Slay the Spire

 PC
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 650 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 465 out of 650
  2. Mixed: 93 out of 650
  3. Negative: 92 out of 650

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  1. NoMuchToSay
    Mar 17, 2023
    8
    I had fun, good game for some time when you are watching series on the other screen.
  2. Goldfighterfive
    Jul 5, 2023
    8
    This game is very fun but can feel unfair at points a lot of the negative reviews say that the RNG makes the game unfair, but you usually want to go with the flow when picking cards, rather than just hope for a specific build and get disappointed when you don't get it
  3. Robobob
    Apr 1, 2023
    7
    A nice little deck building rogue-like with enough card variety that each play-through can feel completely different and another good example that you don't need AAA graphics but just incredible gameplay. Randomly getting the right combination of cards for brutal combos is very satisfying. I feel like the hero characters need a little work as 2 classes are almost too easy where the otherA nice little deck building rogue-like with enough card variety that each play-through can feel completely different and another good example that you don't need AAA graphics but just incredible gameplay. Randomly getting the right combination of cards for brutal combos is very satisfying. I feel like the hero characters need a little work as 2 classes are almost too easy where the other characters are too hard.
    The Ironclad: with his heal after every match and more powerful defensive and strength cards make progress to The Spire possibly on nearly every playthrough.
    The Silent: The poison cards with the amount of free attack cards make Slaying the Spire just as easy at the Ironclad.
    The Watcher: Fun switching between stances but the biggest problem is that there aren't enough cards to help you switch and exit stances. So if you don't get them in any drops you are stuck with a character that is good at defending and it makes matches very long and tedious.
    The Defect: A really fun idea of a robot/construct with orb slots that can give you free damage or defense each turn. However, like the Watcher, if you don't get enough of those orb filling cards then you are stuck with a rather useless character with weak strikes and defends. Focus or Targeting cards really boost this character but there are only three cards with those abilities so good luck getting one.
    In short, a playthrough with Ironclad and Silent will have you feeling like a God, whereas with the other 2 games are heavily reliant on RNG and even what seems like a successful game can suddenly end with some bad card draws or enemies that start their first 2 turns with 30+ damage.    … Expand
  4. Wiebe
    Feb 26, 2020
    7
    Addictive fun mix of rogue and deck building. But it's also a simple game and it gets boring after a few playthroughs
  5. Brainstrain
    Dec 12, 2019
    7
    I had fun for a good few hours, figuring out the mechanics of the different playable characters, strategies for defeating different enemies, and getting the hang of card interactions. But at a certain point the sheer number of variable I had to juggle was too much, and I started making decision at random.

    The merchant means you have *some* control over the randomness, but not very much.    I had fun for a good few hours, figuring out the mechanics of the different playable characters, strategies for defeating different enemies, and getting the hang of card interactions. But at a certain point the sheer number of variable I had to juggle was too much, and I started making decision at random.

    The merchant means you have *some* control over the randomness, but not very much. Making a deck themed after any particular mechanic feels impossible.

    It's an inherent problem to the roguelike formula, I think. It's fun for a while, but not my cup of tea.    … Expand
  6. ireviewbadgames
    Jan 26, 2019
    7
    It's a fun game and the developers have performed very well throughout the duration of their stint in Early Access. They're one of the good ones- I would trust their next title and promises attached to it.

    As you can imagine with a game of this type (Deck-Building Rogue-Like Dungeon Crawler) there is a heavy emphasis on RNG. Whether or not you like that aspect will heavily define your    It's a fun game and the developers have performed very well throughout the duration of their stint in Early Access. They're one of the good ones- I would trust their next title and promises attached to it.

