LBR received a Steam review copy of Hungry Horrors from Clumsy Bear Studio, via Pirate PR, to review this game in its Early Access form.
Hungry Horrors is a playful roguelite deckbuilder from indie developer and publisher Clumsy Bear Studio. It features a cooking theme with a few basic twists on the popular genre, as well as friendly humor and strategy.
In Hungry Horrors, a princess tries to avoid the responsibility of saving her kingdom, feeding monsters from British and Irish folklore to survive. You’ll need to learn what these different “Horrors” love or hate to eat in order to build a winning deck of dishes and combos. Serve enough tasty food to fill up your enemies before they reach you!
Hungry Horrors launches into Early Access via Steam next week on January 19, 2026. Here’s a recent gameplay trailer from Clumsy Bear Studio!
Hungry Horrors’ terrific premise really helps avoid genre fatigue, tweaking some familiar ideas to flesh out a great theme. I enjoyed how much individual lore informs the horrors’ tastes—and offering their origins in-game is a rewarding touch!
Cooking for these monsters, as opposed to destroying them, properly ties into the game’s cheery attitude.
The gameplay is proudly silly, and genuinely amusing, which helps distinguish Hungry Horrors from its many peers. The characters are actually parody of classic figures and tropes, and I appreciated their quirky banter.
I sense that Hungry Horrors is meant to be an easygoing game overall, including its streamlined strategy. You’ll know what the next enemy turn involves, and acquiring horrors’ tastes gives you clear goals.
I’m a tabletop gamer who loves to plan turns, so I naturally approved of these elements. The gameplay moves swiftly and smoothly, easy to fit into your schedule and relax for a few.
However, note that the enemies aren’t especially punishing right now, if you prefer something more challenging.
Like any game in Early Access, Hungry Horrors could probably use some light balancing changes. For example, the central “Craving” combos can feel a little broken at times, but they’re still thematic and fun to chain.
If only the horrors defeated you a bit more—I got a sincere chuckle out of all the unique ways they end your hero.
There’s plenty of content ahead for Early Access! You’ll get your money’s worth, with a good variety of dishes, horrors, and quips.
There are also some great QOL features, including rules reminders and tips. Players who’ve never even heard of Slay the Spire could easily get the hang of Hungry Horrors, which impressed me. It’s clear the devs had players in mind early on.
The Steam page mentions that fans can expect “more biomes, Horrors, characters, dishes, and events” after the full launch.
Final Thoughts
Hungry Horrors deftly balances charming humor, breezy strategy, and flavorful theming! While it hardly subverts expectations, I don’t feel this is just a cosmetic for a tired genre. Hungry Horrors delivers on its central promise, with friendly gameplay driven by fun and authentic lore. It boasts a great head start for EA, so I expect very much after 1.0. I’ll be playing in the meantime – seconds, please!
Score: 8/10 (Early Access)
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