Loop Hero

What to Know

Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 47

Days

Hours

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Loop Hero plays like a create-your-own-adventure roguelike, taking the genre to a whole other level of customization where the terrain is your sandbox. This is a brilliant piece of art that successfully borrows from a range of genres and puts a new twist on old RPG ideas.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 47

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 47

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Rate and Review

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Awards & Recognition

Critic Reviews for Loop Hero

Critic Reviews

Distribution

47

Reviews

High Score - 95/100

95%

Average Score - 84/100

84%

Low Score - 70/100

70%

83/100

Evan Lahti (PC Gamer)

The spirit of early-’90s fantasy games, cleverly revived in an original and digestible form.

March 4, 2021 |

Full Review

If its aesthetics appeal and the gameplay style grabs you, then Loop Hero will take over your gaming life until you finish it or are drag yourself away. It reminded me strangely of the allure of Football Manager but with a more fantasy setting. The combination of auto combat and strategic choices, with resource management and settlement development on top, makes this a unique and captivating indie game.

March 4, 2021 |

Full Review

8/10

Steve C (TheSixthAxis)

9/10

Donovan Erskine (Shacknews)

Loop Hero succeeds as an adventure game by blending together elements of strategy and roguelikes in a way that feels clever and fresh. Giving players agency on the adversaries they encounter, and the frequency of said encounters, is an exciting spin on the genre, and one that forced me to strategize in a unique way. Couple the outstanding mechanics with a gorgeous and well-executed visual design, and you’ve got yourself one satisfying gameplay loop.

March 4, 2021 |

Full Review

Evan Lahti (PC Gamer)

83/100 - (Read Review)

The spirit of early-’90s fantasy games, cleverly revived in an original and digestible form.

Steve C (TheSixthAxis)

8/10 - (Read Review)

Donovan Erskine (Shacknews)

9/10 - (Read Review)

