[WIP] Hellgate Defenders — Prototype Test & Feedback Welcome

Hi everyone! I’ve updated the title of this post to better reflect the current state of the project — it’s a prototype, still a work in progress, and I’m actively looking for feedback and collaborators.

I’m developing Hellgate Defenders, a mobile-first tower defense game with roguelike elements, inspired by games like Diablo. The core mechanic revolves around placing up to five heroes along a wall to defend the human kingdom from endless enemy waves.

The current demo includes:

A tutorial with the first three hero classes

Basic mechanics for testing and feedback

AI-generated placeholder art (looking for collaborators!)

I’m actively working on:

Gameplay flow and wave balancing

Cross-platform performance (targeting mobile and desktop)

Expanding the roster to 20+ unique heroes with distinct skills

Looking for:

Feedback on mechanics, pacing, and overall feel

Suggestions for new features or improvements

Artists/animators interested in contributing custom assets

No ads planned — just focused gameplay. If you’d like to try the demo or get involved, here’s the link: :backhand_index_pointing_right: Hellgate Defenders Demo by GrindForge Game Studio

Thanks in advance for any feedback or collaboration!

Hey everyone! If you’re excited about indie gamedev and want to follow the progress on our roguelike tower defense #HellgateDefenders and RPG village sim #HeroMaker, plus all the cool features we’re planning next (like more upgrades, campaigns, and surprises!), keep an eye on our X profile for the latest updates. Follow us at https://x.com/GFGameStudio!

Do you want honest feedback? Or you are just advertising this?

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Hello! Thank you for your comment. I’m completely open to honest feedback, as it’s essential for improving and creating something that truly resonates with the community. If you have suggestions or critiques about the project, I’d be happy to hear them! Of course, I’m also sharing the work with enthusiasm, but my main goal is to build something amazing with the support and ideas of everyone. :blush:

How many of you working on this Studio?

I have tried demo on Mac and iPhone , but don’t understand how do I control the archer .

Visual side is little bit lacking of some movements of background, lighting, shades ,

  • I would suggest some moon light , wings movements on enemy , idle state for archer , themed mystery music such as Diablo etc .
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Right now, it’s just the two of us working at this indie studio

Hello, and thank you for testing the game. The idea is for it to be almost an idle game — the heroes on the wall attack automatically. In the future, you’ll be able to place up to five heroes on the wall and configure them in different ways, such as attacking the closest enemy, or the one with the most health, etc. The concept is to make it a strategic game, similar to a tower defense, where depending on the stage, you’ll need to use specific heroes and abilities.

I loved your suggestions and will keep them noted for future development. Currently, all the artwork is static — we’re looking for a 2D artist to help us on this journey.

Unfortunately, the game’s sound design will also come later, but yes, the idea is for everything to feel mysterious and dark. Here’s a GIF showing a stage currently in development.

ezgif-6ef9c8ee1143cb

Looks pretty good. I suggest making arrows a lot bigger - it looks cooler and makes them more visible, as they’re hard to see right now.

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Nice! Thanks for this feedback. We will consider this on the next updated! :slight_smile: