Skul: The Hero Slayer
A skeleton swaps skulls to save demonkind from heroes.
Skul: The Hero Slayer is a 2D side-scrolling action platformer with roguelike elements, developed by SouthPAW Games and published by Neowiz. Players control a skeleton named Skul, a soldier in the Demon King's army, who must traverse randomly-generated levels to rescue captured demonkind from the heroes. The game is notable for its skull-swapping mechanic, where Skul can replace his head with different skulls to gain new combat abilities, and for its positive reception upon release.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Skul: The Hero Slayer
- Developer
- SouthPAW Games
- Publisher
- Neowiz
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows · macOS · Linux · Nintendo Switch · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One · Android · iOS
- Released
- Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows / January 21, 2021 / PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One / October 21, 2021 / Android, iOS / June 4, 2024
- Genre
- Roguelike, Action-Platformer
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Skul: The Hero Slayer was developed by SouthPAW Games, which launched a crowdfunding campaign for its development. The game entered early access on February 19, 2020, and was published by Neowiz. A full release followed on January 21, 2021, for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux, with console versions for Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4 arriving on October 21, 2021. An Android and iOS version was released on June 4, 2024. The game's story follows Skul, a living skeleton serving as a soldier in the Demon King's army, as he attempts to save the denizens of the Demon King's castle who were captured by the heroes. Levels are procedurally generated, with a boss at the end of every three stages, and Skul can choose between two doors at the end of each level, which may contain skulls, gold, shops, or sanctuary areas where gold can be spent on hit points or items.
Reader's Guide
Skul: The Hero Slayer received generally favorable reviews according to Metacritic. Critics drew comparisons to Dead Cells and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, with praise for the diversity in playstyles offered by the skulls, though some found the bosses repetitive. The game's music and fast-paced combat were highlighted positively, while the story was described as sparse and simplistic. Enemy behavior and combat execution were noted as strengths that outweighed a poorly translated story and repetitive music. The game sold over 1 million copies by January 2022 and over 2 million copies by December 2023, indicating sustained commercial success. Its skull-swapping mechanic and procedurally generated levels contributed to its recognition within the roguelike-action platformer genre of the early 2020s.
Did You Know?
- Skul can throw his skull to damage enemies or teleport to where it landed.
- The game was released in early access on February 19, 2020, before its full launch on January 21, 2021.
- Skul can equip up to two heads at a time and switch between them during combat.
- A mobile version for Android and iOS was released on June 4, 2024.
More in Roguelikes of the 2020s, Part 1 1-24
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