**Read all 47 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (47 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
33bits	Rubén Rionegro	90 / 100	03-16-2021	Loop Hero offers a mix of genres as strange as effective, with such mastery that it is difficult not to like it. Chance is an important factor in the game system itself and the decisions we make about it will decide our future. A tremendously addictive game to which it is easy to dedicate several hours in a row in each session.	Read review
3DNews	Михаил Пономарев	9 / 10	03-06-2021	Loop Hero is an unexpected treasure. Surprisingly deep, quite adorable, incredibly addictive.	Read review
Ars Technica	Sam Machkovech	Recommended	03-04-2021	Buy, unless you have responsibilities. This game could very well threaten them.	Read review
Attack of the Fanboy	Ivonne Vazquez	3.5 / 5 stars	03-04-2021	It fulfills a certain niche not just with being a roguelite, but a create your own adventure sort of way while doing so. Most games of the genre have this appeal somewhat by having things like weapon variety and perks; Loop Hero takes it to a whole other level of customization with not only just the classes and weapon types, but the entire terrain is your playground.	Read review
Chalgyr's Game Room	Richard York	8 / 10	03-16-2021	Loop Hero may be rather basic in its appearance, but you will soon find yourself rooted in the simplistic gameplay. There's planning, strategy, and enough luck to make you want to kick yourself some runs. The graphics certainly aren't anything special, and the music is only really catching when the boss appears, but you get rather invested in creating your own unique layout. While it can be frustrating in a game to have to repeat the same thing over and over, Loop Hero thrives in this environment. While there may be some frustrating moments when the RNG doesn't go your way, it's really rewarding to see the hero survive through your fabricated gauntlet.	Read review
Checkpoint Gaming	Lise Leitner	8 / 10	03-05-2021	When it comes to card games, Loop Hero brings a unique and refreshing take to the table. While initially its format may take some getting used to and its graphics may appear simple, the game’s mechanics pack a surprising punch. With cards generating complex enemies, resources, and terrains, no two playthroughs in Loop Hero will be the same. Through this impressive degree of variety and replayability, Loop Hero offers a unique challenge for card game newbies and veterans alike.	Read review
COGconnected	Nicola Kapron	88 / 100	03-04-2021	Overall, I had a great time with Loop Hero. I just wish I’d been able to unlock the Necromancer class sooner. Smashing my enemies with an army of summoned skeletons is amazing.	Read review
cublikefoot	Chase Ferrin	Recommended	03-04-2021	Loop Hero is a solid all-around experience with a surprising amount of depth. It has some incredibly addicting core gameplay, with ample doses of strategy, RNG, and roguelike mechanics on top of that.	Read review
Digital Chumps	Benjamine Branscum	8.6 / 10	09-03-2018	It becomes addicting and enticing to anyone. Even someone like me who struggles with in-game strategy.	Read review
Game Informer	Daniel Tack	8.5 / 10	03-10-2021	This is a fun and intriguing genre mashup, placing the player in a management role instead of controlling the swing-to-swing minutia of combat	Read review
Gameblog	Filipe Da Silva Barbosa	8 / 10	03-17-2021	Despite the repetitiveness inherant to the genre, the player is constantly hooked by the depth of the game, filled with subtelties and hidden features. Indeed, Loop Hero encourages him to experiment new approaches in order to gather more and more loot or to confront the four bosses of the game, the latter being no mean feat.	Read review
GameGrin	Danielle Winter	9.5 / 10	03-17-2021	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	Read review
Gamer Escape	Grant Dotter	9 / 10	03-07-2021	It’s the kind of game that just makes you say, “one more round,” in more ways than one, and it has only gotten better for its time spent in early access. Go on, give it a play, roguelike/lite fans. You won’t be disappointed. This game has only gotten better for the time it spent in early access and is a great addition to the library of any retro game fan as well.	Read review
Gamers Heroes	Johnny Hurricane	8 / 10	03-04-2021	Loop Hero does what it sets out to do, making for a fun and compelling roguelike that deck builder fans will love.	Read review
GameSkinny	Anthony McGlynn	8 / 10	03-08-2021	Loop Hero blends a number of influences and ideas for a time-bending adventure that's familiar but refreshing.	Read review
GameSpew	Kim Snaith	8 / 10	03-09-2021	Don’t let Loop Hero‘s simple appearance fool you; a dense and addictive game, unlike anything else you’ve played, lurks under its retro veneer, waiting to get its claws into you. And once you’ve fallen into the loop, it’ll be hard to get back out again. Building up your character and creating the world around him is gloriously rewarding, and not even death is going to stand in your way.	Read review
GameSpot	Alessandro Barbosa	8 / 10	03-26-2021	Loop Hero combines familiar mechanics in unfamiliar ways, producing an exhilarating and tactical roguelite that you'll struggle to put down.	Read review
