Let me start by saying: I didn’t mean to lose hours of my life to Heroes of Hammerwatch 2. It just… happened. Like falling into a pit trap you definitely saw coming but stepped in anyway because loot.
If you’ve never dipped your toes into the beautiful chaos of an action roguelike, let me explain: imagine dying repeatedly, but every time you crawl back from the grave, you’re just a bit more of a badass. That’s the loop. Frustrating? Yes. Rewarding? Also yes. Addicting? Oh, 1000%.
Why I’m Hooked
There’s something magical about a game where you start off swinging a glorified toothpick at skeletons and eventually end up one-shotting demons with enchanted warhammers while wearing a helmet made out of some poor monster’s face.
- Character progression? Absolutely.
- Upgradable gear and swappable loadouts? Yes, please.
- A town you can build up to support your never-ending thirst for dungeon loot? Shut up and take my gold.
Every run in HoH2 is like its own little story. Maybe you found a busted combo of gear that turns your mage into a machine gun. Maybe you were two rooms away from greatness and got steamrolled by a horde of angry beetles. Either way—you learn. You grow. And then you dive right back in.
Lone Wolf Life
Now, I know you can play this with friends. And hey, if you’re into waiting around while your buddy compares every sword like it’s a fine wine tasting, cool. But personally? I like my adventuring solo. I’m impatient. I don’t want a committee to approve my loot choices. I want to go where I want, when I want, and punch evil in the face without a group vote.
The Grind That Doesn’t Feel Like a Grind
That’s the genius of this game. You never feel like a run is wasted. Whether it’s a powerful trinket, a pile of ore for your town, or just the satisfaction of not dying in the first 5 minutes—you’re always getting something. Even if it’s just character-building via emotional damage.
And once you finally beat the Dark Citadel? Buckle up. New Game+ ramps everything up to 11 and dares you to keep going. And I will. I absolutely will.
Final Thoughts
If you love roguelikes, RPGs, or just need a new obsession that will eat your free time like a mana-hungry void beast—Heroes of Hammerwatch 2 is it. It’s crunchy, replayable, and dangerously fun.
Pro tip: upgrade the blacksmith early. Trust me. That guy holds the key to your future power.
You can check out the game here: Heroes of Hammerwatch II on Steam