Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 79 | 58 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 83% | 76 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 83% | 77 | 464 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Apr 16, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 464 total reviews in window · weighted 172.5 up / 34.4 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (28)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel is launching on Steam with big ambitions. On paper, it has everything a quality horde-survival roguelike should have, a captivating setting rooted in Norse mythology, diverse characters with unique abilities, sophisticated in-run and meta-progression, adrenaline-fueled battles against waves of enemies, and challenges in the form of powerful bosses. For fans of the roguelike action genre and Norse mythology who are looking for a visually stunning and dynamic experience, Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel is definitely a title worth keeping an eye on. If Games Farm and ARTillery can live up to their potential and maintain high quality, we’re in for a great addition to the horde-survival game family, one that will keep us trapped among the hellish hordes of Helheim for hours on end. Becoming a Jotunnslayer won’t be easy, but the journey to get there will be thrilling.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“While I’m happy to see this sexier and high-octane take on the gameplay style that Vampire Survivors really defined, the Switch 2 port has some unfortunate problems that can hopefully be patched”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel is a solid entry in a genre that’s fast becoming as crowded as its arenas, and it certainly dresses the part with its Norse gods and moody, almost triple-A presentation. But beneath the gleam lies a familiar, relatively safe loop that rarely strays from the beaten path carved by Vampire Survivors and its ilk. There’s fun to be had in the chaos, dodging through a blizzard of skeletons while Thor’s hammer spins off into the distance never gets old, but the repetition and lack of meaningful variety make this more of a hearty snack than a full feast worthy of Odin’s table.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel offers fun roguelike gameplay best experienced in short bursts but it very quickly loses its momentum and suffers from unbalanced progression.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“I believe Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel delivers more than enough to please players of the genre and even those who are unfamiliar with the style and want to check it out.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel is the best rouguelike we’ve played this year, that truly goes gun blazing with the gore and violent side of the Nordic culture, and puts the players in a very smartly designed progression based roguelike run that is guaranteed to have your attention until the last second on the clock. While the graphics and the OSTs are just right, this entire package at just ₹550 is unbelievable and an absolute steal deal.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Brave warriors raised by Slovak developers and with the support of the Norse gods set out among monsters and gigantic Jotuns. If you are a fan of auto battler games, Jotunnslayer might entertain you. Although somewhere above it stands Achilles: Survivor, which has somewhat richer content, extra gameplay elements and half the price tag.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Jotunnslayer excels at creating a solid gameplay loop with considerable replay value in regard to progression. Each class has its own abilities that truly feel unique, even if they still rely on the varied Norse Gods' powers in the same way. Fans of the genre may be burnt out by the wave of copycats within the genre, but with the impressive visuals, addictive God powers, it certainly helps it stand out from the pack, and its time to refine itself in Early Access has paid off significantly.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“I found myself slowly falling in love with the game the longer I played it. I’ve never been particularly drawn to roguelike games, but this one really captured my attention and offered a fresh perspective on the genre. Not to mention, the backdrop setting of Norse mythology, of which I am fond, was definitely a good way to keep me playing and going back for more. For anyone who likes roguelikes or horde-survival games, I would definitely recommend adding this to the collection.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“While its mechanical satisfaction and feeling of power could use some work, Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel still serves as a solid entry into the survivors-like genre, being especially visually excellent and showing remarkable growth from its Early Access run.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“While Jotunnslayer offers enjoyable, well-balanced gameplay with modern visuals, its clunky UI and messy combat readability hold it back from true greatness.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel is a Norse-myth roguelike bullet hell with varied classes, distinctive maps, and satisfying bosses, but thin long-term progression and weak tracking/unlocks sap its staying power. The fun is in short bursts rather than long grinds.”
read full review ↗
Gaming Professors
Nindie Spotlight
Wolf's Gaming Blog
Nexus Hub
Pizza Fria
Gameffine
SECTOR.sk
Analog Stick Gaming
MMORPG.com
Try Hard Guides
CriticLenz
Gameliner…and 16 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Hotfix 1.2.3 - Patch NotesMay 14, 2026
- Hotfix 1.2.2 - Patch NotesApr 23, 2026
- Hotfix 1.2.1 - Patch NotesApr 16, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Conan breaks into Hel - New DLC and Local Co-op update revealed (DEVBLOG 17)Apr 2, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix 1.1.4 - Patch NotesMar 19, 2026
- 1.1.3 Hotfix - Patch notesJan 29, 2026
- Hotfix 1.1.2 - Patch NotesJan 8, 2026
- Hotfix 1.1.1 - Patch notesDec 11, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- NEW Content Update The Fall of Alfheim Has Arrived!Dec 4, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix 1.0.6 - Patch NotesNov 13, 2025
- Update 1.0.5 - Patch NotesNov 6, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix 1.0.4 - Patch NotesOct 14, 2025
- Hotfix 1.0.3 - Patch NotesOct 2, 2025
- Hotfix 1.0.2 - Patch NotesSep 18, 2025
- Patch 1.0.1 - Patch NotesSep 11, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- 1.0 Release - Patch notesSep 3, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- JOTUNNSLAYER: HORDES OF HEL HITS 1.0!Sep 3, 2025
- Hotfix 0.4.7 - Patch NotesJul 10, 2025
- Quality of Life Update 0.4.6 - Patch NotesJul 8, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Playtest Content 0.5.0 Patch NotesJul 3, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix 0.4.5 - Patch NotesJun 13, 2025
- Hotfix 0.4.4 - Patch NotesJun 9, 2025
- Hotfix 0.4.3 - Patch notesJun 2, 2025
- Hotfix 0.4.2May 19, 2025
- Hotfix 0.4.1 - Patch NotesMay 15, 2025
- SVARTALFHEIM DESCENT Has Arrived in Jotunnslayers: Hordes of Hel!May 13, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix 0.3.1 - Patch NotesApr 22, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Content Update 0.3 Drops Now - Rule the Waves with Njord & New Weapons!Apr 3, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix 0.2.2 - Patch NotesMar 20, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix 0.2.1 - Patch NotesMar 13, 2025
- 0.2 CONTENT UPDATE is OUT! - Jotunheim and Skadi UNLOCKED!Mar 6, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- DEV BLOG #13: Warm Up for the 0.2 UPDATE!Feb 27, 2025
- Hotfix 0.1.3 - Patch NotesFeb 13, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 0.1.2 - Balance Changes, Quality of Life & FixesFeb 6, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix 0.1.1 - Patch NotesJan 30, 2025significant · resets scoring window
…and 4 earlier patch announcements.