Time passes by like no other with Slay the Spire
I enjoy the typical multiplayer game as much as the next person, but sometimes, they simply take too much time. One game lasts around 30 to 40 minutes, and cannot be paused—sorry, mom. Not to mention, the usual “can’t end on a loss” can lead you down a rabbit hole to an unproductive evening spent glued to the screen.
And yet with Slay the Spire, a single-player title you can put down at any given time, its addictive gameplay loop is something we simply can’t ignore.
Ascending the spire
Slay the Spire follows a simple premise: ascend the tower and defeat any (and all) enemies in your way. But unlike your typical dungeon crawler, the game is a deckbuilder where your character’s attacks and moves depend on the cards in your hand. You receive new cards after each encounter, allowing you to slowly build toward a deck of your preferred playstyle.
But bear in mind that not all cards are created equally. While a specific playstyle can effortlessly mow down powerful opponents, some bosses can directly counter them with ease, requiring players to be prudent in selecting their cards.
Slay the Spire also features four distinct characters with unique playstyles: Ironclad, a warrior specializing in brute strength; Silent, an assassin who can overwhelm through either blade or poison; Defect, a sentient machine with mastery over the elements; and Watcher, a monk who devastates with her different stances.
While the game follows the same structure regardless of which character you choose, the different approaches each character requires lend themselves to a gameplay experience that never goes stale. No two playthroughs of Slay the Spire are the same—with each run offering players different items, enemies, and buffs at random. In some cases, a powerful card you found early on won’t appear at all in your next run, forcing you to adapt to what you have.
But why even go through a single game several times? Well, Slay the Spire is frankly brutal—there are no checkpoints or second tries. One mistake, one death, and your run comes to an end, sending you back down the spire with your tail tucked between your legs. But make no mistake—it’s difficult, sure, but not in the masochistic way games such as Dark Souls and Elden Ring are.
Fast-paced, with tactical depth, with unique and memorable characters, and a sound gameplay loop that never gets old—it’s simply why Slay the Spire is so easy to pick up yet so difficult to put down.
The spire awaits in a newly released sequel
Following its successful release in 2019, the spire returns once again with its highly anticipated sequel. This time, however, with a new and returning cast of characters, an expanded roster of cards, artifacts, and potions as well as updated animations.
From what we’ve seen so far with Slay the Spire 2, the game doesn’t exactly bring anything new to the table—instead building upon the gameplay loop we fell in love with. But from where we’re standing, Mega Crit, the game’s developers, have found what works and are simply doubling down on it.
