KEY POINTS

  • "Jupiter Hell" is a turn-based roguelike set in a demon-infested space station
  • The game takes heavy inspiration from "Doom" and classic roguelike games
  • "Jupiter Hell's" fun and intense tactical gameplay makes it a gem that shouldn't be overlooked

Developer ChaosForge recently released “Jupiter Hell,” a unique turn-based roguelike game set in a space station infested by all manners of cosmic horror. The subtle graphical aesthetic and the “Doom”-inspired settings are clear, but a solid gameplay loop and a satisfying take on turn-based shooting makes “Jupiter Hell” stand on its own quite well.

There isn’t much story going on in “Jupiter Hell.” Players get to experience the game from an isometric top-down view while controlling a lone space marine against hordes of hellish monsters, from the bog-standard zombie to fireball-throwing imps and much larger demons down the road. The goal is to reach the end of each procedurally generated level until the final one is reached.

“Jupiter Hell” arms players with a traditional arsenal of weapons; pistols, shotguns and machine guns are present in the game and so are heavier ordnance like chainguns, railguns, rocket launchers and chainsaws, much like in “Doom.”

Jupiter Hell harkens back to the days of the classic roguelike, from how it plays to the look of its UI
Jupiter Hell harkens back to the days of the classic roguelike, from how it plays to the look of its UI ChaosForge

The gameplay is what really sets “Jupiter Hell” apart from everything else. It plays like a classic roguelike game; every move counts as a turn and both the players and AI take their turns simultaneously. There is no waiting for enemies to move like in games such as “XCOM.” The action takes place in near-real-time, which makes every decision crucial and life-threatening.

There are three classes to choose from at the start of each run: Marine, Scout and Technician. Each of them are equipped with unique abilities and starter loadouts and they can be specialized in many different ways, giving players plenty of options to play with.

Much like traditional roguelikes, PC players can only use the keyboard to perform actions. The game can also be played with a controller, which has a control scheme that’s surprisingly well-designed for the genre.

The controls and the game itself are easy to learn, making this a great title to just pick up and play for just about anyone. Additionally, the low system requirement means that even low-end systems by 2021 standards can run “Jupiter Hell.”

ChaosForge successfully merged the fast pacing of a shooter with the tactical requirements of a turn-based title into a roguelike game that’s intense and extremely satisfying.

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