Thing Trunk is starting build a strong reputation as one of the most innovative studios operating in the indie space, thanks to their eye-catching papercraft style and willingness to explore different genres.
The developer’s next game – Hellcard – builds on the back of previous success, Book of Demons (which I picked up this week after trying Hellcard, which does indicate quite strongly that I was enjoying myself at the time), this time with a strong focus on deckbuilding.
An interesting aside, Hellcard also precedes another paper-craft game from the same developer called Book of Aliens, which looks like the studio’s attempt at making a game in the vein of XCOM. Wishlisted!
What is Hellcard all about, then?
The studio’s latest game is exiting Early Access on February 1st (to be fair, there’s a good chance that it’s already out by the time that you’re reading this). It’s a papercraft deckbuilder with a strong emphasis on co-op combat, although you can play it solo if you prefer.
While you can play alone, as you’ll see from the attached screenshot, this is a game designed to be played cooperatively. You’ll note the semi-circle with the two player-characters in the middle, with enemies all around. This setup allows players to focus their attacks on the nearest enemies, as well as work in tandem to take down larger groups with area of effect attacks and whatnot.
Different characters are able to build up their own decks with various special attacks and defensive buffs on offer. Thus, it quickly becomes a tactical battle, and knowing when to push and when to pull is at the heart of things.
Again, referring to the screenshot, you can see a circle around the players. This sphere of influence is perhaps my favourite part of the game, as it defines the boundary between short and long range attacks. You can use this circle to keep certain enemies at arm’s length, buying you time to deal with those closer to you.
Where can I play Hellcard?
As mentioned, Hellcard is developed by Thing Trunk (and published by Skystone Games). It supports co-op for up to three players, and you can play online with both friends and Internet randoms. Alternatively, you can play alone with AI-companions (like I did) and to be fair, that works pretty well, too.
If roguelite deckbuilders are your thing, and you’d like to play a game with a strong co-op focus, you can see more of Hellcard on Steam.
