8-Bit Hordes
A retro-styled RTS with fantasy factions and cross-game multiplayer.
8-Bit Hordes is a real-time strategy video game developed by Petroglyph Games and released on August 12, 2016, for Microsoft Windows. It uses the same engine as its predecessor 8-Bit Armies but shifts to a fantasy themed scenario.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Petroglyph Games
- Composer
- Frank Klepacki
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows
- Released
- August 12, 2016
- Genre
- Real-time strategy
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
8-Bit Hordes is a real-time strategy game that channels the feel and appearance of 1990s RTS classics. It includes a single-player campaign and a multiplayer mode where players can face off against each other or team up against the AI in cooperative play. The visuals are deliberately blocky, using an 8-bit retro-art voxel style, and the terrain can be partially destroyed. The gameplay closely resembles the Warcraft series: you begin with a castle, expand your base, and produce military units to take on enemies. Lorries haul gold from nearby mines back to your castle to gather resources. A clickable menu on the right side of the screen, much like in Command & Conquer, lets you construct buildings and units. Farms must be built to support your army. The setting is a generic fantasy world with orcs, dwarfs, mages, and dragons. Two factions are available: the Lightbringers, who are the "good" side, and the Deathsworn, the "bad" side. Cross-game multiplayer is supported with 8-Bit Armies, letting players battle using all factions from both titles, even if they only own one of the games.
Reception
8-Bit Hordes launched on Steam and GOG.com on August 12, 2016, and received mixed to positive reviews. Critics saw it as a tribute to the Command & Conquer series, offering straightforward gameplay and pixelated visuals. The old-school real-time strategy mechanics were its highlight. However, reviewers pointed out shortcomings: the campaign lacked a real story, matches grew repetitive, and rushing the enemy often guaranteed a quick win. The AI was unbalanced and only good for practice, while pathfinding sometimes caused problems. Many noted it was basically a reskin of 8-Bit Armies, swapping tanks for dragons. Frank Klepacki, who previously scored Command & Conquer, provided the well-received soundtrack. Overall, the game was seen as a brief, enjoyable nostalgia trip that suffered from limited variety and replay value.
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