Video Game Review: Loop Hero

Developer: Four Quarters

Publisher: Devolver Digital

Genre: Roguelike, RPG

Reviewed On: Nintendo Switch

Also On: PC

The idea of a roguelike RPG that takes the feeling of control from the player doesn’t sound too great on paper. Loop Hero released on PC last year and proved that this doesn’t have to be the case. Now in 2021, Nintendo Switch players finally have the opportunity to see what all the buzz was about. The wait has been worth it.

Loop Hero is a simple RPG with an even simpler premise. The game takes place after a Lich has already ended the world. Everyone who is left, including the protagonist, has forgotten just about everything from the old world. Still, the protagonist has a heroic spirit, and sets out to rediscover the world and eventually find a way to restore it. Players will constantly push the protagonist through a small map in the shape of a loop, and every time they fail, they will return to camp. When they set out on a new expedition, they will see that reality has change and they will be stuck in a completely different loop.

The path alongside each route is randomly generated when an expedition is started. The path is short and is initially only made up of blank wasteland tiles that randomly spawn slime monsters every day. As players walk through the tiles, time will pass and so will the days. When the player steps on a tile with a monster on it, a fight will commence. The player has no power over the battle itself. Instead, players will influence the environment and their character throughout the runs via cards and equipment. Enemies drop loot when defeated, giving players access to the cards and equipment that help them progress.

Cards influence the environment in various ways. Some cards, such as mountains, meadows, and deserts, are placed outside of the loop. They have passive effects on the protagonist and enemies. For example, mountains raise the player’s max HP while meadows heal the player at the start of each day. Other cards add to the roads, changing the wasteland terrain into something else, like groves, villages, or cemeteries. These tiles have effects when stepped on. Villages give quests to the player, groves drop wood resources. These tiles also spawn monsters when new days begin.

Players can place their tiles wherever they like. The tiles that create enemies make the game harder, but they also lead to better drops. Equipment such as weapons, armor, and rings will make the character stronger, thus increasing their chances of survival. Those odds are needed, because every loop around leads to stronger enemies (And better loot). Players will need to manage their tiles to ensure that they grow at a reasonable pace without killing the protagonist along the way. If enough tiles are placed, a boss will appear, and beating that boss will allow players to progress to the next lever with more difficult loops ahead.

Loop Hero is such a simple game that its shocking how addicting the core gameplay loop is. Balancing risk and reward throughout a loop is rewarding. Watching the hero overcome tough odds is exhilarating. Unsurprisingly, getting loot is always satisfying.

There is a little more to Loop Hero than just the loops too. In between expeditions, players will be building a camp with other refugees. Various structures can be built with the resources they collect during their loops. These structures give access to new tiles, classes, and other perks. These help give players a sense of progression, making Loop Hero a little easier than pure roguelites. Still, this progression can be slow and might turn off those who aren’t a part of the hardcore crowd. Just before starting an expedition, players can choose what tiles they want to spawn during the run, adding a bit of deckbuilding to the game’s formula. They can also choose from the game’s three classes, which adds a nice bit of variety to the gameplay. Every class plays significantly different and favors different tile and equipment builds, keeping the experience fresh throughout.

As far as presentation goes, Loop Hero looks simple but sweet. The game looks like it came out of a much older era. This game is about as retro as it comes. Backgrounds are bland, except when filled with tons of tiles. Character models aren’t overly detailed, but still have a little charm to them. Loop Hero isn’t exactly a pretty game, but it makes the most of its minimalism. For those who like old fantasy games, Loop Hero might be comforting in its appearance.

The game was clearly designed for PC, and anyone who is coming over from that platform might be discouraged by the new control scheme. With touch controls, Loop Hero feels intuitive. With buttons, it can be a little more challenging. Fortunately, it’s nothing too difficult. The mapping is decent and while it doesn’t feel intuitive, it’s still absolutely playable. After a few hours, players won’t have any issues with Loop Hero‘s controls. On the other hand, Loop Hero feels like a game that was meant to be played on the go, and the Switch is perfect for that.

It’s not a perfect port, but Loop Hero is one of the best roguelikes on the Nintendo Switch. The core loop is fantastic, and its easy to get hooked on. The progression can be slow, but patient gamers will find Loop Hero to be incredibly rewarding.