What is Hillforts?
If you're burnt out on the same old 'attack for 10 damage' loop, you need to check out Hillforts. It's a medieval siege simulator where you draft a massive army and watch them tear down enemy castles in a card-based autobattler format.
Gameplay
You aren't playing a traditional deckbuilder here; it's a medieval autobattler. Instead of playing cards every turn to attack, you spend your time drafting an army, researching over 65 techs, and upgrading units to crack an enemy castle. Once you've set your strategy, you just watch the chaos unfold. The loop is addictive because it's all about the high-level build-crafting. You've got over 30 civilizations to choose from, and since they each have unique bonuses, you'll actually feel the difference in how you approach a siege.
The synergy is where the game clicks. You can't just grab the strongest units; you've got to build a cohesive war machine that won't collapse the moment it hits the ramparts. With over 120 units to experiment with, the variety is huge. It's got that same 'build a broken engine' energy you find in Balatro, but with a medieval theme. Runs are short—usually 10 to 20 minutes—so it's a great 'one more try' kind of experience.
It's not all smooth sailing, though. At $7.99, it's a fair price, but you can tell it's still feeling like a prototype. The presentation is lean and the polish isn't quite there yet. If you're looking for the minute-to-minute tactical control of Slay the Spire, you won't find it here. This is for the players who love the prep work more than the execution. It's a solid foundation, but it's definitely rough around the edges.
Key Features
- Over 30 unique civilizations
- 65+ researchable technologies
- 120+ different units
- Card-based autobattler combat
- Quick 10-20 minute runs
What Players Say
The community is mostly hyped, with some players who've put in 35 hours since the demo saying they 'absolutely love the full release' and the new unlock methods. Others appreciate how easy the mechanics are to grasp while still feeling fresh. However, it's not all praise; some users warn that 'Hillforts is still a prototype' and have reported broken features at launch, specifically the Reset Profile and Unlock All buttons, noting that the balance feels off compared to the demo.
Video Review
Screenshots
Verdict
“Features are broken on launch (Unlock All/Reset Profile buttons) and the game has transitioned from something that felt relatively balanced and needed a little AI improvement (demo) to an achievement …”
“Been here since the demo, like 35 hours of demo playing and I absolutely love the full release. The civs and unlock methods was something I've been looking forward to since the dev teased it on disco…”
“The mechanics are easy to get into, but the developer has added enough of their own little touches to keep the game feeling fresh. I loved how you're able to experiment with different tactics and unlo…”
“Fun rougleike strategy game, good variety in builds and does a good job of managing build variety. Would reccomend”
“pretty damn fun roguelike deck building game that's been on my radar recently. I'm surprised this hasn't gotten more attention.”
Grab this if you love build-crafting and the 'broken engine' feel of Balatro. If you hate unpolished prototypes or want direct control over every combat move, skip it until it gets more polish. I'd give it a 7/10.
View on Steam →* Price at time of publication (checked 23.07.2026). Prices may vary by region and are subject to change. This is an editorial review, not a commercial offer.