aspect of the gameplay.

gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
31%
23%
The gameplay is characterized by a unique time mechanic that encourages strategic planning, reminiscent of battle cats-style mechanics, which adds depth and replayability. However, players have noted a steep initial difficulty and issues with balance, where some mechanics feel overly punishing and upgrades can be costly or unreliable. Overall, while the game features innovative ideas and engaging mechanics, it struggles with a sense of progress and balance, leading to mixed experiences among players.
- “I really like the time mechanic where you have to plan ahead on your card draws and plays.”
- “This game has a whole lot of really cool ideas and gameplay mechanics.”
- “In short, this game has unique, interesting and well-designed mechanics... and it's fun.”
- “So I haven't played the game much yet, and I probably just haven't learned the mechanics well enough to do well consistently, but I think that the initial difficulty of the game is way too high.”
- “The first or second run I did was by far the best run I had, despite future runs having better cards, more resources spent on upgrades, and more knowledge about how the mechanics work.”
- “Sadly, the actual gameplay kind of falls flat, though my biggest complaint is the balance.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The graphics are characterized by a charming and colorful pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for 90s classics, enhancing the overall fun and immersive experience. Users appreciate the cute aesthetic and varied fantasy themes, which are complemented by comforting music.
- “The art style is cute and the pixel graphics serve it well.”
- “At first, the game draws you in with the cute, colorful graphics, varied fantasy themes, and comforting fantasy music that reminds you of countless carefree hours spent on the 90s classics.”
- “I love the retro style graphics and the music as well!”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's music is praised for its nostalgic charm, evoking the carefree spirit of 90s classics with a blend of comforting, melancholic, Celtic, and medieval themes. Players appreciate how the music complements the colorful graphics and varied fantasy settings, enhancing the overall immersive experience.
- “At first, the game draws you in with the cute, colorful graphics, varied fantasy themes, and comforting fantasy music that reminds you of countless carefree hours spent on the 90s classics.”
- “I love the retro-style graphics and the music as well!”
- “As for the game's music, it's so melancholic, Celtic, and medieval.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Players find the game highly addictive and enjoyable, with robust progression systems that enhance replayability. Even after extensive playtime, many users feel there are still mechanics to explore, encouraging multiple playthroughs.
- “Addictive, replayable, and just a lot of fun.”
- “The progression systems in place offer a fair amount of replayability; even 10 hours in, I have yet to discover all the mechanics.”
- “Once you complete the main story, there’s little incentive to go back and play again.”
- “The game feels repetitive after the first playthrough, and I found myself losing interest quickly.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in this game is reminiscent of classic titles like Dungeon Keeper, appealing to fans of roguelite deckbuilders with its witty and engaging comedic elements.
- “If you enjoy roguelite deckbuilders and the humor found in games like Dungeon Keeper, this is a wonderful option.”
- “The witty dialogue and absurd scenarios had me laughing out loud throughout my playthrough.”
- “The game's humor is cleverly woven into the gameplay, making every encounter a delightful surprise.”