Whereas Diablo 4 rumbles on with a dependable inevitability, and its greatest rival Path of Exile 2 is bold however unfinished, there have been some unbelievable ARPGs from smaller groups taking my consideration. From the lighthearted pixel-art romp of The Slormancer to the darkish fairytale motion of Ravenswatch, we have been spoiled for alternative. Among the best amongst them is Hell Clock, and in the event you missed out on it again in July, now’s the proper time to alter that. Developer Rogue Snail has simply delivered a giant replace that fully transforms the best way motion feels, buffs melee builds, and dramatically enhances the endgame potential.
Hell Clock replace 1.2 has simply arrived, and it is made probably the greatest video games like Diablo this 12 months a lot simpler to suggest. I already had loads of love for what Rogue Snail was bringing to the desk; its artwork route is instantly charming, transporting you right into a fantastical race in opposition to time set among the many brutal Brazilian Battle of Canudos in 1896. Structurally (and a bit of thematically), it resembles Hades: you are battling by means of hell in an try to rescue the soul of your fallen mentor, empowering your self with a collection of blessings and preventing demons cast from the darkish battle.
Regardless of this core, nonetheless, Hell Clock really performs extra like an ARPG. You steadily collect gear and relics that empower your character, and pour factors right into a branching talent tree that helps you slowly get stronger and stronger, placing this extra firmly into the ‘roguelite’ camp of persistent development between runs. There’s even a sprawling map of constellations that rivals the likes of the Path of Exile talent tree, supplying you with a long-term improve path as you’re employed by means of the endgame ascensions and difficult Hell Mode.
My greatest caveat, nonetheless, was how the motion really performed. It felt adequate to take pleasure in the actual highlights such because the buildcrafting and elegance, however could not match as much as different style titans. Hell Clock replace 1.2 goals to repair that. You now have full 360-degree freedom of motion, and all expertise can now be used on the go along with a 50% velocity penalty. Enter buffering has additionally been carried out, which ought to enable you to circulate between assaults and skills with none awkward stiffness.
Along with this, it introduces a variety of community-created new distinctive gadgets, plus a number of extra constellations. Melee builds, which had been proving a bit of underpowered after the 1.1 replace, have been given some love throughout the board. Within the endgame and ascension mode, you will now have free entry unlocked to all 52 constellations, supplying you with a world of potentialities. There’s additionally a brand new search function for each the constellations and the varied bell screens to make discovering appropriate skills simpler.
That is not all, nonetheless. Rogue Snail says it now has “the majority of our workforce targeted on subsequent 12 months’s growth, which can carry a brand new story with about one-third of the content material of the bottom sport, alongside thrilling new expertise.” There might be a paid part if you wish to assist the workforce and get every part there’s to see, however the developer notes that “the overwhelming majority of enhancements will come totally free and won’t be behind a paywall.”
That subsequent free replace, which can arrive alongside the growth in 2026, is already sounding fairly stacked. We are able to anticipate 12 new biomes for the endgame, enhancements to dungeon technology and randomization, a per-point respec system for talent bushes and constellations, a brand new mapping system known as ‘Limitless Nightmares,’ dozens extra relics, a last model of the ascension mode, and “just a few extra surprises.”
“Growing Hell Clock with you since our 1.0 launch has been the time of your lives, and we’re grateful for all of the assist and suggestions you are offering us,” Rogue Snail writes. “We hope you take pleasure in this replace, and have an amazing finish of the 12 months.” With a large low cost on the desk proper now bringing the value down to only $14 alongside this main overhaul, I might actually suggest seeing what Hell Clock has to supply.
Hell Clock replace 1.2 is out now, and the sport is on sale at a 30% low cost till Saturday December 6, which means you will pay simply $13.99 / £10.55. Get it right here in the event you’re able to set out on a quest for vengeance and redemption.
