Loop Herofirst launched earlier in 2021 on PC to great success. It kicked off the year right with another addictive roguelike that was hard to put down after players started. As good as it was, the big question in everyone’s minds was when would the game be coming to other platforms. It’s now on consoles but only on the Nintendo Switch.
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More console ports could be coming in 2022, but the portable system seems like the perfect way to play the game anyway. The beauty of roguelikes on the Switch is that players can pop in for a run that can last a few minutes and then be done with it. While the wait was certainly well worth it, it’s not all roses either, so let’s see whatLoop Herodoes right alongside what could have been better.
6Best: The Literal Loop
Loop Herois addictive from minute one because the gameplay loop is so tightly designed. Players jump into a randomized loop and try to survive as long as possible. It’s also important to collect plenty of materialsto build upthe home base in that fight for survival.
The village acts as a skill tree. For example, the herbalist allows players to take potions into battle. Every action, unless players pause the game, is automatic. Players can still choose to be as active or as passive as they wish, makingLoop Heroa must-have on Switch to kill a few minutes or hours.
5Worst: Slow Start
The downside to the gameplay loop is that it takes a while to get going. For the first couple of hours, players may not be able to build anything in the village. This means they will have to go around in loops without any sense of accomplishment on repeat.
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The more someone playsLoop Hero, the more they will get out of it. There are mechanics hidden that make the game more engaging such asTraits and Tools. Both of these things add a nice variety to the gameplay, it just takes forever to get to them and other mechanics as well. Patience is a must when playingLoop Hero.
4Best: The Simple Graphics
The term roguelike comes from an actual PC game calledRogue. Every roguelike and roguelite that has launched since then is similar toRogue.Loop Herotakes this genre inspiration a step further by modeling the game afterRoguewith its modest graphics.
Loop Herois much more intricately designed though with more colors for starters. While the loop sprites are simple, the battle animations, text sprites,and card designsare all fantastically modern but with a retro flair. There’s no other modern game like it out there.
3Worst: No Difficulty Levels
Roguelikes are supposed to be challenging. Some are more punishing than others, likeSpelunky, a game that doesn’t hold the player’s hand in any way. Then there are games likeHades, which also doesn’t have difficulty levels. However, it does have an option in the menu for a defensive boost to make the game more tolerable for more casual gamers.
That’s what is missing fromLoop Hero. This coincides with the idea of the game being slow. Because that sense of reward is out of reach for so long, it may have some people leavingLoop Herobehind altogether. A set of difficulty modes or accessible options in the menu could make for an even better experience for a wider audience. A way to make the game more automatic, likeauto-equipping the best gear, would have been appreciated too. There is always hope for a patch.
2Best: The Story Bits
For a game as simple asLoop Hero, it may surprise some players that there is an in-depth story. The hero even talks which is rare for a lot of games like this. The basic premise follows this hero as they are trying to restore the world bit by bit. They do this through the magic of reliving the same loop over and over again.
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Every time players unlock something new in the village, an NPC will give some story context. Sometimes there will be dialogue after players die and wake up in the village. Even running into certain monsters for the first time,like the vampires, will add some witty banter toLoop Hero. It’s an intriguing, clever tale.
1Worst: Finicky Controls
The Switch has its ups and downs as far as controls go. For instance, it is nice that players can use touch controls to drag cardsto map tiles. Touch controls can be used for almost every action in the game. This mirrors the clicking of a mouse on PCs. However, this only works when playing in the portable setup.
The controller design leaves something to be desired. Going through a loop can start to feel cumbersome because of how much the players have to balance between battles. There are cards to place, gear to equip, skills to learn, and so much more. Even in the touch scenario, things can get overwhelming.The obvious tiphere then is to never playLoop Heroin docked mode. However, that advice shows thatLoop Herohas not been fully adapted to the Switch.
Loop Herowas first released on July 18, 2025 forPC. It then launched on July 16, 2025 forSwitch.
