Steam Link Spotlight - Jupiter Hell

Steam Link Spotlight is a feature where we look at PC games that play exceptionally well using the Steam Link app. Our last entry looked at Roguebook. Read about how it plays using Steam Link over here.

For this entry, we looked at what would probably make a good case for reinterpreting Doom as a turn-based affair tuned for mobile. Jupiter Hell may not be on the App Store, but it sure as heck feels like it should, and it brings sci-fi horror, heavy metal, gore, and gunplay together in ways that remind me of old-school 90s shooter aesthetics.

Jupiter Hell is a bit of an odd game for this series, as it actually has no mouse controls of any kind, which usually serve as the primary way to interpret touch input. This game is keyboard or gamepad only, and it works perfectly out of the box with a bluetooth keyboard. If you don't want to bother with peripherals (as was the case for the video overview), it takes a minute or two during the tutorial to set up on-screen virtual controls in a way that works best for you.

Although the input method isn't as smooth or seamless as some other entries in this series, Jupiter Hell lands here because of its turn-based nature. The game more-or-less feels like Sproggiwood with a grim sci-fi coat of paint on it, and games like this are best enjoyed in situations where you can whip them out while watching TV or laying in bed.

This isn't to say Jupiter Hell isn't intense. It is. Enemies can surround and destroy you super easily if you aren't careful. But, the game only moves when you do, which is perfect in situations where you want to plot out a strategy for survival (and don't have to worry about precise, timing-based inputs on virtual controls).

It's also worth noting that Jupiter Hell is a true roguelike experience. Playing it over and over again will only be rewarding if you learn from your mistakes. There's no persistent upgrades or currencies you can take between runs to make things easier for you. In a way, this also makes it a nice Steam Link play since you don't have to worry about keeping track of progression--and new systems introduced by them--between sessions. It's just the purity of using your own experience against a game that wants to destroy you.

Jupiter Hell was developed by ChaosForge and published by Hyperstrange. It launched on August 5, 2021 and is available on Steam for $24.99.