Deal | For a limited time only: Roguelike deckbuilder with co-op focus available to play for free on Steam

In Hellcard, players delve into shadowy dungeons set in a world twisted by an archdemon. The game’s visual style resembles an open pop-up book, featuring stylized fantasy art, origami-like enemies and a minimalist yet immersive atmosphere. At the start, players choose from three classes – mage, rogue or warrior – each with a unique starting deck.

Hellcard leans into the core strengths of classic roguelike deckbuilders: procedurally generated dungeons, builds shaped by random rewards and full restarts upon death. Most games in the genre are single-player experiences – but here, you are not alone. In co-op mode, up to three players take on waves of enemies together. A key twist is the circular battlefield, divided into “slices.” Enemies spawn in near or far zones depending on their position, and your cards’ range and type determine how effective your attacks are. Each player builds their own deck, but success ultimately depends on how well the team’s abilities and strategies work together.

Checkpoint Gaming praised Hellcard for its fresh approach to battlefield design and strong replay value. The outlet highlighted the co-op mode as a major strength, noting that it not only adds to the fun but also introduces deeper strategic layers. Some downsides were mentioned as well, including a cluttered user interface and a steep learning curve, particularly for newcomers to the genre. Despite these issues, the game received a solid score of 8 out of 10. The Steam community has also responded positively, with 86% of roughly 4,200 user reviews being favorable.

Free to play until February 2

Hellcard was developed by Polish studio Thing Trunk in partnership with publisher Skystone Games and released in February 2024. The game normally sells for around $25 on Steam. For fans of roguelike deckbuilders looking for something beyond the usual solo experience, this co-op-focused take on the genre offers a refreshing change – and it is completely free to try until February 2. Hellcard is Steam Deck "Verified" (available on Amazon for $675), meaning it runs smoothly on Valve’s handheld. No follow-up discount has been announced so far.

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