Loading critic reviews...
Finding live streams...
About Hell Forge
Hell Forge is a retro-style roguelite RPG developed by Gabhyun Kim and published by LiberateGames. Released on June 30, 2026, it blends survival mechanics with a high-risk crafting system. You play as a miner battling endless hordes of monsters to gather souls, which fuel a volatile lottery system for crafting gear. The goal is to locate the Hell Forge on procedurally generated maps and use your resources to gamble on legendary weapons. The game’s single-player focus and turn-based combat make it a tense, resource-driven challenge. It’s built for players who enjoy calculated risk and punishing difficulty, with a pixel-art aesthetic that leans into 16-bit nostalgia.
Gameplay
Each session in Hell Forge follows a loop of exploration, combat, and resource management. You move on a grid-based map, battling monsters to collect souls and materials. Turn-based combat emphasizes positioning and elemental weaknesses, with permadeath adding urgency. After each fight, you risk your loot at the Hell Forge, a dice-roll system that exchanges resources for gear upgrades, often with hidden modifiers. The game forces tough choices: hoard resources for later or spend them early for better chances. Procedural maps ensure variety, but progress is fleeting; even a well-built character can collapse in one bad roll. Sessions typically last 30, 60 minutes, with longer campaigns needed to master the forge’s logic.
What Players Think
Hell Forge holds an 88 on PlayPile, with 42% of players completing the core loop. Average playtime is 18 hours, but 65% of users report frustration, often citing the forge’s RNG as “too punishing.” Critics are split: 72% of reviews on the site rate it 4 stars or higher, praising its “addictive risk/reward design,” while 28% call it “needlessly opaque.” Community moods are polarized, 35% label it “enjoyably chaotic,” while 40% say it’s “grind-heavy.” The game’s 32 achievements have a 23% completion rate, with “Forge’s Gambit” (winning a 5-star roll) being the most skipped. Players who stick it out often describe a “sudden click” moment when the forge’s patterns become clearer.
PlayPile's Take
At $29.99, Hell Forge is a mid-tier indie gamble with a 88 PlayPile score but a steep learning curve. It rewards patience and risk-takers, though its RNG-heavy crafting may alienate casual players. The 18-hour average playtime and 23% achievement completion rate suggest it’s best for fans of punishing roguelites who thrive on incremental mastery. While not a flawless experience, the game’s tense resource management and retro charm make it a worthwhile pick for those who enjoy balancing luck and strategy. Skip if you hate permadeath or unpredictable systems.
Game Modes
Single player
Deals
Finding deals...
Screenshots
5Achievements
Loading achievements...
Similar Games
Finding similar games...
Buzzing on Bluesky
Checking Bluesky...