Hell Clock is a hell of a good time

While at PAX East last month, we got to try some fun and upcoming indie games that varied in genre, animation style, and rating.

Hell Clock was kind of an unexpected yet truly special find.

Brazilian studio Rogue Snail has managed to sneak a little bit of Brazilian history and culture into a roguelike, ARPG game that manages to not only keep your eyes peeled as to not miss a single moment, but also lets you choose how bad of an anxiety attack you want to experience. What I mean by that is that even though Hell Clock is an insanely stressful and difficult game to master, it lets you decide how badly you wish to torture yourself as you descend from level to level, annihilating wave after wave of undead.

Hell Clock is a hell of a game

Players can choose to play on Softcore or Hardcore mode, with the difference being that if you die in Hardcore mode, your character and progress are deleted and you have to start over. Rogue Snail doesn't stop there, though - players can also decide if they want to play the game in Relaxed Mode, which lets you play at your own pace, without a timer, and allows those of us who like to play games to relax to, you know, relax. Obrigada, Rogue Snail.

Perhaps the best way to describe Hell Clock is to imagine the iconic and classic game Path of Exile, but without the multiplayer factor and in a more controlled environment. It's the best palate cleanser for gamers in-between games and for those who just want a fun game they can speed through and destroy everything in their path as they descend lower and lower.

More than anything, what truly makes this game special to me is the fact it instills a bit of Brazilian culture into a fun game. For those who don't know, I'm Brazilian. The game's story is based on the War of Canudos, a very bloody and gruesome war between the First Brazilian Republic and residents of the town of Canudos, Bahia, adding a dose of reality to an already disturbing moment in Brazilian history. Well, sans the undead, of course. Hell Clock also has an incredibly talented voice cast, which includes the original actor who plays Pajeú in the 1996 movie Guerra de Canudos.

From the horror element and atmosphere to the sound design, Hell Clock pushes the boundaries of indie games and shows that Latin American games also have a nice, comfy place not just in North America, but around the world.

Do yourself a huge favor and go download and play the free demo on Steam. Thank me later.