Loop Hero, the new indie strategy auto battler from developer Four Quarters and publisher Devolver Digital, might seem to be quite random, but it is filled with mechanics that players can take advantage of to make their time on the loop easier. The longer they can spend on the loop, the more gear and resources they will get, and the more buildings they can construct and upgrade at their camp.
One of the most important ways that players can impact their character in this indie game is by getting them more health, and one of the best ways to do that is by building a Mountain Peak. As the character travels the loop and takes on monsters, resource cards will drop. These can be placed on the map, netting important buffs or resources for the character.
By placing Mountain or Rock cards in a 3x3 grid, players can create a Mountain Peak that will give them an additional 120 maximum health and 5 additional health for every Moutain or Rock that they can place beside the Mountain Peak. The Mountain Peak will also spawn a harpy every two days, and when it is built, it will give players a large number of resources. Harpies will fly to a random tile on the loop and occupy it, and players will need to fight them when they pass through the tile. The good news is that Harpies are not particularly dangerous foes but are a good source of extra loot.
The additional health provided by the Mountain Peak is a boon, and if players also build a Herbalist's Hut to get some potions, they will be in a great position for some extended runs on the loop. The additional loot from the Harpies can also result in some excellent armor and weapon drops.
This should put players in a great position to take on the Lich boss and gain even more loot when taking out their spooky tormentor. While progress in Loop Hero may seem slow at first, by learning how to take advantage of the cards they are dealt, players will soon be able to survive long runs and gather up vast amounts of resources.
Loop Hero has already charged up the top-sellers list on Steam, and for a good reason. The game's excellent mix of random encounters and battles is offset by allowing players just enough agency to have an impact on their character and contains enough hidden mechanics to make experimentation a vital part of the player experience.
Loop Hero is available now on PC.