Hexguardian

Hexguardian is a roguelite, tower defense game where you build your own maps with hexagonal tiles! Build and upgrade towers, recruit armies, learn spells, construct wonders and place hexagonal tiles to create a path to enhance your defenses. With plenty of game modes and talents to unlock!

Current Players: 15
Developers: Split Second Games
Publishers: Yogscast Games
Release Date: May 2, 2024
Price (USD): $9.59
Overall, the sentiment towards the game is largely positive, with players appreciating its innovative approach to tower defense mechanics and the depth added by its progression system. Despite its challenging aspects, which some users see as areas for improvement, the game's replayability and unique mix of strategic elements from other successful titles have garnered a strong player base. Issues such as balancing, performance, and depth of strategy were mentioned, suggesting areas where further development could enhance the player experience. However, the engagement level, especially among tower defense enthusiasts, implies this game offers a compelling blend of strategy, creativity, and replay value.

Positive Points

  • Innovative twist on tower defense mechanics, introducing unique gameplay elements.
  • High replayability with random map generation and a vast progression tree.
  • Engaging and addictive gameplay, with many users playing for extended periods shortly after purchase.
  • Supports a variety of strategies, allowing for creative problem-solving.
  • Works well on Steam Deck, highlighting good platform optimization.
  • Features a mix of positive aspects from games like Rogue Tower, Dorfromantik, and Isle of Arrows, indicating a well-blended inspiration from other titles.
  • Considered by many as one of the best tower defense games played, with certain titles even comparing it favorably to established games like Kingdom Rush.
  • Graphical and artistic direction praised, offering a distinct visual style.
  • Negative Points

  • Some reviews mention the game feeling repetitive, with a restrictive tower placement system.
  • Excessive focus on meta progression over direct content, making the early game especially challenging.
  • Economic and upgrade systems criticized for lacking balance, making progression feel slow or grindy.
  • Limited tutorial and unclear game mechanics leave some players feeling lost.
  • Performance issues in later stages, with notable framerate drops.
  • Several players commented on the game's difficulty, even on easier settings.
  • Comparisons with similar games suggest some areas, such as tower diversity and the impact of strategic choices, could be improved.
  • Mixed Points

  • Meta progression provides mixed feelings; while it adds depth, it also necessitates grinding which some players found less enjoyable.
  • The game's difficulty is seen both positively and negatively, with some appreciating the challenge and others finding it too steep.
  • Graphical style generally praised but not for everyone, with a few reviewers finding it too simplistic or 'babyish.'
  • Controls and interface have garnered both praise for innovation and criticism for being unintuitive or overly complex in certain aspects.
  • Common Themes

  • Comparison to games like Rogue Tower and Dorfromantik, with many enjoying the blend of tower defense and hex-based map building.
  • A strong call for balancing changes, particularly regarding economy scaling, tower diversity, and the impact of strategic decisions.
  • Requests for quality of life improvements, such as better zoom functionality, hotkeys, and an undo button.
  • The game's casual nature and ease of getting into gameplay were frequently mentioned positively.
  • Updated 5/7/2024, 8:48:41 PM UTC