Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel Conan DLC Review – Comic-Book Barbarian, Stygia Realm, Fate Deity & Local Co-Op

Developed by Games Farm (in collaboration with ARTillery) and published by Grindstone, Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel is a fast-paced roguelike horde-survivor that throws players into the brutal realms of Norse mythology. You battle endless waves of mythical foes, collect divine blessings from the gods, explore deadly arenas, and take down towering bosses in runs that emphasize build-crafting, momentum, and sheer chaotic fun. The new Conan DLC (released April 9, 2026) is a major paid expansion that drops the legendary Cimmerian barbarian into this frozen hellscape as a playable hero. It also brings a brand-new realm, deity, and boss encounter, all bundled alongside the free 2.0 update that finally adds local co-op.

The DLC lets you step into Conan’s sandals for the first time in the series, and it’s a treat for longtime fans. This version of the barbarian feels like a direct love letter to Robert E. Howard’s original comic-book Conan, the savage, larger-than-life wanderer who rose from Cimmerian tribesman to king through sheer will, cunning, and raw power. Gone is any watered-down or overly cinematic take. Here, Conan is pure momentum incarnate. His core "Triumph" system rewards aggressive, forward-charging play. Every enemy you fell builds stacks that let you shrug off damage and turn defense into devastating offense. It captures the comic-book Conan’s unstoppable drive perfectly. He doesn’t hide or play it safe. He crashes through hordes like a one-man apocalypse.

Conan comes with three distinct sub-classes (Paths of Legend) that let you tailor his rampage to different comic eras and archetypes including the King of Aquilonia which wields a massive two-handed greatsword for raw power, devastating cleaves, and punishing dashes for pure barbarian king energy. The Stygian Gladiator, alternatively, uses sword-and-shield for a defensive powerhouse style that stuns crowds and scales survivability with every Triumph stack. Lastly, the Zamorian Rogue brings fast dual-dagger mobility and evasive, hit-and-run combat that nods to Conan’s thieving youth in the stories.

The new realm, Stygia, is a scorching desert wasteland of ancient ruins, illusion traps, cursed tombs, and undead horrors. It is a far cry from the game’s usual icy Norse vistas. Visibility is limited, necromantic forces lurk around every dune, and the environment itself feels alive and hostile. It’s a tense, unpredictable map that forces adaptation while perfectly evoking Conan’s classic adventures in the Hyborian Age’s southern deserts.

The brand-new deity, Fate, introduces a high-stakes risk-and-reward blessing system. Symbolic draws determine how powerful (or punishing) your run becomes, adding an extra layer of tension and replayability that fits the roguelike loop beautifully.

At the heart of Stygia waits the epic new boss, the Undead Jötunn, an ancient Stygian wizard-king risen as a necromantic horror. This towering undead giant mixes forbidden magic, deceptive illusions, and layered attack patterns that will test even seasoned survivors. Expect a memorable, multi-phase showdown that feels like a true Hyborian-Norse clash.

One of the biggest wins in the accompanying free 2.0 update is the long-awaited local co-op. Up to two players can now team up in shared runs on the same screen, with new synergy mechanics that make duo play feel fast-paced and rewarding rather than tacked-on. It’s a fantastic addition that turns the already addictive solo horde-slaying into a couch-co-op blast, and it’s available to every owner of the base game at no extra cost.

The Verdict ...

The Conan DLC delivers excellent value at its modest price point, asking around $5.49 on PC (with a 10% launch discount) or $6.99 on consoles. For that, you get a deeply thematic new hero with meaningful build variety, a fresh realm that expands the world in exciting ways, a compelling new deity for riskier runs, a memorable boss, and the free co-op update that benefits the entire game. If you’re already a fan of Jotunnslayer or the survivors-like genre, this is an easy recommend, especially if you love Conan in his classic, comic-book glory. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it sharpens it to a razor’s edge and gives you more reasons to keep slaying hordes. Highly recommended for barbarian enthusiasts and horde-survivor addicts alike. Crom would approve.