Halls of Torment is a game that quickly gained popularity on the PC scene, primarily because it is a kind of love letter to classics like Diablo and Path of Exile.
It is a game that successfully combines the addictive formula of the horde survival genre, made famous by the successful game 'Vampire Survivors', with its deep RPG mechanics and specific aesthetics. Halls of Torment is published by Chasing Carrots, a lovely German studio known for Good Company and Pressure Overdrive. The full PC version was released in September 2024, and a full year later the PlayStation and Xbox versions were released. There is also a mobile version for Android and iOS. We played the PlayStation version.
Horde survival genre is a type of game where you fight against countless hordes of enemies until you die. Along with horde surival, Halls of Torment also belongs to roguelite action RPG, which needs no explanation. The most prominent feature of this game is its visual style. Using a 2D view and isometric camera angles, the game faithfully replicates the aesthetic of the late 90s. It was a time when the originators of these types of games (Diablo, Baldur's Gate) already defined the genre. Nostalgic graphics, combined with atmospheric dark environments and monster designs, create a highly engaging experience that immediately draws us into the world of dark lobbies, halls and castles. Sounds, music and animations further add to the dark feeling. Every destruction of a horde of enemies brings great satisfaction. This is mostly because the core of the game is essentially quick, thirty-minute survival attempts (runes).
We choose one of the heroes (only one is available at the start, and we unlock them over time), and each has a unique starting weapon and abilities. Then we go into battle against endless waves of hellish monsters. While similar games like Vampire Survivors attack automatically, this game, unlike them, requires the player to frequently and actively use the controller to aim and attack, introducing an element of so-called 'hack and slash' action games. This is what gives this game tactical depth and requires active position management, but also makes you think about priorities during battle. The progression system is very complicated, and perhaps represents the real charm of this game.
During one rune, defeated monsters drop experience, something similar to XP points, which allow us to choose immediately on the spot the abilities (traits) we want to upgrade. It's an 'in-time-event' that happens instantly and it's up to the player to react immediately and choose an upgrade. Strategically stacking those upgrades is key to success. For example we can arrange for our fighter to focus on continuous spellcasting or archery, or focus on a critical strike to concentrate all of the fighter's power on dealing as much damage as possible at once. All the items we collect stay with us even after defeating us, and we transfer them to the next world.
The game features 11 unique characters to unlock, and each one offers its own unique gameplay. So this game is not just about wandering around and killing enemies, but it is necessary to strategically arrange abilities and advancements. The game has six main stages, and each of them brings different enemies and challenges. At the end of each stage is the Tormented Lord - the main boss that represents the final fight in that run.
With more than a hundred levels, and endless challenges, Halls of Torment offers tremendous value and lasting fun, keeping the player's attention in the constant search for the perfect build of their fighter, and in the pursuit of the final victory over the army of evil.
Sample of the PlayStation 5 version for review purposes provided by development studio Chasing Carrots
