V-Hunter Puzzler DX | Steam Deck Review

June 26, 2023 Scott Clark

As I’ve grown into my “seasoned” years, I’ve come to appreciate puzzle games much more than I did in my youth. The trick for me is a game has to be tough, but never make me feel intellectually superior. As well-designed as Dr. Kobushi’s Labyrinthine Laboratory was, I legitimately considered turning in my teaching license. Thankfully, Yatch Studios‘ V-Hunter Puzzler DX is much more in my wheelhouse. It offers a much more steady ramp up in difficulty and allows a level of challenge for different skill levels. It’s also rather clever in its design and provides a deceptively complex set of rules that are easy to pick up quickly.

Have Vampires Made a Comeback?

Let me get this out of the way first: I’m not a fan of the game’s title. V-Hunter Puzzler DX simply doesn’t roll off the tongue very well, nor does it give much explanation to what it is. Sure, it’s obviously a puzzler, but the lengthy title isn’t doing the game any favors. Still, if that’s my biggest gripe about this game, that’s saying something about the quality.

The gameplay consists of one-screen puzzles that take place on a grid playing field. Your vampire hunter must clear the screen of all enemies, which opens a portal to the next screen. Movement is turn-based, so every time you move a square, the enemies also gets a turn and follows their own individual rules set. Some may have a countdown timer with an attack at zero. Others follow a specific route. Some might follow you based on your own movement. It reminds me of chess pieces, where each pawn, rook, knight, etc. can only move in particular ways. Learning these patterns becomes key as you position yourself in such a way as to be able to leave your hunter in position to attack while also avoiding enemy attacks.

It sounds simple enough, and the game begins with very easy puzzles to teach you enemy movements. The further you progress, the more complicated enemies show up, and you’ll be forced to think multiple moves ahead, much like in chess.

Puzzles for Everybody

My favorite aspect of V-Hunter Puzzler DX is the fact that I never feel punished for failing a puzzle. Unless you find a health potion, you’ll die after one hit from an enemy. But even if you do, you’ll be allowed to undo your previous moves to try a different approach. This makes tricky puzzles much more approachable, as it encourages experimentation. This echoes the “learn by failure” approach that I truly appreciate, and kept me from being overly frustrated. Plus, I had a constant sense that I was getting better little by little, and that’s the kind of satisfaction for which I yearn.

For those looking for a deeper challenge, however, you can make the game more difficult if you’d like. And the best part is that it’s not simply making enemies tougher or offering you less health options. Instead, you have the option to turn off the undo feature at any time. On top of that, you can give enemies to the ability to move freely instead of basing their movement on yours. While that sounds like an absolutely stressful experience for me personally, I’m happy that it exists for those who are up for it.

V-Hunter Puzzler DX Final Verdict

V-Hunter Puzzler DX is a very clever indie puzzler that is more than worth its cost. It’s not going to blow you away by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s genuinely difficult to say anything negative about it. I guess I could say it’s not offering AAA graphics? This game doesn’t need that and honestly wouldn’t add to the experience. it’s exactly what it needs to be and was clearly built with love. I’m also happy to report that the game works perfectly on Steam Deck, so if you’re looking for a great puzzle game on the go, don’t hesitate to give this one a go.

To hear me talk more about V-Hunter Puzzler DX, be sure to listen to our May 3rd Episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast around the 1:42:29 time stamp.

This review is based on a Steam copy of V-Hunter Puzzler DX provided by Yatch Studios for coverage purposes. It is also available on Mac.