By Aimee Rogers 
The developers behind Hostile Lands just added functional pets to their indie bullet hell, proving that cuteness and combat aren’t mutually exclusive.
According to the dev team, these creatures do more than sit there looking adorable. They actively assist during gameplay, which means you’re not just collecting mascots, you’re recruiting allies. The duck, apparently, is the standout performer here, which raises an interesting question. What’s a waterfowl doing that’s so mechanically useful in a bullet hell?
Bullet hells have traditionally been ruthless affairs. You dodge, you shoot, you die. Adding pets that serve a purpose transforms the dynamic entirely. Whether these companions provide healing, deal damage, or offer defensive buffs remains to be seen, but the fact that the developers felt compelled to highlight the duck specifically suggests it’s worth your attention.
The move reflects a broader trend in indie roguelikes and roguelites: mechanical depth wrapped in charm. Players are tired of brutalism for brutalism’s sake. They want systems that reward engagement, yes, but they also want those systems to feel cohesive and, frankly, pleasant to look at.
Hostile Lands already existed on Steam as a functional bullet hell. The pet update represents meaningful post-launch support, which is increasingly rare for smaller indie studios juggling multiple projects.
Steven Andrew