Heroes of Hammerwatch II - Celestial Ruins expands the rogue-lite action RPG with a new class and a dedicated survival mission set in a corrupted holy sanctum. The base game centers on persistent character progression across runs, where players build and upgrade heroes through repeated expeditions. This expansion introduces the Priest class, which emphasizes mana management and regeneration mechanics, alongside fresh equipment options and companion pets. It supports both solo play and online co-op with up to three additional players.
Gameplay
The core loop involves entering randomized dungeon environments, clearing enemy groups, and managing resources to survive deeper levels. Persistent progression carries over between runs through upgrades to town facilities and character unlocks that benefit all play sessions. Classes define starting abilities and growth paths, with each offering three specializations that alter skill trees and playstyles. The Priest adds a focus on sustained mana use and recovery, allowing builds centered on prolonged engagements rather than burst damage.
Equipment customization expands with sceptres for casting, lanterns for utility effects, and various trinkets that modify stats or grant situational advantages. Spirit Boons provide additional build variety by tying rewards to chosen divine blessings. Two new pets, the Will O' The Wisp and Animated Candle, accompany characters and contribute passive or active support during expeditions. Non-expansion owners can join survival missions hosted by owners to earn base rewards, though expansion-specific items remain locked until purchase.
Game Modes
Standard expeditions form the primary experience, blending exploration, combat, and resource gathering in procedurally generated spaces. The Celestial Ruins expansion adds a survival mission variant set in the fallen sanctum, where players face escalating waves and must summon one of five Spirit bosses. Each boss variant connects to the player's selected divine blessing, altering encounter dynamics and loot tables. This mode emphasizes endurance and adaptive builds over linear progression through multiple floors.
Co-op integrates seamlessly into both standard runs and the new survival mission, allowing shared progression and combined class synergies. Town management elements persist across sessions, providing long-term goals that influence future expeditions regardless of mode.
Classes and Progression
Seven classes are available in total. Four start unlocked: Warrior for melee tanking, Paladin for balanced holy support, Ranger for ranged precision, and Wizard for elemental casting. The remaining three unlock through gameplay: Rogue for stealth and mobility, Warlock for dark magic sustain, and Sorcerer for high-risk arcane power. Each class levels independently and grants global buffs to all characters once advanced.
Specializations further refine these options with unique ability upgrades. Persistent systems reward repeated play by improving base town infrastructure and unlocking quality-of-life features that carry forward.
Is It Worth Playing?
Heroes of Hammerwatch II maintains Very Positive reception on its primary platform, with 84 percent approval across thousands of reviews. Recent feedback remains Mostly Positive. The expansion adds targeted content for players seeking new class options and a focused endurance challenge without altering the established rogue-lite structure.
It suits those who enjoy methodical build crafting, co-op coordination, and incremental power growth over multiple sessions. The survival mission and Priest class provide clear entry points for expansion owners, while cross-play access for the new mission broadens participation. Ongoing class variety and persistent systems support extended engagement for fans of the genre.
