Title: Hordes of Hunger Review – A Stylish, Action-Packed Tribute That Just Misses the Mark

The indie gaming landscape has experienced an influx of titles influenced by the breakout triumph of Vampire Survivors, a game that revolutionized the roguelike genre with its simple controls, escalating chaos, and gratifying progression. Thus, when Hordes of Hunger made its debut, it was natural to approach it with some skepticism. After all, how many more games can capitalize on the Vampire Survivors phenomenon before the formula starts to feel worn out?

Nevertheless, Hordes of Hunger succeeds in establishing its own identity, even if it doesn’t quite soar to the same heights as its predecessor. It’s a title that fuses familiar mechanics with a handful of new concepts, all wrapped in an alluringly dark aesthetic that’s difficult to overlook.

A More Dynamic Approach to the Survivors Concept

While Vampire Survivors focused on passive combat—where your character engages in auto-attacks and your primary task is to evade and position—Hordes of Hunger turns the tables. Combat in this title is active and engaging. Players are required to hold down the attack button to execute a barrage of strikes, and once enough Focus is accumulated, they can unleash powerful heavy attacks. This change imparts a more action RPG feel to the game, reminiscent of traditional dungeon crawlers.

Enhancing this are special weapon abilities that players can choose before each run, providing some strategic wiggle room. Would you prefer a weapon that inflicts splash damage or one that stuns foes? Picking the right tool for the task adds a layer of complexity, especially when combined with the game’s movement mechanics such as dashing, jumping, and sidestepping.

Perhaps the most notable feature is the parry system. Enemies indicate their attacks with visual signals, enabling skilled players to counter for additional damage. This mechanism keeps players involved and rewards swift reflexes, introducing a desirable layer of skill-based gameplay that differentiates it from its more passive counterparts.

A Stunningly Grim Universe

In terms of visuals, Hordes of Hunger stands out remarkably. Its artistic direction heavily leans into dark fantasy, conjuring the eerie ambiance of titles like Dark Souls. The locales are intricately detailed, frequently portraying dilapidated ruins, scorched terrains, and haunting, fog-laden battlegrounds. The designs of enemies are equally impressive, featuring everything from hideous ghouls to towering creatures formed of bone and sinew.

This visual detail draws players into the world, even when the gameplay itself begins to feel repetitive. It’s a game that appears and sounds like it should offer more depth than it does—and that’s both an accolade and a critique.

Gameplay That Lacks Enduring Variety

Despite its strong initial impact, Hordes of Hunger struggles to sustain its momentum. While the active combat and parry system are captivating at first, the game falls short in the variety and progression depth that made Vampire Survivors so alluring. In Vampire Survivors, every run feels distinct due to the vast assortment of power-ups and synergies that can evolve your character into a screen-clearing demigod. In contrast, Hordes of Hunger’s power development seems flatter and more foreseeable.

Once you discover a weapon and tactic that works, there’s minimal motivation to try something new. Most runs begin to feel monotonous, and the absence of transformative upgrades means you rarely encounter that exhilarating sense of progression that characterizes the finest roguelikes.

Objective-Based Progression

One aspect in which Hordes of Hunger innovates is its level design. Rather than endless survival, each run is divided into objectives—eliminate a certain quantity of foes, safeguard a supply-carrying donkey, or vanquish a mini-boss. Successfully completing two objectives provides a short respite, allowing players to traverse the level, gather experience, and recuperate before the next wave.

This framework brings a sense of pacing and purpose to each run, preventing the gameplay from becoming overly monotonous. It also affords players a moment to pause and appreciate the game’s atmosphere, which is a refreshing shift from the unrelenting pace of other Survivors-influenced titles.

Final Thoughts: A Delightful Snack, Not a Complete Feast

Hordes of Hunger is a well-crafted, visually striking game that presents a fresh perspective on the Vampire Survivors formula. Its active combat, parry dynamics, and objective-based progression are all solid ideas that help it distinguish itself within a crowded genre. However, it ultimately lacks the depth and variety needed to ensure players return for extended hours.

To illustrate a point from the review: Hordes of Hunger is to Vampire Survivors what a large bag of chips is to a gourmet meal. It’s enjoyable, easy to consume, and satisfying in the moment—but it doesn’t leave a lasting impact. For players seeking a hands-on, action-oriented interpretation of the Survivors genre, it’s worth a shot. Just don’t anticipate it taking the place of the original in your gaming lineup.

Pros