Brazilian history in demonic purgatory: Rogue Snail’s new action RPG Hell Clock is available for free in the Steam playtest for a limited time and shows how the studio wants to combine real war history with fast-paced gameplay.
What kind of game is Hell Clock? The new ARPG from Brazilian studio Rogue Snail looks at first glance like a fusion of the demonic Diablo concept, which has been dipped in the art style of Hades. And this assumption is not that far from the truth.
“When we started working on this game, we asked ourselves, ‘What would it be like if an entire season of Diablo (…) only lasted 20 minutes?’” says Mark Venturelli, CEO of Rogue Snail, in an interview with PCGamesN “And that’s what Hell Clock is: a roguelike that encourages aggressive and fast-paced gameplay.”
The reveal trailer offers insights into said gameplay:
The reveal trailer for “Hell Clock” shows the art style and story of the new ARPG
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Fast gameplay and real story amidst demons
How does the gameplay work? As the protagonist Pajeú you fight your way through an ever deeper dungeon, which is filled with demons and other challenges. You build different builds, fight monsters and learn new skills to get as far as possible.
The entire gameplay is a three-part story campaign with a finale in which the chosen approach is put to the test.
The dungeon’s hostile demons aren’t just literal, however. With every descent you are confronted with the injustices of Brazilian history in the 19th century, which you have to consciously face and get the chance to make amends for the past.
What role do true events play? The team places a particular focus on the period of the Canudos War, a military conflict during the years 1896-1897 in which the city of Canudos was destroyed in the conflict with the Brazilian Republic and many residents were killed.
We feel we are ready to tell our version of the Canudos story – not only to the whole world, but also to many fellow Brazilians who may be unaware of the cruel events and the impact that is still felt today .
Mark Venturelli, CEO of Rogue Snail (Source: PCGamesN) A passion project in the free Steam playtest
How to test Hell Clock? At this point, those interested can take part in the play test on Steam, which is available until December 11th. If you want to get to grips with the gameplay and story of the game yourself, you have to be quick.
Hell Clock is scheduled to be released in the second quarter of 2025. Until then, you can put the game on your wish list. Anyone else interested in action RPGs and looking for another alternative to Diablo could find what they are looking for on MeinMMO: Games like Diablo 2024 – The best alternatives to Diablo 4