Gaming Nexus	Randy Kalista	9 / 10	03-16-2021	I've tried roguelikes. Tried deck builders. Tried auto-battlers and tile-placers. But Loop Hero makes me wonder what all those others were missing.	Read review
God is a Geek	Chris White	9 / 10	03-04-2021	Loop Hero is a dense and dangerous journey that puts you in full control, merging deck building and the rogue-like genre brilliantly. With tons of options to choose from, and lots of surprises along the way, it would be a mistake to miss out on Four Quarters' wonderful indie title.	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Kyle LeClair	4.5 / 5 stars	03-04-2021	Loop Hero is a brilliant piece of work that plays and succeeds with the idea of repeating gameplay loops via gameplay, story and even meta angles.	Read review
Hey Poor Player	Heather Johnson	4 / 5 stars	03-04-2021	Loop Hero is a fascinating roguelike that will excite fans of the genre and entice those burned out by it to come back and fall in love all over again. Its beautiful art style and addictive core loop will cause players to lose track of time, not realizing hours have passed between loops as they slay the day away. Loop Hero could use a few tweaks to make certain aspects more understandable, but in its current state, it is absolutely worth your time and money.	Read review
IGN	Jonathan Bolding	8 / 10	03-17-2021	Loop Hero's cleverly stripped-down RPG concept demands attention for as long as it takes you to work out the clear "best" way to guide each hero class, and its fantastically dark story setup stands out as one of the best in years.	Read review
IGN Italy	Stefano Castelli	8 / 10	03-12-2021	An interesting almost-idle game with a pair of nice twists in a 16 bit dress. If it catches on you it may turn into a huge time-waster.	Read review
IGN Spain	David Oña	8 / 10	03-17-2021	Loop Hero is a unique and different proposal that brings a fresh approach, with character and capable of engaging anyone who approaches it with an open mind. One of those titles that must be approached with restraint if you don't want to end up compromising the rest of your responsibilities.	Read review
Impulsegamer	Hugh Mitchell	4.5 / 5 stars	03-22-2021	Loop Hero combines gameplay elements from a multitude of genres to create something special.	Read review
MonsterVine	Brian Seymour	4 / 5 stars	03-17-2021	Loop Hero is an addictive and complex game that changes what it means to be on the grind. A few ambiguities hinder the experience, but that doesn’t stop it from being an overall innovative and fantastic game.	Read review
New Game Network	Josh Hinke	79 / 100	03-22-2021	The core gameplay mechanics of Loop Hero are exceptional. There's something that is devilishly interesting about it, drawing you back into every run. It's the kind of game that you always want to play again. However, the grind can get tiresome and playing on PC is not an ideal setting for the late campaign marathon sessions.	Read review
Niche Gamer	Brandon Lyttle	8.5 / 10	03-04-2021	Ultimately, Loop Hero is a strategic roguelite title that shines in its aesthetic, innovation, and depth; only held back in a few areas. These are its lengthy grind, gacha-style knick-knack buffs, and long combat sequences without interaction.	Read review
Noisy Pixel	Ivanir Ignacchitti	8.5 / 10	03-04-2021	Loop Hero has all the right ingredients for an adventure management game with roguelike systems. There’s a learning curve to tackle, but after a few runs, you’ll be piecing together the world in no time. The entire experience is cathartic in a way as you watch the world evolve from your actions and overcome its obstacles with a little skill and luck.	Read review
Paste Magazine	Moises Taveras	9 / 10	03-15-2021	While it may seem unengaging because it effectively plays itself, it really is just prompting the player to look at gameplay from another angle, namely a more systems-driven one. For a person like me, who doesn't really craft "builds" in RPGs, it's made me realize why that is actually a rewarding aspect of those games. Now I spend half my time in Loop Hero making numbers go up and making optimizations I never would have, before embarking on another loop.	Read review
PC Gamer	Evan Lahti	83 / 100	03-04-2021	The spirit of early-'90s fantasy games, cleverly revived in an original and digestible form.	Read review
PC Invasion	Blake Grundman	9 / 10	03-04-2021	Thought it seems simplistic at first, it doesn't take long to see the true depth of Loop Hero. Thanks to its very approachable design and killer gameplay hook, this is the kind of addicting and engrossing experience that can steal whole weeks from your life. Just don't say we didn't warn you!	Read review
PCGamesN	Ian Boudreau	8 / 10	03-04-2021	Loop Hero successfully borrows from a surprising range of genres to create a refreshing new twist on some very old RPG ideas	Read review
Polygon	Ben Kuchera	Recommended	03-09-2021	By placing the focus squarely on the need to craft a world and set of equipment that will give your autonomous hero the best chance of success, Loop Hero created one of my favorite metaphors for being a good parent. I want my hero to save the world, and I can’t do it for them, so I better figure out the best way to get them ready to handle it themselves when the time comes.	Read review
