There are plenty of bullet heaven games out there, but fewer combine the formula with summoning and auto-battling. Skull Horde puts you in control of a skull commanding an army of undead minions. Your available units depend on your chosen skull, allowing you to create armies that feel surprisingly different.
The gameplay mostly involves running around and trying not to get hit, as taking damage increases the time it takes for your units to respawn. You’ll need those minions back in the fight quickly if you’re going to make it through each level, so avoiding damage is essential.
As you complete objectives and search for exits, you’ll also hunt for loot and upgrades for both yourself and your units. Levelling up lets you choose new minions, while matching units can be merged into more powerful elite versions. It’s a familiar gameplay loop, but one that’s executed very well here.
As with any roguelike, luck can have a major effect on each run. Sometimes you’ll get the tools you need to smash through a level, while other attempts can leave you struggling to find your footing. You’ll earn permanent upgrades either way, although progression on that front can feel slower than in similar games.
Skull Horde is a lot of fun to dip into, with short runs and a satisfying necromancer power fantasy. If you’re looking for some good old-fashioned numbers going up, this is definitely worth a look.
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