Get ready for a wild card as Hero’s Hand is unveiled!
Villain Games HQ has just announced Hero’s Hand, a genre-bending roguelike RPG that throws poker-based combat into the mix.
Coming to Xbox Series X|S (and PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam) in 2026, this hand-drawn adventure promises strategic deckbuilding, Dungeons & Dragons-inspired enemies, and a whole lot of card-slinging mayhem.
The premise is simple, yet delightfully bonkers. The land of Cardunia is in trouble, and it’s up to you to save it. You’ll explore eight uniquely themed worlds, battle your way through Death’s Tower, and, naturally, die… a lot. This is a roguelike, after all!
But with each run, you’ll grow stronger, master your skills, and eventually become a card-wielding force to be reckoned with.
Poker Face Meets Dungeon Crawl
The core gameplay of Hero’s Hand revolves around a unique combat system. Instead of traditional turn-based battles, you’ll move your hero across a board, collecting cards to build poker hands. Flushes, straights, four-of-a-kind – the better the hand, the more damage you deal.
But it’s not just about luck. You’ll need to strategically navigate the board, use spells and potions to manipulate the cards, and even take advantage of “Fortune Items” to give yourself an edge. It’s a clever blend of strategy, risk-taking, and good old-fashioned card-playing fun.
And you’d immediately think it will appeal to the masses taken on a ride by Balatro.
From Whiteboard Scribbles to Chaotic Reality
The team at Villain Games HQ is clearly having a blast with this concept. As Creative Director Randy Greenback put it: “When we first scribbled ‘poker-based RPG’ on a whiteboard back in 2019, we never expected it to spark such hilarious chaos. But once our prototype had the team howling over insane card combos, we knew Hero’s Hand had to become a reality. Getting to relaunch Villain with the passion we have for this game is definitely next level!“
That passion shines through in the game’s description, which promises a comedic narrative, procedurally generated maps, unpredictable events, and secret portals to keep things fresh.
D&D-Inspired Mayhem and Endless Replayability
Prepare to face off against a “Menagerie of Mayhem” – a cast of outlandish enemies inspired by Dungeons & Dragons. From trollish brutes to flamboyant dragons, each foe boasts unique attacks and board effects, ensuring that every encounter is a challenge.
And, as with any good roguelike, Hero’s Hand is designed for endless replayability. You’ll earn XP, gold, and items with each run, allowing you to upgrade your hero and build bigger, bolder combos in subsequent attempts.
Key Features to Ante Up For
- Roguelike Adventure & Narrative: Journey across eight uniquely themed worlds, battle your way through Death’s Tower, and grow stronger each time you fall. A layered story unfolds through comedic encounters and sub-boss showdowns.
- Poker-Based Combat: Build your poker hand on the fly by moving about the board to collect cards for devastating combos. Cleverly use spells, potions, and the wheel of Fortuna to amplify your poker hands and tip the odds in your favor.
- Endless Replayability: Explore procedurally generated maps, face unpredictable events, and discover secret portals teeming with new challenges. No two runs are ever the same.
- Menagerie of Mayhem: Brace yourself for an outrageous cast of Dungeons & Dragons-inspired baddies — from trollish brutes to flamboyant dragons. Each monstrous misfit boasts unique attacks and cunning board effects guaranteed to keep your hero on his toes.
- Fortune Favors the Overkill: Defeat enemies to earn XP, gold and items, and gather rare equipment to outfit your hero for bigger and bolder combos on subsequent runs.
Place Your Bets on 2026
Hero’s Hand is still a ways off, with a planned release in 2026. But the concept is intriguing, the art style is charming, and the blend of genres is certainly unique.
Keep this one on your radar, no matter whether you are an Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Switch or PC owner – it could be a royal flush!
The Steam page is currently taking wishlists. We will look to bring you more as and when we have it.