pressakey.com	Philipp Weinbrecht	Recommended	03-31-2021	Behind the retro presentation there is a complex, fun and, above all, time-consuming game that cleverly combines familiar game mechanics and turns them on their head. The grind and the hunt for fresh loot is challenging and gripping. The few characters in the game are charming and make you want more, and especially as the game progresses, the complex mechanisms open up and you are caught up in the rush of the loops. However, it's a pity that all this is hidden behind a deliberately minimalistic presentation, which leaves something to be desired in the details.	Read review
Rocket Chainsaw	Andrew Cathie	4.5 / 5 stars	03-12-2021	There is nothing else quite like it and beyond a couple of small quality of life issues, Loop Hero is an amazing experience and one you should absolutely get on board with.	Read review
RPGamer	Zack Webster	Recommended	03-23-2021	The game begins with its best foot forward, an under-explained puzzle that’s fun to parse out. But once the puzzle pieces fall into place, the drive to see it to the end starts to fall away too.	Read review
SECTOR.sk	Denis Mačor	7.5 / 10	03-22-2021	Retro RPG with very simple look and poor story, but big portion of charming nostalgy.	Read review
Shacknews	Donovan Erskine	9 / 10	03-04-2021	Loop Hero succeeds as an adventure game by blending together elements of strategy and roguelikes in a way that feels clever and fresh. Giving players agency on the adversaries they encounter, and the frequency of said encounters, is an exciting spin on the genre, and one that forced me to strategize in a unique way. Couple the outstanding mechanics with a gorgeous and well-executed visual design, and you’ve got yourself one satisfying gameplay loop.	Read review
Slant Magazine	Steven Scaife	4 / 5 stars	03-08-2021	Loop Hero functions as a statement of persistence in the face of the seemingly insurmountable.	Read review
Softpedia	Cosmin Vasile	9 / 10	03-04-2021	The developers have nailed the sense of progression and the tension that the genre is built around. The presentation is very old-school, which can be a problem for players who have never interacted with MS-DOS titles. It is also integral to the spirit of this game. Loop Hero is a great game for fans of its genre and has plenty of cool mechanics and hooks for those who want to try it out for the first time.	Read review
SomHráč.sk	Karel Šír	75 / 100	03-23-2021	Loop Hero has an amazing premise and is very addictive at first, however its spell won't last forever on everyone.	Read review
TechRaptor	Tyler Chancey	9 / 10	03-04-2021	Loop Hero combines idle game's passiveness with the mechanical depth of a fantasy RPG. The result is a deeply absorbing and rewarding game.	Read review
The Games Machine	Emanuele Feronato	9 / 10	03-16-2021	Behind the appearance of an idle game with a weird palette lies a deeply strategic title, which requires a careful management of resources and the ability to foresee the moves of our hero in advance. Its simplicity makes it a game for everyone, while its complexity will make it a real challenge for veteran adventurers and RPG players. The camp management, the gathering of materials, the weapons and enemies statistics, the unlockable classes and the combinations of memory cards make Loop Hero one of the best strategy games of recent times.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Steve C	8 / 10	03-04-2021	If its aesthetics appeal and the gameplay style grabs you, then Loop Hero will take over your gaming life until you finish it or are drag yourself away. It reminded me strangely of the allure of Football Manager but with a more fantasy setting. The combination of auto combat and strategic choices, with resource management and settlement development on top, makes this a unique and captivating indie game.	Read review
Twinfinite	Zhiqing Wan	4.5 / 5 stars	03-12-2021	Loop Hero is yet another stunning gem that fans of the rogue-lite genre will enjoy. It’s a blend of so many different types of games that it becomes a completely unique entity on its own, and it’s hard to think of anything else that offers an experience quite like this one. It’s a game that forces you to trust in your own decisions, commit to them, and either reap the rewards or face the consequences. There’s no control, and that’s the beauty of this game.	Read review
WayTooManyGames	Jordan Hawes	8.5 / 10	03-04-2021	There is so much to unlock and it’s all meaningful things that will change how each expedition plays out. That “carrot on a stick” roguelike gameplay is done perfectly here, paired with the D&D type tabletop gameplay. If I had one thing that would have made this better, it would be some player involved combat if chosen. You can’t even choose which enemy to attack first. This could have added to some fun factor and strategy in fights.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

The Lich has thrown the world into a timeless loop and plunged its inhabitants into never ending chaos. Wield an expanding deck of mystical cards to place enemies, buildings, and terrain along each unique expedition loop for the brave hero.

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