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Valhalla Hills

Valhalla Hills pulls at one's nostalgia strings in a sweet way but a couple of issues alongside an honor system that's more of an afterthought than central mechanic it wants to be makes it hard to recommend straight away.
57%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
story, grinding
47% User Score Based on 996 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

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About

In "Valhalla Hills," players lead a group of Vikings, seeking entry to Valhalla denied by Odin. They must guide their people across treacherous mountains, providing for their needs and overcoming challenges to prove their worthiness. With randomly generated levels and a focus on strategic improvement, players will shout their battle cry and fight to take what they deserve from the gods.

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Valhalla Hills screenshot
Valhalla Hills screenshot
Valhalla Hills screenshot
Valhalla Hills screenshot
Valhalla Hills screenshot
Valhalla Hills screenshot
Valhalla Hills screenshot
Valhalla Hills screenshot
Valhalla Hills screenshot
Valhalla Hills screenshot
Valhalla Hills screenshot
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47%
Audience ScoreBased on 996 reviews
gameplay62 positive mentions
story20 negative mentions
  • Charming graphics and art style that captures the Viking theme well.
  • Straightforward gameplay that is accessible for newcomers to city-building games.
  • Randomly generated maps add variety and replay value to each playthrough.
  • Repetitive gameplay with little variation in objectives across levels.
  • Poor AI behavior leads to frustrating situations where Vikings do not perform tasks effectively.
  • Lack of depth and challenge, making the game feel shallow and unengaging over time.
  • gameplay
    298 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Valhalla Hills is characterized by its straightforward mechanics reminiscent of classic city-building games like The Settlers, making it accessible for newcomers. However, many players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking depth, with basic combat mechanics and insufficient tutorial guidance leading to frustration. While the game offers charming visuals and a relaxing pace, it ultimately struggles to maintain long-term engagement due to its simplistic and often monotonous gameplay loop.

    • “The gameplay itself is straightforward and accessible, making it a great choice for newcomers to city-building games.”
    • “The game has its own charm, its own atmosphere, its own gameplay and dynamics.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and satisfying - though the game requires time to play through, the end result of your actions is quite satisfying as you see your little town of vikings run smoothly, which is further complimented by the beautiful graphics of the game.”
    • “The mechanics aren't great, and I found after playing through 6 levels that it's just... a fairly boring game.”
    • “The gameplay itself is bland, boring, without the feeling that you are really influencing the outcome.”
    • “After a few hours of gameplay, I found that I was googling too much about how things work and the whole thing had just become a quest to unveil the mysteries of the viking's seemingly random behavior instead of a fun game to play.”
  • graphics
    238 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the charming art style and vibrant visuals, often likening them to classic city builders. However, some criticize the graphics for being simplistic or reminiscent of mobile games, and there are reports of performance issues, such as lag and graphical glitches. Overall, while the aesthetics are generally seen as appealing, they do not consistently meet the expectations set by modern gaming standards.

    • “The graphics are beautiful and the gameplay is very satisfying.”
    • “Stunning graphics and art style, it is just near damn perfect.”
    • “From the beginning I fell in love with Valhalla Hills, the Nordic/Vikings background is definitely here, the gameplay is fun and the graphics are beautiful and well worked, especially regarding the little details, such as tiny animations!”
    • “The graphics and overall game design quality did not match the expectations -- they look like Lego characters... not the feel I was hoping for.”
    • “The camera work is shabby, the visuals are something a pimple-faced teenager can do in a couple of sleepless nights in his parent's basement, the feeling the game gets you is like watching paint dry.”
    • “I can run GTA 5 no problem, and this game's graphics are almost non-existent.”
  • story
    202 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Valhalla Hills" is largely criticized for its lack of depth and progression, with most players noting that it consists of a brief introductory cutscene followed by repetitive missions that lack narrative connection. While the premise of guiding vikings to ascend to Valhalla is intriguing, the gameplay primarily revolves around grinding through randomly generated levels without meaningful story elements or varied objectives. Overall, the game is seen as a missed opportunity for a richer narrative experience, leaving players wanting more substance beyond the initial setup.

    • “The game starts with a wonderful little story about how Leko ends up banished from Valhalla as he displays signs of creativity and enjoys building and doesn't seem to care for the traditional fighting ways of the vikings.”
    • “Banished to the mortal world by Odin, you play as Leko, the god of building, as you reclaim your right and honor as a god by guiding cute, little vikings on their quest to ascend to Valhalla!”
    • “Valhalla Hills' story starts off with Odin banishing his son into the world of mortals due to his 'uncharacteristic interest' in building things instead of showing his worth through battle.”
    • “The island hopping takes place entirely without a story, without mission objectives, without quests or events and without much variety.”
    • “There is no story beyond 'vikings need a leader to ascend to valhalla'.”
    • “The missions themselves start with no further addition to the storyline and it seems that the opening cutscene is all there is to it.”
  • music
    90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature and limited variety, often consisting of only a few tracks that can become tiresome over time. While some appreciate the soundtrack for enhancing the gameplay and fitting the game's atmosphere, others find it dull and forgettable, with minimal sound effects. Overall, the music is described as pleasant but lacking in memorability, suggesting that a broader selection of tracks would improve the experience.

