Big Helmet Heroes is a two-player co-op beat ‘em up where your goal is to save the princess! Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.

Big Helmet Heroes Review Overview

What is Big Helmet Heroes?

Big Helmet Heroes is a 2-player co-op side-scrolling beat ‘em up where your goal is to save the princess one screen at a time. Play different characters, each with their own unique powers, as you defeat the enemies to save the princess. Explore wacky and medieval fantasy-themed environments with gorgeous 3D visuals as you journey through this action-packed adventure.

Big Helmet Heroes features:
　⚫︎　 Local 2 Player Co-op
　⚫︎　 Classic Arcade Side Scrolling Beat ‘Em Up
　⚫︎　 29 Different Playable Characters
　⚫︎　 Multiple Usable Weapons
　⚫︎　 Secrets and Unlockable Characters to Find

For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Big Helmet Heroes’s gameplay and story.

Big Helmet Heroes
Steam		Epic		PlayStation		Xbox

Big Helmet Heroes Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Fun and Fast Arcade Gameplay Plethora of Secrets to Find Beautiful Audiovisuals	Low Depth Gameplay No Online Co-op Balancing and a Few Bugs

Big Helmet Heroes Overall - 74/100

Big Helmet Heroes aims to follow in the footsteps of the great co-op side-scrolling beat ‘em-ups that we certainly needed in the past few years. The fun factor and audiovisuals are undeniably amazing, and for lack of a better description, it’s a game that isn’t afraid to be a game. It’s definitely not the most unique or the deepest mechanical game, but it has the potential to be a fun game that you can boot up anytime.

Big Helmet Heroes Story - 6/10

Similar to the greatest games that we’ve known and loved since video games were created, the story of Big Helmet Heroes is as simple as saving the damsel in distress. Even with the absence of voiced characters, it’s able to tell an entertaining story with a mix of comedic expressions in well-animated and illustrated scenes. It’s not the most compelling story, but it’s enough to keep you playing.

Big Helmet Heroes Gameplay - 8/10

Big Helmet Heroes’ foundation remains the same as the successful games in the beat ‘em-up genre. It’s definitely fun, and I’d even go so far as to say that anyone would have fun playing the game and it even rewards players for going out of the way. However, the biggest problems are the depths of its mechanics and overall identity, since you will get past most challenges in the game simply by mashing the attack button and the occasional dodge.

Big Helmet Heroes Visuals - 8/10

The environments and character designs are the best part of the game, as they’re made to capture the whimsical nature of the game. The different stages and settings that you explore in-game are well-crafted and beautiful. Not only that, but the characters are distinguishable even if they’re all in the medieval fantasy theme of being knights, soldiers, and the like.

Big Helmet Heroes Audio - 7/10

The music in the game is catchy and great to listen to. It does well to add to the game’s theme of a fun medieval fantasy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Other underrated parts are the character's voices and other sound effects that enhance the game’s storytelling and overall experience.

Big Helmet Heroes Value for Money - 8/10

For $24.99, the game is a well-crafted cooperative adventure that a dynamic duo or a sagacious solo can enjoy. It has a plethora of secrets and unlockable characters for you to find and discover while having an entertaining gameplay loop that will keep you hooked for hours. While it’s not beating any of the longtime GOATs in the genre, it’s worth the price for the amount of fun that it offers.

Big Helmet Heroes Review: Wacky, Eye-catching, and Simple to the Core

Sometimes, you just need something fun. While the concept of fun is subjective to an individual, I think you already know what I’m talking about when you just need something different. Especially if it’s something enjoyable with a friend. Enter Big Helmet Heroes, an arcade co-op beat ‘em up that has an amazing presentation, a simple gameplay loop, and loads of fun for hours.

Amazing Presentation

The whole game is presented like a children’s fantasy coloring book with its cutscenes and continues to have a fantasy kids movie-like appearance with its in-game look, which makes everything cohesive and appealing to look at. The character designs are unique enough that characters are distinguishable from each other despite having the same class or category.

