Commemorating its early access release today, January 21, 2025, Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel emerges as an enthralling roguelike horde-survivor game steeped in the dark and immersive world of Norse mythology. Developed by Games Farm and distributed by Grindstone, the game invites players to battle waves of enemies, harness the divine blessings of Viking deities, and confront formidable bosses in realms like Niflheim and Muspelheim.

When asked about the inspiration behind blending Norse mythology with the horde-survivor genre, Dan Sheridan from Grindstone explained: "Approximately two years ago, we were working on a sequel to Vikings: Wolves of Midgard, but we were unable to secure funding for it. A very good friend of ours was addicted to the survivor genre and happened to meet the team behind Yet Another Zombie Survivors at a gaming event. He thought the concept was really interesting, so we discussed it and began prototyping. While our initial version was quite different from what the game is today, we enjoyed the concept and iterated on it through internal feedback rounds with friends. We kept refining and polishing the core experience until we felt confident enough to share it with the public."

The game’s levels, Muspelheim and Niflheim, bring vibrant contrasts in aesthetics and gameplay. On this topic, Dan shared: "Since we are launching with two levels, we wanted to ensure variety in both aesthetics and gameplay. That's why we chose the icy, snow-covered Niflheim and the fiery, volcanic Muspelheim. Norse mythology offers a rich variety of worlds and creatures, and we wanted to build upon that while staying true to genre standards. We've designed different enemy types—such as basic skeletons, archers, and explosive enemies—to add depth and diversity to the combat experience."

With the early access release, Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel introduces four unique playable characters, including the Flame Sister, alongside divine powers inspired by Freya, Loki, Thor, and Odin. The game also boasts enhanced combat mechanics, detailed visual effects, and technical upgrades like Intel XeSS and NVIDIA DLSS support, ensuring a smooth experience for players. Full Steam Deck compatibility is also in progress.

Looking ahead, the team has ambitious plans for the game’s evolution. "We have a roadmap for Early Access leading up to the 1.0 release, which we will be sharing with players. Several new levels, heroes, deities, and features are planned for the coming months. While we don't want to commit to specific release dates for updates, we are actively working on many new additions that will roll out later in the year. Most importantly, we want to collaborate with the community, listen to their feedback, and adapt accordingly—because their input has been instrumental in shaping the game into what it is today," Dan concluded.

As Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel launches into early access, it promises an exciting journey into the mythical realms of Norse legend, blending intense combat, strategic gameplay, and a compelling narrative. Players are encouraged to explore its dark halls and shape its development through active feedback.