Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel - Conan Edition is an isometric action RPG horde survivor with roguelike elements set in a Norse underworld. Players take control of cursed heroes who battle endless waves of mythical enemies across distinct realms while completing objectives to summon and defeat powerful bosses. The Conan Edition bundles the base game with the Conan the Barbarian DLC, which adds the legendary Cimmerian as a playable character along with supporting content.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on surviving escalating hordes in real time while gathering experience orbs from defeated foes to level up and select blessings from Norse gods. Movement is handled manually with options for automatic or manual aiming and attack styles that suit different preferences. Each run involves navigating procedurally influenced maps filled with environmental hazards, completing mid-run objectives such as collecting items or surviving specific conditions, and building synergistic combinations of class abilities and divine powers. Meta-progression comes through permanent unlocks earned between runs, expanding the roster of heroes and their capabilities over time.
Combat emphasizes positioning and crowd control against varied enemy types drawn from Norse lore. Heroes possess unique traits and active skills that shape playstyles, from aggressive melee to ranged support or summoning elements. The addition of the God of Fate system introduces a risk-and-reward layer where players draw symbols to determine blessing tiers, trading uncertainty for potentially powerful outcomes. In the Conan Edition, the new hero brings a momentum-based Triumph mechanic that rewards aggressive eliminations with damage resistance and enhanced critical potential, supported by three distinct Paths of Legend that alter his approach to combat.
Game Modes
Runs take place across multiple realms, each with its own enemy roster, environmental challenges, and thematic identity. Difficulty settings range from standard raids with fixed objectives and time limits to more demanding tiers that increase enemy strength in exchange for greater rewards. An Endless mode extends survival indefinitely after initial objectives are cleared, testing long-term build sustainability. Local co-op supports two players sharing a single run, with alternating upgrade choices and adjusted skill slots to maintain balance and encourage coordination.
The Conan DLC expands available content with the new Stygia map, featuring desert ruins, illusion-based threats, and necromantic enemies. This realm culminates in a confrontation against the Undead Jotunn boss, who summons minions and employs deceptive magic. These additions integrate into the existing progression structure without altering the fundamental survivor formula.
The Conan Edition Content
The Conan Edition incorporates the base experience with the full Conan the Barbarian expansion. Conan joins the hero roster with three subclasses that emphasize different combat philosophies: heavy greatsword power, sword-and-shield durability, and dual-wield mobility. His Triumph stacks build through sustained aggression, turning successful engagements into growing defensive and offensive advantages. The accompanying Fate deity expands blessing options with symbolic draws that scale rewards based on risk tolerance. All prior updates, including local co-op, remain available to owners of the edition.
Is It Worth Playing?
Player feedback has been consistently positive, with the game holding a Very Positive rating on its primary distribution platform from thousands of reviews. Review aggregates place it in the high 70s to low 80s range across major sites. The title appeals to fans of horde survival games who appreciate strong visual presentation, Norse mythology atmosphere, and layered progression systems that reward experimentation with classes and god blessings. Short session lengths make it suitable for quick play, while the depth of builds and realm variety supports longer engagement. The Conan Edition particularly suits those interested in the crossover hero and the added map and co-op features. Those seeking pure singleplayer runs or who prefer more traditional action RPG control schemes may find the automated combat elements less engaging, but the overall package delivers reliable, polished horde-clearing action with meaningful upgrades and regular content support.