    • “The background music really enhances the gameplay.”
    • “I like the art style and interface a lot and the music is very fitting and adds to the ambience.”
    • “Graphically appealing with an absolutely beautiful art style and an amazing soundtrack as you build up your small viking village outside the gates of Valhalla.”
    • “The same three songs playing over and over again.”
    • “One more thing to mention is there's exactly two songs to the game's music, one for battle and one for everything else. They're both well done but get so tired after hours listening you'll just want to turn the music off.”
    • “For those that are interested - the graphics are ok, but sadly the music is dull and not in the slightest bit catchy.”
  • grinding
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium and repetitiveness associated with grinding in the game, with many players finding the achievement system particularly grindy and unfulfilling. While some players managed to enjoy the game for a limited time, the overall consensus is that the grinding mechanics detract from the experience, making it feel dull and tedious over extended play sessions. Players recommend avoiding the game if they are looking for a more engaging or varied gameplay experience.

    • “If you do like to pursue achievements, then I'd recommend steering clear of this one at any price as the achievements are extremely grindy and require cheesing to get through them.”
    • “The biggest thing I have noticed is the repetitive grindy nature of the game.”
    • “I’ve enjoyed my time with the game, once I figured out how to play; however, the longer I played, the more tedious and repetitive the game got.”
  • replayability
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the randomness and variety of unlockable content that enhances replay value, others criticize the lack of depth, alternative game modes, and long-term goals, leading to a perception of limited replayability. Overall, the experience can vary significantly based on individual play styles and expectations, with some finding enjoyment in quick runs and map diversity, while others feel the game ultimately fails to deliver a compelling replay experience.

    • “This randomness adds a lot of replay value.”
    • “It definitely helps increase the replayability of the game, which is important for arcade-style games like this that cater to people who don't want to play for hours upon hours (though that is certainly an option).”
    • “Loads of replayability in the form of dozens of unlockable buildings, environment types, enemies, and hats.”
    • “No alternative game modes (aside from so-called open game, which is a joke), no complicated settings like in the 4x games to add more replayability, no multiplayer, no leaderboards, no story, no real goal, nothing.”
    • “The core value of this game depends heavily on the replayability/endless type of gameplay and it failed to deliver it.”
    • “There's no campaign and no long-term replay value at all!”
  • atmosphere
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by its charming graphics, immersive audio, and serene environmental effects, such as falling snow and gentle waves, which create a relaxing experience. However, players note that adjusting the audio settings is necessary due to the overpowering music. Overall, the atmosphere is well-received, evoking nostalgia while providing a pleasant backdrop for gameplay.

    • “With the graphics and overall atmosphere of the game, it becomes a very pleasant and relaxing experience.”
    • “Snow falls, the wind blows through the trees, and the waves lick at the shore to create an immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The graphical style fits the game; it's relaxed yet has a lot of atmosphere, and it features most of the buildings you expect.”
    • “For a better atmosphere, make sure to adjust the audio settings, as the music is way too loud in the mix.”
    • “Atmosphere: 6.0/10”
    • “+ charming atmosphere”
  • optimization
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs well on PC with responsive gameplay and customizable graphics options, some users report it being unoptimized, particularly in its early access phase. Despite these issues, many find the performance decent and satisfying, especially as the game progresses. Further optimization improvements are anticipated as development continues.

    • “Performance 10.0/10”
    • “None the less, it works great for PC and runs well, responding to everything with optimizable options and graphics to maximize the performance of your gameplay.”
    • “There's also a good amount of optimization that needs to be done, which I presume will happen over the course of the early access stage.”
    • “The only bad thing I would have to say so far is it's unoptimized (but not terribly).”
    • “None the less, it works great for PC and runs well, but the optimization options and graphics could be improved to maximize performance.”
    • “Decent optimization, but there is still room for improvement.”
  • stability
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of game-breaking bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and cause loss of progress. While some players have experienced minimal issues, the overall consensus highlights a significant need for improvements in stability to enhance the gaming experience.

    • “This game is really buggy.”
    • “Oh and just when you are about to get a viking to Valhalla, the game freezes and all your progress is lost - all new vikings at zero again and two days later the same thing happens again.”
    • “- very buggy, including several game-breaking issues.”
  • humor
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the funny presentation and quirky personalities of the vikings. While the comedic elements contribute to a relaxing experience, some reviewers note that the gameplay has significant shortcomings that detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these issues, the game's lighthearted tone and amusing visuals make it an entertaining choice for casual play.

    • “I really like to play the game after work; it's relaxing and funny at the same time.”
    • “A relaxing sim/RTS with funny-looking vikings.”
    • “This game brought some humorous factors; for example, every viking has a name and a sort of different personality.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is positively received, with users expressing a strong preference for the absence of microtransactions and downloadable content (DLC), indicating a desire for a more straightforward and less intrusive payment model.

    • “No microtransactions, thank you!”
    • “No microtransactions, thank you!”
    • “No microtransactions, thank you!”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a sense of boredom and frustration with the emotional engagement of combat mechanics, particularly criticizing the chaotic nature of battles and the unpredictability of health management. Despite these issues, some still find enjoyment in the game's variety of challenges, indicating a mixed emotional response overall.

  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews highlight that the character designs are exceptionally well-crafted, contributing to an overall impressive aesthetic alongside the level and building designs. However, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of narrative or growth.

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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 10 critic reviews
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5h Median play time
7h Average play time
2-12h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs
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