Hands of Necromancy is a singleplayer dark fantasy FPS metroidvania built in the GZDoom engine. Players take control of a necromancer who explores interconnected maps, fights enemies with weapons and spells, raises the dead as servants, and unlocks transformations to access new areas and abilities.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on exploration and combat across 21 maps divided into three large hubs. Environments range from countryside and forests to cemeteries, castles, ice caves, and volcanoes. Each area contains secrets, alternate paths, and obstacles that require specific abilities to overcome.
Combat mixes traditional FPS shooting with magic and necromancy. Weapons include devastating firearms and spells such as the Tornado Spell for launching foes, the Ring of Ice for freezing targets, and the Unholy Hand Grenade for area damage. Slain enemies can be raised as undead minions to assist in fights.
Progression involves learning gruesome transformations that grant new movement and combat options. The Swamp Serpent allows slithering through tight spaces and breathing underwater. The Stone Breaker Golem smashes through walls. The Hell Burner Demon walks safely on lava. The Wyvern enables flight. These forms also provide unique attacks that turn enemy powers against them.
Maps emphasize backtracking and ability gating typical of the metroidvania genre within a fast-paced first-person shooter framework. Players must combine weapons, spells, minions, and transformations to defeat hordes of sinister creatures and navigate the world.
Game Modes
Hands of Necromancy offers a singleplayer campaign experience with no multiplayer components. The structure revolves around linear yet open-ended progression through the three hubs, where exploration and combat feed into each other.
Players advance by clearing maps, finding secrets, and unlocking transformations that open previously inaccessible sections. The campaign encourages repeated visits to earlier areas with new abilities to reach hidden content and complete objectives.
Difficulty remains challenging yet fair, with emphasis on learning enemy patterns and mastering the full range of necromancer tools rather than relying on any single tactic.
Exploration and Progression
Three expansive hubs connect the 21 maps, each with distinct themes and enemy varieties. Progression feels deliberate as new transformations and spells expand movement options and combat versatility. Raising undead servants adds a layer of crowd control that changes how encounters play out over time.
The GZDoom engine supports detailed environments and responsive controls suited to both precise shooting and fluid transformation switching. Secrets and alternate routes reward thorough exploration without padding the experience with filler content.
Is It Worth Playing?
Hands of Necromancy delivers a focused singleplayer metroidvania FPS that stands out for its transformation mechanics and necromancy systems. Community feedback highlights the polished map design, fair challenge, and creative ability variety as strengths.
The game received updates including version 3.0, and a sequel has followed, indicating ongoing developer support. It suits players who enjoy retro-inspired shooters with modern metroidvania structure, ability-driven exploration, and dark fantasy themes.
Those seeking fast-paced combat paired with meaningful progression through transformations and servant management will find a complete, self-contained experience that rewards mastery of its systems. The indie action title remains available on PC with no additional modes or expansions required for the core campaign.
