Game: Keep The Heroes Out
Genre: Indie, Strategy
System: Steam (Windows)
Developer|Publisher: YarnCat Games | Bruh Games
Controller Support: Yes
Steam Deck: Playable
Price: US $16.99 | UK £15.49 | EU € 16,99
Release Date: December 9th, 2025
Review code provided with many thanks to Plan of Attack.
Keep the Heroes – Board Game Night
Keep the Heroes Out is the sort of game that instantly reminded me of my old board-game-club days, those nights when someone would walk in carrying a box with some extravagant title and an even wilder set of rules. I never actually played the physical version of Keep the Heroes Out, but this digital adaptation instantly took me back to that feeling of discovering something surprising and mischievous. If you’re in the mood for a board-game-style adventure for one player or up to four online or locally, this one confidently raises its hand.
A Board Game Brought to Life
There’s something delightful about seeing a tabletop idea translated into a video game, and this one leans fully into that spirit. You pick from nine monsters, skeletons, blobs, dragons and other dungeon regulars, and your sole job is to protect your hard-earned treasure chests from the so-called heroes who come marching in with far too much confidence. If enough of them reach your main vault, it’s all over. The setup sounds grim, but the game’s bright and cartoony 3D look keeps things light, making it approachable for younger players, seasoned dungeon protectors, and anyone in between.
Learning the Ropes
The tutorial does a reliable job of easing you in, but there’s also a reference guide on hand to cover the core rules and remind you what matters mid-game. Once you’re in, the flow is simple enough to grasp: it’s a turn-based card-driven strategy game. On your turn, you draw several cards and can use as many as you like. Each card usually offers two choices, and each choice contains multiple actions, so a single decision might give you a movement and an attack or maybe the chance to interact with the room you are in, e.g. pick up an item. It’s all about squeezing the most from whatever your deck hands you.
As you explore the dungeon, you’ll find ways to upgrade your deck by performing little tasks. For example, grabbing a book from the library and delivering it elsewhere earns you a fresh scroll card. You can even open magical portals to zip around more efficiently. All these small actions stack up, giving you a sense of growth and discovery within a relatively compact set of mechanics.
When Heroes Invade
After your turn, the heroes descend into random rooms. Each one has its own quirks; mages love blasting spells, elves sit back and pelt arrows across the map, and so on. While the dungeon contains several chests, losing your main one is a true disaster. If a side chest gets popped open, it usually triggers a curse against you, like forcing you to discard cards. It adds a funny but stressful layer to each run, especially as waves of invaders get bolder.
Variety in Layout and Objectives
To keep things lively, the game offers a series of stages with different dungeon layouts. These aren’t just cosmetic tweaks; they impact routes, choke points, and how you coordinate with your fellow monsters. Levels also come with extra objectives, such as delivering frogs to a witch within a certain number of turns. Fail those, and you’ll feel the consequences. It gives every stage a distinct rhythm and nudges you to revisit levels to improve your strategy.
Better Together
You can absolutely play solo, but the game feels naturally tuned for co-op shenanigans. With up to four players online or locally, each picking their own monster with unique abilities, the teamwork becomes a puzzle in itself. Communication is key, especially when someone needs to sprint across the dungeon to plug a hero-shaped leak. The mix of roles, some monsters are great at crowd control, others are more defensive, means your group can experiment until you discover a combination that works.
Difficulty options appear before each mission, and being able to save and exit mid-run is a blessing, especially when sessions run a little long or life interrupts. It also makes the game more welcoming for players who want to learn at a slower pace.
A Few Hiccups
As much as I enjoyed the flow of the game, it did take a bit of experimentation for the mechanics to settle into place. Switching between different monsters helped things make sense, though some runs can feel lengthy, particularly when you’re playing alone. Once everything clicks, the pacing improves, but it may take a moment to get there.
Conclusion: Only Brave Monsters Allowed
Keep the Heroes Out brings board-game energy to the screen with personality and a generous helping of creativity. If you love tabletop nights but don’t always have the space or people on hand, this digital version is a great alternative, and even better when you can round up friends. With colourful animations and levels that keep you guessing, it scratches that “game night” itch in a fun and energetic way. It won’t be for everyone, especially if you aren’t fond of strategy or managing decks, but if the idea of protecting your hoard with a team of monsters makes you grin, this is absolutely worth a look.
Final Verdict: I Like it
Do you like our content?
Subscribe to our daily news and never miss a review!