Hellboy Web of Wyrd

{{Infobox video game

| title = Hellboy Web of Wyrd

| image = Hellboy web of wyrd 2023.webp

| developer = Upstream Arcade

| publisher = Good Shepherd Entertainment (2023-2025)
Big Fan Games (2025-)

| producer = {{ubl|Hannah Bradley|Annette Cottell}}

| programmer = Jon Askew

| artist = {{ubl|Stevie Brown|Lauren Clair|Francesca Ross}}

| writer = Dene Carter

| platforms = {{ubl|Nintendo Switch|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5|Windows|Xbox One|Xbox Series X/S}}

| modes = Single-player

| engine = Unity Engine

| genre = Beat 'em up, roguelike

| released = 18 October 2023

}}

Hellboy Web of Wyrd is a beat 'em up roguelike game developed by British studio Upstream Arcade and originally published by Good Shepherd Entertainment. The game was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on 18 October 2023. It received mixed reviews from critics.

Gameplay

Hellboy Web of Wyrd is a third-person beat 'em up with elements from roguelike games. Hellboy can chain physical attacks with ranged attacks to create combos. Both Hellboy and other enemies in the game are protected by "Toughness", which is a recharging buffer that temporarily shields them from permanent damage. If Hellboy takes too much damage, he can unleash a special attack named "Payback", allowing him to inflict devastating damage on nearby enemies. The players also need to investigate areas occasionally.{{Cite web |last=Fingas |first=Jon |date=2023-12-08 |title=Hellboy Web of Wyrd is a stylish brawler that takes its cues from the comic |url=https://www.engadget.com/hellboy-web-of-wyrd-014213830.html |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}} In the game, Hellboy must venture to the "Butterfly House", which has doorways to a peculiar dimension known as "The Wyrd", to locate a BPRD agent who is missing in action. While the Butterfly House serves as a hub area for the player, levels in the game are procedurally generated.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/hellboy-web-of-wyrd-the-first-preview-gamescom-2023|title=Hellboy Web of Wyrd - The First Preview |first=Matt|last=Pursloow|work=IGN|date=August 22, 2023|accessdate=August 24, 2023}}

Development

Hellboy Web of Wyrd is an original game based on Dark Horse Comics' titular comic series. It was revealed at The Game Awards 2022, and has a hand drawn style that replicates Mike Mignola's art.{{Cite web |last=Sal |first=Romano |date=2022-12-09 |title=Hellboy Web of Wyrd announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/12/hellboy-web-of-wyrd-announced-for-ps5-xbox-series-ps4-xbox-one-switch-and-pc |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}} British studio Upstream Arcade collaborated closely with Mignola when working on the game's narrative.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/hellboy-web-of-wyrd-debuts-roguelike-action-brawler-gameplay-in-new-trailer|title=Hellboy Web of Wyrd debuts "roguelike action brawler" gameplay in new trailer|first=Matt|last=Wales|work=Eurogamer|date=July 11, 2023|accessdate=August 24, 2023}} It is also one of Lance Reddick's final posthumous roles.{{Cite web |last=Squires |first=John |date=2023-03-20 |title=Hellboy Web of Wyrd – Lance Reddick Voiced Hellboy for Upcoming Video Game |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3755211/hellboy-web-of-wyrd-lance-reddick-voiced-hellboy-for-upcoming-video-game/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Bloody Disgusting! |language=en-US}} The game was released worldwide for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on 18 October 2023.

In 2025, the game's publishing rights was switched to Big Fan Games, a label of Good Shepherd Entertainment's parent company Devolver Digital focused on licensed games.{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Will |date=2024-10-01 |title=The lost art of the tie-in game is coming back, but better than ever |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/cult-of-the-lamb/big-fan-games |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}}

Reception

Hellboy Web of Wyrd received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.{{Cite web |title=Hellboy: Web of Wyrd |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/hellboy-web-of-wyrd/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Metacritic |language=en}} Metacritic listed the PlayStation 5 version the seventh worst game of 2023.{{cite web |last1=Dietz |first1=Jason |title=The Worst Videogames of 2023 - #7: Hellboy: Web of Wyrd |url=https://www.metacritic.com/pictures/worst-videogames-of-2023/2/ |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |access-date=19 December 2023 |date=19 December 2023}}

Mitchell Demorest from PCGamesN praised its art direction and voice actors' performances but criticized the combat system for being too basic for a roguelike video game.{{Cite web |last=Demorest |first=Mitchell |date=2023-10-18 |title=Hellboy Web of Wyrd copies Hades' homework but still gets everything wrong |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/hellboy-web-of-wyrd/review |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}} Ken Talbot from Push Square said that it "is created by people with a reverence for Mignola's work", stating the achievement to translate the visual style to a 3D environment.{{Cite web |last=Talbot |first=Ken |date=2023-10-18 |title=Review: Hellboy Web of Wyrd (PS5) - Visually Striking, But Fails to Inspire as a Brawler |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/hellboy-web-of-wyrd |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Push Square |language=en-GB}}

Yahtzee Croshaw gave the game a scathing review in his series Zero Punctuation; however, the review was released with the game's title and identifying elements redacted from the review, as the game's press embargo date was pushed back last minute, and Croshaw didn't have any time to replace it with a different game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/el-paso-elsewhere-and-zero-punctuation/|title=El Paso, Elsewhere and ? - Zero Punctuation|first=Yahtzee|last=Croshaw|date=October 11, 2023}} He'd confirm the "mystery game" in the review being Hellboy Web of Wyrd a few weeks later during a livestream,{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG2ttRgc5Zk|title=An Introduction to Second Wind with Nick and Yahtzee|date=November 8, 2023 |via=www.youtube.com}} and later on he placed it as the third-worst game of 2023 in Fully Ramblomatic{{'}}s Best, Worst and Blandest of 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQXktE2ms9A|title=The Best, Worst and Blandest of 2023 {{!}} Fully Ramblomatic|author=Second Wind|date=January 3, 2024|via=YouTube}}