Viking Survivors.
The Vampire Survivors genre is booming. Almost every type of aesthetic you can think of has dipped its toes into its auto-battle waters. However, most approach the genre with cartoony visuals or the pixelated nature that Vampire Survivors itself is known for. Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel; however, has visuals that are more in line with Diablo, making it stand out from the pack. This journey into Norse mythology comes with many of the characters you know, the powers you think to expect, and the dangers that swarm all around you. While the genre is packed with almost endless options, Hordes of Hel is without a doubt one of the best ones out there.
The similarities to Vampire Survivors are certainly there, but the slick visuals can easily make you think you are playing some sort of mod or additional mode featured in the likes of something like Diablo IV. Honestly, its visuals are what pulled me to the title in the first place. The levels are more than just a flat environment with simple arrangements of trees or rocks scattered about. The initial area, Niflheim, is a frozen wasteland filled with dangerous foes and difficult challenges as you attempt to summon the boss and return with your spoils. Later locations, like Jotunheim, require you to build bridges to access other areas of the map. This is to say nothing of the game’s new final area, Helheim.
From the start, you'll have access to the Berserker and Seeress classes, with more characters unlocked as you complete the requirements to make them playable, such as beating the first level on normal or harder difficulties. The Berserker has their own stats, skills, cosmetics, and abilities, many of which can be upgraded as the run goes on. You’ll also have access to the ranged magic class in the Seeress, and eventually unlock the ghost-wolf ranger in the Revenant, the fire-wielding Flame Sister, the Drawf in the Warden, and finally, the Kinslayer, a Valkryie so devious that Freya herself has banished her.
As you continue to collect experience orbs, you'll also have access to the familiar Norse Gods: Thor, Odin, Loki, Freya, Brokk and Sindri, Skadi, Njord, and newly added to its 1.0 release, Nidhogg. Each offers their aid in a variety of active and passive skills. In typical fashion, each level has you crafting a build on the go, hoping you find a mixture of abilities that make for a successful run. Especially with the new endless mode that unlocks upon the game’s completion.
As you complete runs, you'll earn coins. These are found around the map and are rewarded for completing a series of challenges, or by simply killing anything around you, especially the more threatening foes. Some challenges offer more and ask more of you, while others are easily completed, such as collecting mushrooms, horns, or defeating sub-bosses. The more difficult ones have you destroying a stationary object, leaving you incredibly vulnerable, especially those that prevent you from using your abilities. Coins are used to upgrade your warrior or increase the effectiveness of the powers the Gods bestow upon you. This then makes each run about getting in and getting out with as many coins as you can. Thankfully, death doesn't wipe your earnings from the face of the frozen earth, making every run feel like you are chipping away at some progress.
Each class also has their own skills and even subclasses that increase certain traits they are known for. The Seeress can autocast a destructive mind pulse or cast down an area where time stands still, causing anything in its wake to freeze. The Berserker has a series of various axe skills, each of which is immensely useful as they cleave or swing around him. What helps these characters differentiate themselves is how varied their skillsets are, and that they don’t come across as just palette swaps from one another.
The Revenant is likely my favorite character, given their range and their skills. From a volley of arrows to explosive skull projectiles, to a bottomless quiver of guided arrows, not to mention their spectral wolves. They can dish out some significant damage from afar and feel far faster to use than other classes. The Flame sister has some extremely destructive fire spells, while the Warden can cause massive earthquakes, and a series of rotating shields that launch toward enemies when hit. The Kinslayer can summon a small army of Valkyries, to shadowy phantasms that explode. Each character can level up their basic skills as well as their passive effects, making them more powerful for each subsequent run.
The Gods themselves offer many a boon from passive skills that work in the background to enhance what is already present, to active skills like Thor’s lightning, Odin’s spear, or Loki’s serpents. Each God has a series of skills that can be upgraded, allowing them to work harder and often provide more, such as additional lighting strikes or a greater range of their attack. While you could focus entirely on one God, mixing and matching them is absolutely ideal, given how their abilities work. The Gods also provide perks, such as Loki’s allowing for a better drop rate on gold, Thor being able to grant both additional health as well as increased damage, to Nidhogg increasing your overall Critical Damage rate. These are upgraded by exchanging gold for skill points, and thankfully, the way to do that has been streamlined since the time in Early Access.
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.
Developer - Games Farm, ARTillery
Publisher - Grindstone. Released - September 3rd, 2025. Available On - Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC. Rated - (T) - Blood, Violence. Platform Reviewed - Xbox Series X/S. Review Access - Review code was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.
Jeff is the original founder of Analog Stick Gaming. His favorite games include The Witcher III, the Mass Effect Trilogy, Hi-Fi Rush, Stellar Blade, Hellbade: Senua’s Sacrifice, and the Legend of Heroes series, especially Trails of Cold Steel III & IV.