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Hell Clock Reviews: What the ARPG Does Well—and Where It Can Frustrate

Hell Clock blends timed dungeon runs and action-RPG build crafting with a dark fantasy story inspired by Brazil’s War of Canudos. Here’s what reviews praise—and what they criticize.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Hell Clock is a single-player action RPG built around timed dungeon runs, loot, and experiments with character builds. Its dark-fantasy take on Brazil’s War of Canudos gives those runs a distinctive setting, while the mix of positive reception and complaints about grind and system complexity makes it a better fit for players who enjoy learning an action RPG over repeated attempts.

What kind of game is Hell Clock?

Developed by Rogue Snail and published by Mad Mushroom, Hell Clock combines action-RPG combat with roguelike and dungeon-crawling structure. You play as Pajeú, a warrior trying to rescue the soul of his fallen mentor, known as the Counselor. The official Steam listing describes timed descents into dungeons, where you fight, collect loot, and assemble combinations of relics and abilities. Its combat tools include knives, a great bell, and a sidearm.

The time pressure is part of the premise, not just window dressing: the game’s listing says, “Every second counts as you battle the undead forces of your oppressors.” That focus may appeal if you like making quick combat and build decisions, but it is worth considering if you prefer a slower, more exploratory pace.

How do the campaign and progression work?

Three acts and an endgame in the base game

The Steam listing describes a three-act base-game campaign followed by an Endgame Ascension system. Progression also involves Hell Mode, Penances, Promises, Constellations, and options to imbue or corrupt relics. These systems provide several ways to extend or modify progression, but the listing alone does not establish how much time each requires or how quickly they unlock.

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Cursed War adds a separate act

Hell Clock: Cursed War is listed as separate DLC, not as part of the base-game campaign. PC Gamer’s Tyler Colp reported on July 9, 2026, that the expansion adds a fourth act and new skills; his feature also discusses crafting items and expanded progression. Check the edition and DLC selection on the store page if you are deciding what content to buy.

What do reviews say about the combat and build crafting?

PC Gamer writer Tyler Colp described Hell Clock as “a run-based roguelike with an action RPG engine under the hood.” In his July 9, 2026 feature, he said the run-based loop, build crafting, and roughly 20-minute sessions worked well for him. He also reported that updates had added movement options—WASD or click-to-move—along with harder bosses and crafting items. Those are his impressions and account of the game’s development, not a guarantee that every player will enjoy the pacing or controls.

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Steam Community reviews reflect a range of individual experiences rather than a representative survey. One positive reviewer praised the Canudos story and customization, while also faulting linear layouts, inventory management, and late-game ranged scaling. A negative reviewer called the game “extremely grindy” and described its skill and item systems as confusing. Together, these comments point to a useful distinction: players who enjoy experimenting with loot and learning interconnected systems may find depth, while players who want immediate clarity or minimal inventory friction may find the same structure cumbersome.

How is Hell Clock rated on Steam?

When checked on October 8, 2026, Steam displayed 83% positive from 1,813 English-language reviews, and 87% positive from 155 reviews in the preceding 30 days. Across all languages, the page showed 3,466 reviews marked “Very Positive.” These figures are a time-sensitive snapshot, not a permanent score; the percentages, counts, and recent-review window can change. See the current Steam rating for the latest figures.

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How central is the historical setting?

The game’s dark fantasy story draws explicitly on Brazil’s War of Canudos. Steam frames Canudos as a 19th-century refuge whose people resisted the new Republic and faced brutal retaliation. Its store description says 25,000 people died; that number is the game listing’s account of its historical backdrop, not an independently verified figure here. The setting is more than a generic fantasy label: the game presents its story in terms of resistance and justice, and a Steam reviewer specifically praised its Canudos narrative.

Who is likely to enjoy Hell Clock?

  • Consider it if: timed action runs, repeated build experimentation, loot and relic combinations, and a campaign rooted in a specific historical setting sound appealing.
  • Think carefully if: grind, busy combat, complex skill and item systems, inventory management, or linear layouts tend to put you off. These are concerns raised in individual player reviews, not universal findings.
  • Check before buying: whether you want only the three-act base campaign or also the separately listed Cursed War DLC and its reported fourth act.
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Where can you buy it?

The substantiated listing covered here is Steam’s digital version of the base game and its digital DLC. Steam showed a $19.99 base-game price when accessed, but prices vary by region and discounts can change; check the listing for your region and the edition you intend to purchase. The store lists Windows 10 requirements and ten supported languages, with full audio in English and Brazilian Portuguese. Availability on other platforms is not established by the sources covered here.

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