Now that it’s been a week since our newest trailer debuted at the Future Games Show, we wanted to take a moment to cover what players can expect from Shelf Heroes in a broad sense.
To put it simply — Shelf Heroes is a Roguelite FPS where your limbs are the loot. Each run is all about experimenting with builds, adapting to what you find, and fighting your way through the House against increasingly dangerous toy enemies.
Here’s how it all comes together.
Building Your Hero
Being a Roguelite, no two runs are exactly alike, and nothing better encapsulates that than your hero.
During each run, you start with just your head, which gives you a Core Perk (e.g. a passive ability) that you'll keep for the rest of the run. Once you're in the fray, you'll be earning new toy body parts with each one changing how you move, fight, and survive, including:
Your Melee attack
Your Hook
Your active Ability
A Mobility Perk, which modifies how you jump and dash
On top of that, you’ll also have the chance during a run to obtain stickers that build upon and boost those base attributes and create synergies that culminate in wholly unique builds.
Exploring the Home
Ah yes, the House.
The world of Shelf Heroes is made up of massive arenas, each representing different parts of a home — all with their own secrets to uncover, paths to explore, and dangers to overcome.
Those dangers often come in the form of rogue toys trying to blast, slice, or chomp you to pieces, but the environment itself can be just as threatening. You’ll need to navigate hazards, avoid traps, and sometimes rely on a bit of platforming to stay alive.
But amidst all that chaos lies your Bedroom HQ — your hub between runs.
What you'll find:
Sockos – NPCs & vendors
Beadle – Apply Upgrade beads (vital for survival)
Villa – Home of The Family (more on that later...)
Pipe – Jump in to start a new run
Bench – Set your hero & loadout
Shooting Range – Practice your aim
This is where you’ll regroup and prepare for what’s next. Whether you’re unlocking permanent upgrades, interacting with NPCs, or setting up your next loadout, the Bedroom HQ is your base of operations before diving back into the action.
Indulging in the FPS Chaos
Of course, Shelf Heroes isn’t just a Roguelite — it’s an FPS at its core. That means no matter how strong your build is, you’ll still need to aim, react, and make every shot count.
Throughout your runs, you’ll get your hands on a wide variety of weapons — from DIY shotguns and dinosaur-shaped revolvers to explosive bows and more. Each one brings its own feel and encourages different playstyles, whether you prefer getting up close or picking enemies off from a distance.
And you’ll need every advantage you can get!
The House is filled with hostile toys, each with their own behaviors and attacks. Some will rush you down, others will keep their distance, and some — like the Sentinel — may look harmless at first… until they’re not.
Combat is fast, chaotic, and constantly evolving, especially as your build comes together. The combination of weapons, enemies, and your chosen parts creates moments that can shift from controlled to overwhelming in an instant.
Wishlist Shelf Heroes
If you like what you see, the best way to support Shelf Heroes right now is to add it to your Steam Wishlist. 👉
View game pageWishlisting helps more players discover the game and keeps you updated as we get closer to our upcoming demo.
Join the Community
Discord → https://discord.gg/mqMgtTV66s
YouTube → View game page
Twitter/X → https://x.com/shelfheroesgame
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/shelfheroesgame
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/shelfheroesgame