Hellcard is a unique cooperative deck builder rogue-like game. Descend into the paper dungeons on your own, recruit computer-controlled companions or join other players' lobbies in fast-paced tactical card battles against the armies of darkness and the Archdemon himself!
Players rave about the cooperative nature of the gameplay, which requires close coordination and communication between a team of up to three heroes. Teamwork is essential as players strategize to overcome the Archdemon's hordes, with each player's class abilities and card choices contributing to the overall success of the party.
The game features four unique player classes - Warrior, Mage, Rogue, and Tinker - each with their own specialized abilities and strengths. Players highlight the satisfying process of discovering synergies between these classes, crafting complementary team compositions that leverage the strengths of each character.
At the core of the gameplay is a deep deckbuilding system that allows players to curate and customize their card decks. Reviewers note the excitement of experimenting with different card combinations, fine-tuning their strategies to create powerful, synergistic decks that can overcome the game's challenges.
During combat, players engage in fast-paced, tactical card battles where the placement of enemies on the game board plays a crucial role. Reviewers praise the importance of positioning and enemy management, as players must coordinate their attacks and defenses to gain the upper hand.
The game incorporates roguelike elements, such as procedurally generated dungeons and permanent death, which introduce an element of unpredictability and challenge. Players highlight the high replayability and sense of progression provided by these roguelike mechanics, as they adapt their strategies to the randomized obstacles and enemies they encounter.
While the game offers both singleplayer and multiplayer modes, reviewers overwhelmingly agree that the cooperative mode is the standout feature. The singleplayer experience, while enjoyable, lacks the depth and excitement of the collaborative gameplay, where players can team up with friends or random players online to tackle the Archdemon's forces.