Skul: The Hero Slayer

Skul: The Hero Slayer is a 2D action roguelite about a small skeleton who wants to rescue the captured Demon King. After humans and the imperial army overran the demon fortress, Skul faces soldiers, adventurers and powerful bosses alone. The stages change from run to run.

Unlike a classic platformer, Skul relies on repeated attempts, surprising ability combinations and deliberately improving your own combat options.

Skul: The Hero Slayer was released on Jan 21, 2021 as a full PC game. On Steam, it is listed as Jan 20 due to the time difference. The versions for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch followed on Oct 21, 2021. On iOS and Android, the game was released on June 4, 2024.

The PC game was previously playable in Early Access. The different dates refer to standalone releases, not just running older console versions on newer hardware.

Skul is available for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android. The PC version supports Windows, macOS and Linux. On PS5, the PS4 version can be played via backward compatibility. Playing the Xbox One version on Xbox Series X|S is also not a separate native release.

Playdigious has adapted the mobile versions for touchscreens and supports compatible controllers. They use the same basic skull and combat system.

Skul moves through changing areas in side view, dodges attacks and fights enemies with melee and special abilities. The adventurers and the bosses at the end of chapters are especially dangerous. Instead of a fixed path, each attempt brings different encounters and combinations.

The story reverses the usual fantasy perspective: here, a demon tries to save the homeland that humans are attacking.

The Mythology Pack adds further playable skulls and items to Skul. These include the legendary Unknown King skull as well as further variants with different abilities. The expansion requires the main game.

The separately available soundtrack contains the game's music but is not an additional campaign. Dark Mirror is permanently available game content and should not be confused with the Mythology Pack.

For the Windows version, Steam lists at least 4 GB RAM, a dual-core processor with 2.8 GHz and a GeForce 450 GTS or Radeon HD 5750. 8 GB RAM and a GeForce GTX 460 or Radeon HD 7800 are recommended. On Windows, 1 GB of storage is given as the minimum.

Steam also offers versions for macOS and Linux. On current PCs, the system requirements of the Steam client also apply.

Skul can carry two skulls at once and switch between them during a fight. Each skull changes reach, attack style, pace and special abilities. As a result, two runs with different finds can play out completely differently.

Swapping is more than a cosmetic change: depending on the skull you choose, the focus shifts to fast hits, heavy attacks or special effects.

Items you find strengthen Skul and can be combined into different combat styles. Their effects interact and reward a selection that matches your current skulls. If you find other abilities during a run, you can adjust your equipment accordingly.

The interplay of skulls, items and repeated attempts is the core of the long-term variety.

The journey leads through several areas, where ordinary enemies, more powerful adventurers and chapter bosses await. Dark quartz affects some of the most dangerous foes. The game combines precise jumps and dodge moves with attack patterns that become easier to read through repeated play.

The Dark Mirror mode adds further challenges to Skul after the main story. Players face stronger enemies and new threats there. The mode builds on the same core mechanics but requires more deliberate choices of skulls and items.

The mobile version published by Playdigious also includes Dark Mirror.

Skul is a single-player game. The PC version supports keyboard and controller. The mobile versions have a custom interface with touch controls and support for compatible controllers.

Its difficulty comes mainly from timing, dodging and dealing with changing equipment, not from online competition.