What Hammerwatch Anniversary Edition is
Hammerwatch Anniversary Edition is a remaster of the 2013 original, rebuilt for its 10th anniversary with improved pixel art, remade character classes with new effects, a new item system, and expanded mod support. You pick one of seven hero classes, each with its own capabilities and playstyle, then fight through hordes of creatures in a 2D dungeon crawler with hack-and-slash combat. The setting is the Kingdom of Herian, where King Roland was overthrown by Blight the Horrible and his dragon army, and Lord Archibald now sits on the throne as Blight's puppet. You delve into Castle Hammerwatch and the depths beneath it to take on the beasts and foes waiting there.
Playing it with your group
You can go it alone or band together with friends in co-op, which runs both online and locally. The game also supports Remote Play Together, so someone who does not own it can join over a friend's session. Everyone picks their own hero class, so a group can mix playstyles rather than everyone playing the same way. Between sessions you can also build your own custom scenario to play through together.
Campaigns and content
Three campaigns are included: Castle Hammerwatch, Sun Temple, and the new Shaftlocke Tower, which was added for this edition. Alongside the campaigns, there is a new item system that lets you store items you find or buy, and a customization system new to this version with six character voices and four color palettes to choose from. New difficulty options and new puzzles are aimed at more skilled players.
Before you start
Two things to know: previous saves and mods are not compatible with this edition, so anything carried over from the original will not work. The expanded mod support means the tools for changing the game are broader than before, but old content needs to be rebuilt for it.