In addition to this, the game’s audio design, specifically the music and sound effects, enhances the game’s presentation. The music is so catchy that you would appreciate the tunes while you’re out there smashing through the ranks of goblins and other enemies standing in your way.

A Fantasy Within a Fantasy

While the monster and character designs are great, they don’t compare to the different landscapes that the game lets you explore. The game features several eye-catching medieval settings and locales combined with the occasional wacky themes of modern beaches or clubs.

Another thing to note is the different weapons in the game, which are literally out of its perceived world. You wouldn’t expect an electric guitar as a giant hammer or a ray gun to be included in a medieval fantasy-based game, but it adds more to the game’s fun factor.

While some people might find this design and theme jarring, I appreciate that it doesn’t take itself too seriously and has you beating goblins up with an electric flyswatter or an ice gun. If you appreciate the game’s whimsy, then I think you’ll have a lot more fun playing and discovering the game as a whole.

Rewarding Discovery Adds to Simple Gameplay

Speaking of discovery, I was surprised to see that it’s a game with unlockable secrets. Most of the game has you going from the left side of the screen to the right side, but I would advise you to keep your eyes peeled for secrets and other things you might find. The game has 29 playable characters, and 28 of those, you’ll have to find and break them out of jail yourself. While some of them are obvious and along the way, some might need a keen eye for them to find.

This whole process of looking for the other characters adds to the game’s overall simple gameplay loop. It breaks away from the usual go from point A to B, as you’ll be busy checking out the different places you thought weren’t accessible. An example of this is looking behind a waterfall or checking out a different route in a maze and being rewarded with new playable characters.

Flaws and Nitpicks

Fun as it may be, the game has a couple of flaws and some things that I have to nitpick. Beat ‘em up games aren’t known for their deep mechanics or intricate gameplay, and Big Helmet Heroes is no exception. Most stages have you mashing the attack buttons and using weapons that can stun enemies as the easiest way to progress through a stage. Another nitpick is that the game doesn't actually have online co-op, it's only local. So you'd need to either be physically there or using something like Steam Remote Play.

Some characters also have overpowered ultimate abilities compared to others in the roster. An example of this is Ray, with him firing a huge laser beam that you can move which makes you invulnerable to damage while lasting for a significant amount of time. While balance is more of a nitpick as it’s not a competitive game, it might affect your enjoyment of the game as some might gravitate towards the stronger characters than the fun ones.

Fun For Fun’s Sake

In the end, Big Helmet Heroes is a fun game that presents its themes, ideas, and gameplay loop well. It’s not a grand AAA title that’ll have you mindblown with its compelling story or deep gameplay mechanics, no. It’s a game where you and a plus one can enjoy without going too deep into it. At the end of the day, games like these remind me of what video games are supposed to be: simple, enjoyable, and fun for everyone, all in one package.

Is Big Helmet Heroes Worth It?

Great If You’re Looking For Something Different

Big Helmet Heroes is definitely worth the price of $ 24.99 if you’re looking for a game in the beat 'em-up genre. It’s simple, fun, and easy to get into, which makes it a perfect couch co-op game that you and your partner can enjoy. If that’s not enough, it’s a new game in the same genre that you and your friend like. That might be something you want to consider if you’re tired of playing Castle Crashers for the nth time.

Digital Storefronts
Steam		Epic		PlayStation		Xbox
$24.99

Big Helmet Heroes FAQ

What are the System Requirements to play Big Helmet Heroes?

The System Requirements listed on Steam are as follows:

Game8 Reviews

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Big Helmet Heroes Product Information

Title	BIG HELMET HEROES
Release Date	February 3, 2025
Developer	Exalted Studio
Publisher	Dear Villagers
Supported Platforms	PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre	Action, Co-op
Number of Players	Local 1-2
ESRB Rating	E
Official Website	Big Helmet Heroes Official Website

Michael Gerra-Clarin

Resident fighting game nerd, avid FFXIV fan, and enjoyer of mostly anything gaming. He is currently addicted to gambling in TFT and dying to Light Rampant in Futures Rewritten Ultimate.