“Be my Horde” is an intriguing blend of wave-based gameplay and Overlord-style minion summoning that offers a fresh and engaging experience. As a player, you control a powerful necromancer who raises fallen enemies to join her ever-growing undead army. The game’s art style is simple yet effective, and the gameplay, while initially straightforward, reveals a surprising depth as you progress.
In “Be my Horde,” you navigate through a field teeming with scattered enemy groups. Every minute, an event occurs that sends a stronger group of enemies your way, adding a layer of intensity to the gameplay. The core mechanic revolves around defeating enemies and then raising them to join your ranks as undead minions. These minions surround and follow you, albeit with limited direct control. Initially, this lack of control can be frustrating, but as you grow accustomed to it, you discover the strategic nuances it brings.
Each run is structured around a very simple gameplay loop. You scout around the field, defeat enemies, raise them, and face increasingly challenging waves. This loop is easy to understand and pick up, making the game accessible. However, the difficulty spikes noticeably around the 7th minute, that made me reconsider how I’m playing the game and revealing a deeper layer of strategy than initially apparent.
The game’s strategic depth becomes evident when you consider minion positioning and management. Raised minions join you in a circle, and their placement can significantly impact your success. For example, positioning your minions to fight on multiple fronts without being overwhelmed is crucial. This strategic placement not only helps manage enemy waves but also optimizes the growth of your undead army, setting you up for future challenges.
After each run, you respawn at your lair, where you can use harvested souls for various upgrades. These upgrades include increasing the number of minions you can raise at the same time, boosting health, and enhancing speed for both the player and the army. Additionally, there are scrolls that unlock new troops or modify the map with features like graveyards, where you can raise additional troops. This progression system adds a layer progression. Especially the speed of raising the undead which makes waves far more manageable than at the beginning, this encourages players to continually improve and adapt their tactics.
Despite its many strengths, “Be my Horde” does have moments that feel excessively challenging. The lack of variety during runs, with no pickups or level-ups, can make the game feel repetitive. However, the strategic elements of minion placement and army management help mitigate this to some extent. At the time of this review the game is in early access which is important to state as the game has a lot of room for improvement.
I have spent around 5 hours in the game before I upgraded the lair fully and then played for another hour or so just trying to get better and adapting different strategies to survive as long as I could. The key additions that would benefit the game would be adding more variety during runs. Adding pickups, more temporary power-ups, or dynamic events could break the monotony and provide additional layers of strategy. More diverse enemy types and environmental hazards could also keep the gameplay fresh and engaging.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with “Be my Horde”. For its very low price, the game offers a compelling and unique experience that is both challenging and rewarding. The premise is fantastic, and the potential for future updates to expand on its core mechanics is exciting. The game’s early access status means there is room for improvement, but even in its current state, it is a worthwhile experience.
I highly recommend checking out “Be my Horde”, especially given its affordable price. It’s a game that rewards strategic thinking and planning ahead, and with continued development, it has the potential to become a standout title in its genre. Keep an eye on future updates, as they are likely to bring even more depth and variety to this already promising game.
