Sometimes the best compliment a demo can receive is players immediately asking, “What else is like this?”
That’s exactly where Hellforged finds itself. The extraction bullet heaven has been drawing praise following the release of its demo, with players embracing its high-risk loot system and deep build crafting, while searching for similar experiences to scratch the same itch.
In early June, the game ammassed an incredible 66,666 playtesters and 50,000 wishlists on Steam. You pick a character class, pre-craft your build using the Arsenal system to handpick which upgrades and abilities will drop during a run, then battle through demon-infested maps.
The core tension comes from extraction mechanics. You can pull out safely with your gear mid-expedition, or push deeper and risk losing everything for better rewards. The game is also available on itch.io, where players can also access the demo.
The design leans on synergy discovery and build crafting. You spend talent points in the Eternal Tree to specialize combat paths, combine abilities with talismans to trigger chain reactions (setting an enemy ablaze and striking with lightning can create screen-clearing explosions when paired correctly), and unlock achievements that grant new abilities and relics rather than cosmetics alone. Progression loops back into your camp, where you rebuild structures and enhance equipment to prepare for the next expedition. But progression is tied to extraction: resources come back only if you survive and escape.
The leaderboard feature adds a fun competitive element, and the developers mention hundreds of achievements including secret unlocks, though the specific count remains unclear.
For now, no other bullet heaven seems to come close to the experience Hellforged provides, leaving players desperately waiting for news on the official release.