Hand of Fate: Hordes for Windows

Hand of Fate: Hordes from Spitfire Interactive is a dark-fantasy roguelike that reimagines the franchise as a survivor-style action title. Players construct a custom deck before each run to shape weapons, items, and encounters while facing relentless enemy waves in auto-shooter combat. The Dealer returns as a voiced narrator, procedural dungeons vary each session, and meta-progression unlocks permanent upgrades. It targets fans of the original series and players who enjoy strategic, run-based survival challenges.

What kind of game is Hordes and how it frames the player

In this game, Hordes positions itself as a hybrid between a deck-builder and a "bullet heaven" auto-shooter. You survive waves of monsters in the Shadow Vaults beyond the 13th Gate while the banished Dealer orchestrates encounters. Runs are roguelike in structure: death ends a session, procedural encounters change each attempt, and play alternates between pre-run card choices and frantic automatic combat against hordes.

How pre-run choices change each session and reward planning

In this game, the pre-run deck is the primary lever for strategy: the cards you include determine which weapons, blessings, and encounters can appear. This gives more control over RNG than many survivor-style titles by defining the loot pool before play. Meta-progression grants tokens and resources during runs to unlock permanent upgrades, new cards, and additional heroes, supporting longer-term progression across attempts.

What the presentation and controls contribute to the experience

In this game, atmosphere and presentation carry franchise continuity: the Dealer returns, voiced by Anthony Skordi, guiding and taunting the player. The setting favors dark-fantasy motifs and procedural dungeon variety. The game supports native controller input and is Steam Deck Verified, which makes handheld sessions viable. The interface orients around survival sessions rather than menu-dense town hubs, keeping interaction focused on deck composition and moment-to-moment combat.

Is it approachable, and what keeps players coming back

In this game, accessibility stems from short, run-based loops and measurable unlocks. Four starter heroes provide differing melee, ranged, and magical styles so players test builds quickly. Procedural encounters and the ability to tune the deck drive replayability by changing available rewards and threats. However, the hybrid design asks players to accept both strategic pre-run planning and high-intensity survivor combat in the same session, which suits some preferences more than others.

A practical pick for franchise fans who like strategic survival runs

Hordes is a focused choice for players who enjoyed the original Hand of Fate lineage and enjoy run-based experimentation, because Spitfire was founded by the original creative team. Expect an Early Access experience that continues to evolve; balance and content may change as development proceeds. For players seeking a mix of pre-run strategy and wave-based survival, Hordes is worth trying, with the caveat that its hybrid nature divides play styles.