REVIEW: ‘Loop Hero’ on Nintendo Switch is the Perfect Way to Play

Loop Hero stands out in a way few games do, by completely subverting a genre and removing the best-loved elements. While the game is a blast to play on PC, this hit game developed by Four Quarters and published by Devolver Digital works perfectly on the Nintendo Switch.

Loop Hero is a role-playing game, but not in the way we typically think about role-playing games. Instead of directly moving your player throughout the world, the character moves and battles automatically. There are no combat mechanics to learn, and there are no branching paths to get lost down. The levels are simply loops, hence the name Loop Hero, that gradually expand as you battle. The world of Loop Hero has ended, and it is up to the hero to literally put the pieces of it back together. It makes for a very interesting premise, and the execution is top-notch.

The core gameplay is not incredibly difficult to grasp, but the roguelike and deck-building aspects allow for plenty of creativity. Each time you emerge from a battle victorious, you are given new cards to place down on the map. These can be as simple as adding new locations to the world, but they can also help boost your character’s stats and chances of survival. Different terrains have different effects on the player, and the equipable items do as well. The overwhelming majority of all of this is randomly generated, which makes the experience different and interesting for each player.

While Loop Hero starts off relatively simple, the mechanics pile up and the pace quickly increases as you progress. Thankfully you are able to pause in between battles, otherwise, it could get a little overwhelming. The variety and difficulty of enemies also increase as you journey along the path to rebuild the world. You start off only fighting the traditional slimes, but then face things like gargoyles and vampires the further you get. You mostly get to choose what enemies you face via the cards you place down on the map, which I really liked.

The story in Loop Hero is also quite interesting, even if it is not groundbreaking. It feels like a weighty role-playing game at times, but the simplicity of the gameplay loop helps it from ever feeling like it is just too much to handle. The retro art style also helps contribute to the impact of the story and the world you are rebuilding. It feels very much like reliving a classic role-playing game like the older Final Fantasy games, just with a completely different gameplay style. It also doesn’t hurt that the game has a truly excellent soundtrack.

The absolute best part of my experience with Loop Hero on the Nintendo Switch, however, had nothing to do with the gameplay itself. If I were to come up with an example of a perfect Switch game, Loop Hero has to be at the top of the list now. The simple gameplay loop works absolutely perfectly when playing on the go. I found myself bringing my Switch everywhere with me because I could not put it down. Since the game also is not mechanically complicated or graphically taxing, the Switch runs it seamlessly. I didn’t encounter a single issue during my time playing, and that is vital when games get ported over to the Switch from PC.

Loop Hero was already a Game of the Year contender for me, but the ability to play it on the go makes it very difficult to keep out of the top spot. It is essentially a role-playing game management simulator, and I mean that in the best way possible. If you have not had the chance to play Loop Hero yet, do yourself a favor and pick this up on Switch as soon as possible. I promise you that you won’t regret it!

Loop Hero is out December 9th on Nintendo Switch.