Developer Background

Exalted Studio, a small but passionate indie team based in the South of France, is dedicated to crafting imaginative and inspiring gaming experiences. With a team of around a dozen creators, the studio thrives on collaboration, blending skill and creativity to bring unique worlds to life. More than just developers, they see themselves as a close-knit family—one that dreams, laughs, and builds together. Their mission is simple: to make the world a little more fun, one game at a time.

Gameplay & Design

Big Helmet Heroes is a fantastic 3D side-scrolling beat ‘em up that captures the spirit of classic arcade games. With 29 characters to unlock and a variety of weapons at your disposal, the game offers a high level of replayability. It’s the kind of game you can pick up and play anytime, making it perfect for quick sessions or extended brawling marathons.

While it’s not the longest game, the multiple difficulty settings, high-score challenges, and hidden character unlocks keep the experience fresh. The thrill of discovering secret characters adds an old-school charm that’s becoming increasingly rare in modern gaming. In stages that feature two character unlocks, one is typically found along your main path, while the other is tucked away in a hidden area, rewarding players who take the time to explore.

Couch co-op has been struggling in recent years, but Big Helmet Heroes scratches that nostalgic itch reminiscent of Castle Crashers. It’s clear the game draws inspiration from that beloved classic, and I’m happy to say it does justice to the genre. While there are notable differences, Big Helmet Heroes stands on its own, delivering an experience that had me hooked from start to finish.

One of the game’s standout mechanics is how bonus characters function depending on whether you’re playing solo or in co-op. In solo play, you have a backup character that you can switch to at any time. When you find a caged character, you’ll unlock an additional fighter, allowing you to swap between all three instantly. This system opens the door for creative character combinations, letting you chain attacks together for devastating combos. It’s a clever feature that adds depth and strategy to the brawling action.

Overall, Big Helmet Heroes is a must-play for beat ‘em up fans, blending arcade nostalgia with modern mechanics to create a game that’s both accessible and rewarding.

Feedback

While Big Helmet Heroes delivers a fantastic beat ‘em up experience, I found myself wishing it were just a little longer. The core gameplay is so enjoyable that I wasn’t ready for it to end as quickly as it did. A few more levels or an extended endgame mode would have gone a long way in keeping the action going.

One feature that could really enhance replayability is a Boss Rush mode. The game already has great enemy variety, and being able to face off against all the bosses in a gauntlet-style challenge would super fun. It would also be a great way to put different character combos to the test, encouraging players to experiment with new strategies.

Despite its shorter length, Big Helmet Heroes makes up for it with high replay value, but an additional mode or some extra post-game content would take it to the next level.

Verdict

Big Helmet Heroes is a fantastic 3D side-scrolling beat ‘em up that perfectly captures the spirit of classic arcade games. With 29 characters to unlock and a variety of weapons to wield, the game delivers a high level of replayability, making it easy to jump in for both quick sessions and extended brawling marathons.

The game shines in both solo and co-op play, filling the gap left by the decline of couch multiplayer experiences. Its clear inspiration from Castle Crashers is handled with care, successfully modernizing the genre while standing strong on its own merits.

Big Helmet Heroes is available now for PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.