New roguelike ARPG Hell Clock blends Hades with Diablo, and it's out now

Capturing the essence of Hell and its mythology has long been a favorite among developers, and it's spawned some great games over the years. I'm a huge fan of Hades, returning to Supergiant's endless loop time and again, and while I couldn't be more excited for the full release of its sequel, it looks like there's a new hellish roguelike ready to fill that gap in my life. Hell Clock is an ARPG roguelike based on Brazilian history with a dark fantasy twist. It's just hit Steam, and you can try its demo for free.

At first glance, Hell Clock ticks all the boxes you'd expect from the roguelike genre: action-packed, with plenty of enemies to battle against and upgrades to unlock, and a series of increasingly deadly dungeons to delve into. But there's more to this one than the tried and true formula. I find that the best roguelikes hook me with a rich, evolving narrative, and Hell Clock looks like it might just win me over there.

Developed by Rogue Snail, Hell Clock centers on the 1896-1897 War of Canudos in Brazil, but with a dark fantasy twist. In the dev's own words, "Canudos became a refuge for thousands. When its people defied the new Republic, they faced brutal retaliation, leaving 25,000 dead." It's here that you step into the shoes of Pajeú, the Clockmaker, fighting to retrieve the soul of his fallen mentor.

Unfortunately for you, Canudos has been transformed into purgatory, and now serves as a battleground between history and the supernatural. So you'll descend through Hell, battling your way through dungeons while a supernatural war wages in the background.

I'm also a fan of the gorgeous art and slick-looking ARPG combat, which really does seem like a combo of Hades and Diablo. If the difficulty puts you off, there's a Relaxed Mode for folks like me who'd prefer to ease into the fight before trying the harder modes.

Hell Clock is out now on Steam, and you can check out the demo if you like. You can find more info on its Steam page. Will called the demo a "must-play" earlier this year.

While you're here, peep our list of the best RPGs for more recommendations. We also have a list of upcoming PC games to keep an eye on.

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