Hellbridge Demo Walkthrough: Survive the Siege

First Steps: The Bridge and Your Arsenal

You begin at the Last Bridge, a narrow stone structure that connects the mortal realm to the infernal abyss. Your goal is simple: survive the relentless waves of hellspawn. Before the first wave, you are given a choice of three starter spells. Do not overthink this selection; any spell is viable for the first few rounds. A good starting option is Arcane Bolt, which provides consistent single-target damage and a short cooldown.

The controls are straightforward: WASD to move, left mouse to attack, and Space to dodge. The dodge roll is your most important survival tool. It grants invincibility frames, allowing you to pass through enemy attacks and projectiles. Practice timing your dodges through the first wave's attacks to build muscle memory.

Wave Structure and Enemy Types

The demo consists of four main waves, followed by a boss encounter. Each wave introduces new enemy types and increases in difficulty. Understanding their attack patterns is key to progression.

Spell Drafting and Synergies

After each wave, you are presented with a choice of three spell upgrades or new spells. This is the core of the roguelike progression system. Building a synergistic spell loadout is the difference between a successful run and a quick death.

Recommended Spell Build for the Demo:

1. Primary Damage: Arcane Bolt or Fireball. Both scale well with damage upgrades.
2. Crowd Control: Frost Nova or Chain Lightning. Frost Nova freezes nearby enemies, giving you breathing room. Chain Lightning bounces between multiple targets.
3. Defense: Barrier or Heal. Barrier provides a temporary shield, while Heal restores a percentage of your health. Barrier is generally better for aggressive play.
4. Ultimate: Meteor Storm or Void Beam. Meteor Storm deals massive area damage, ideal for the Cursed Gate wave. Void Beam is a high-damage single-target beam, excellent for the boss.

Boss Fight: The Warden of the First Gate

The boss of the demo is The Warden, a massive armored demon wielding a flaming mace. The fight takes place on the bridge, which now has limited space due to broken sections. The Warden has three main attacks:

• Mace Slam: A slow, telegraphed overhead slam that deals heavy damage. Dodge sideways just before the mace hits the ground.
• Fire Breath: The Warden inhales for a second, then spews a cone of fire. Run to the opposite side of the bridge to avoid it.
• Summon Imps: At 50% health, the Warden summons a wave of Imps. Use your ultimate or a crowd control spell to clear them quickly, then focus back on the boss.

Phase Strategy: During the first phase (100%-50% health), play defensively. Dodge the Mace Slam and Fire Breath, and only attack during the recovery windows. In the second phase (50%-0% health), the Warden becomes more aggressive, performing two Mace Slams in a row. Stay mobile and use your Barrier or Heal to survive any mistakes.

Post-Boss and Demo Completion

After defeating the Warden, a portal opens at the far end of the bridge. Interacting with it ends the demo and triggers a short cutscene, hinting at the full game's story. You are then returned to the main menu with a victory screen.

The demo saves your highest wave reached and the spells you used. While there is no persistent progression between runs in the demo, this data is used for the full game's leaderboard and starting loadout system.

What to do after completing the demo:

• Try different starter spells and builds to discover new synergies.
• Focus on speedrunning the demo for a faster clear time.
• Check the achievements guide to see if you unlocked any hidden feats.

For more detailed information on enemy types and lore, refer to our Enemy Types Guide and Lore Explained.