Addictive Gameplay: Many players find the game highly addictive, often saying "just one more run" and losing track of time.
Unique Theme and Characters: Players appreciate the originality of being a necromancer controlling a horde of skeletons, along with a variety of unique characters (skulls) that offer different playstyles.
Visual and Audio Quality: The pixel art style and soundtrack are frequently praised, contributing to the game's overall atmosphere.
Variety in Builds: There is a good amount of variety in unit types and build strategies, with many players enjoying the experimentation with different combinations.
Meta Progression: Players appreciate the skill trees and the sense of progression that comes with repeated runs, making each playthrough feel rewarding.
Developer Engagement: Users note that the developers are responsive to feedback and actively work on updates and balance adjustments.
The main cons of the game
Balance Issues: Many reviews mention that the game suffers from balance problems, particularly with certain characters being significantly weaker than others, making them less enjoyable to play.
Repetitiveness: Some players feel that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, especially after unlocking most of the content.
Grindiness: There are complaints about the grind required for meta progression, with some feeling that it detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
Lack of Clarity in Mechanics: Players express frustration over unclear mechanics, particularly in post-run summaries and item descriptions, making it hard to understand what works best.
Limited Item Variety: Several reviews indicate that many items provide only basic stat increases, lacking unique effects that could enhance gameplay.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
Improved Feedback and Clarity: Users desire better explanations for post-run statistics and clearer hints about items and their effects.
More Interesting Items: Players want a wider variety of items that offer unique mechanics or interactions rather than just percentage increases.
Better Character Balance: Suggestions include reworking weaker characters to make them more viable and enjoyable.
Quality of Life Improvements: Suggestions for improvements include better item management, reducing grind, and enhancing the skill tree system for more meaningful choices.
More Dynamic Gameplay Elements: Some players wish for more dynamic events or mechanics during runs to keep gameplay fresh and engaging.
Enhanced Exploration and Strategy: A desire for more varied rewards from shrines and events during runs to promote exploration and strategic decision-making.
Summary
Overall, while Skull Horde has strong foundations and an engaging gameplay loop, users see significant room for improvement in balance, clarity, and content variety.