Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel is an action RPG roguelike horde-survivor set in the dark realms of Norse mythology. Players select from a roster of damned heroes and fight through waves of mythical adversaries while earning divine blessings from ancient Viking deities. The experience centers on survival runs across hostile worlds, where success leads to powerful upgrades and the chance to become the chosen Jotunnslayer.
Gameplay
Combat follows an auto-shooter style with manual movement and positioning. Heroes automatically attack surrounding enemies while players focus on dodging, collecting resources, and activating abilities. Each run involves battling escalating hordes, completing side objectives, and confronting powerful bosses that require environmental awareness and skill use to defeat.
Build crafting comes from divine blessings that alter weapons, skills, and playstyles. Meta-progression unlocks permanent perks, new abilities, and character upgrades between runs. This system encourages repeated attempts as players refine loadouts and experiment with different hero combinations for varied approaches to the same challenges.
Level design stands out with distinct environments that influence movement and combat flow. Players navigate arenas filled with obstacles and enemy patterns that reward precise positioning over simple button mashing.
Game Modes
The core experience revolves around roguelike survival runs. Each attempt pits a chosen hero against waves of enemies across multiple stages, with objectives that add variety such as specific kill counts or survival timers. Runs end upon defeat or after overcoming the final boss encounter.
Local co-op support allows shared or split-screen play for up to two players on the same device. This mode preserves the single-player focus while enabling cooperative survival against the hordes.
Characters and Progression
A selection of heroes offers distinct starting weapons and abilities that shape early runs. Further customization occurs through collected blessings and meta-unlocks that expand options across multiple play sessions. The progression loop rewards consistent play with new tools that increase build depth without removing the challenge of each fresh attempt.
Is It Worth Playing?
The game launched in full release on September 3, 2025, following an Early Access period that refined its systems. Steam user reviews stand at Very Positive, with 84 percent approval from thousands of ratings. It delivers a polished take on the horde-survivor formula through strong visuals, balanced difficulty, and meaningful build variety.
Players who enjoy roguelike elements paired with auto-shooter combat will find the Norse mythology theme and character roster engaging. The inclusion of local co-op broadens its appeal for shared sessions. Those seeking a challenging yet rewarding entry in the genre should consider it, especially on PC where controller support and Steam Deck compatibility enhance accessibility.