    As you can imagine with a game of this type (Deck-Building Rogue-Like Dungeon Crawler) there is a heavy emphasis on RNG. Whether or not you like that aspect will heavily define your inclination to play the game. If you enjoy that, I recommend picking up this game.    … Expand
  7. edxtan
    Sep 11, 2023
    7
    Slay the Spire's combination of deckbuilding and roguelike mechanics gives you the freedom to create your own builds and playstyle, while still making the progression of every run smooth.
  8. PanMrkvicka
    May 23, 2020
    7
    its great with good potential but its lacking some changes in every run it becomes pretty repetitive. Like even too much for rogue like.
  9. Oshiri_Maeda
    May 26, 2021
    7
    Bit slow and repetitive, too much of RNG and not enough diversity of runs. My first two runs took 3 and 4 hours each, which is tooo long.
  10. prussii
    Dec 31, 2020
    7
    It's very very addictive game. But when you beat the game with every character it gets a bit repetitive and pointless. Ascension isn't enough. It lacks endgame and a bit more content.
  11. joglow
    Nov 12, 2022
    7
    Pretty addictive. It is effective when you want to get yourself distracted.
  12. andrew9
    Jul 15, 2022
    6
    good .
  13. kaliohara
    Jan 30, 2019
    6
    The rogue-like elements destroy the deck building elements
    I guess it's an ok game but the whole genre of deckbuilding games need a revolution. It's not it.
    And the old and mighty RNG just kills the fun for me.
  14. frogeater
    Feb 11, 2019
    6
    Well, yes it's a decent deck builder, fun combat strategy, but variety of enemies is not high, luck is very present... and, basically, it's not a AAA title, so I hate to rate those on the same scale as a Witcher or Divinity: Original Sin. It's ok, you try the different desks, you have your favourite... and after a dozen plays and a couple of weeks, you forget about this little game.
  15. TheWaffle
    Jun 17, 2020
    5
    I must be missing something. I get that this is an independent game, and isn't going to have AAA polish. But after you play an attack card, the character just kind of leans towards the enemy and the game says they attacked. If the animation is going to be that lazy, why even bother with the character animations? I didn't play long enough to get much of the tactical flavor, but the firstI must be missing something. I get that this is an independent game, and isn't going to have AAA polish. But after you play an attack card, the character just kind of leans towards the enemy and the game says they attacked. If the animation is going to be that lazy, why even bother with the character animations? I didn't play long enough to get much of the tactical flavor, but the first few levels inspired little desire to continue. I was really looking for a game to replace Hearthstone, but this ain't it.… Expand
  16. GrumpySarcasm
    Jun 20, 2023
    5
    The game is ok, but as someone else put it: "the rogue-like elements destroy the deck building elements"
  17. Vulgrim
    Feb 3, 2020
    5
    The game itself provides entertainment at a level sufficient for satisfaction. BUT it is quickly bored. I completely ignore graphics here, because in this genre it does not matter. However, after a few hours of playing, you can see considerable repetition. I was struck by the schematic and the lack of real experimentation. We currently have four characters, each closed in their own style.The game itself provides entertainment at a level sufficient for satisfaction. BUT it is quickly bored. I completely ignore graphics here, because in this genre it does not matter. However, after a few hours of playing, you can see considerable repetition. I was struck by the schematic and the lack of real experimentation. We currently have four characters, each closed in their own style. Although the gameplay itself is demanding, it does not encourage continuous new approaches. Especially since the game offers very little unlockable content.… Expand
  18. night4
    Jan 26, 2019
    4
    It's only January and this is already the most overrated game of the year.

    There are very few heroes, few enemies, few bosses, etc. Once you've played for a couple hours, you've seen all the game has to offer. All that's left is to go through the same thing over again with a crappy deck again. Custom modes help slightly, but they're not nearly enough. As someone else put it: "the    It's only January and this is already the most overrated game of the year.

    There are very few heroes, few enemies, few bosses, etc. Once you've played for a couple hours, you've seen all the game has to offer. All that's left is to go through the same thing over again with a crappy deck again. Custom modes help slightly, but they're not nearly enough.

    As someone else put it: "the rogue-like elements destroy the deck building elements". It's true, and unfortunate.    … Expand
  19. bhappenstance
    Sep 27, 2022
    4
    Slay the Spire is a great game...to a point.
    The problem is that the endgame -- once you have cleared the base quest with all three characters -- is preposterously difficult, even for a Roguelike. In a genre classic such as Hades, the player is rewarded for experimenting with different builds based on drops. In StS, if you don't luck out and get the exact right combination of cards, at    Slay the Spire is a great game...to a point.
    The problem is that the endgame -- once you have cleared the base quest with all three characters -- is preposterously difficult, even for a Roguelike. In a genre classic such as Hades, the player is rewarded for experimenting with different builds based on drops. In StS, if you don't luck out and get the exact right combination of cards, at exactly the right point in the game, you're totally effed. Enemies are idiotically overpowered, and minor mistakes can be catastrophic. This turns what was an absolutely thrilling and addictive experience into a lame, frustrating grind. Why bother to keep playing if it all comes down to dumb luck? An enormous disappointment.

    UPDATE: Dropped the score from a 6 to a 4 due to the absurd end-game difficulty. Your capacity to slay the heart has virtually nothing to do with skill, and is entirely based on luck. It is *possible*, but will require you to get every requisite card, in a particular order, while landing only on enemies that it is possible to defeat. The developers ruined an otherwise excellent deck-building experience with ridiculously imbalanced difficulty. A challenge is welcome, but rolling the dice -- which is all that the latter stages of Slay is -- gets very boring very fast.    … Expand
  20. NitrogenLlama
    Apr 27, 2022
    4
    The game is fun at first, but the randomness of what cards and other items you get makes it impossible to build a decent build, but the enemy power levels and attack patterns are more geared towards a game where you have absolute control over cards and items. This leads to dying many times where it feels you had no chance.

    The game is so random that I have once sacrificed two block cards    The game is fun at first, but the randomness of what cards and other items you get makes it impossible to build a decent build, but the enemy power levels and attack patterns are more geared towards a game where you have absolute control over cards and items. This leads to dying many times where it feels you had no chance.

    The game is so random that I have once sacrificed two block cards (optimizing fast powerful damage) just be rewards with two cards that boosted block effects! Thanks RNG-esus!

    And what makes everything worse is the fact that you can build a decently powered deck just to be faced against enemies that play perfectly against your specific deck.

    Totally deleted this game after a few days.

    Avoid!    … Expand
  21. fm13
    Feb 25, 2019
    3
    Luck and RNG game. Be lucky and the game beats itself. Try strategy and get punish for it.
  22. Rookie4
    Feb 10, 2020
    3
    The game appealed to me with what looked like deck building strategy / rogue-like elements.
    But it's so poorly implemented that you can see how shallow the game really is once you play for a couple of hours. I'm almost 100 hours in and without a doubt I can say this. This is not a game, it's a slot machine that makes you think that it's a game. You have almost no say in building your deck,    The game appealed to me with what looked like deck building strategy / rogue-like elements.
    But it's so poorly implemented that you can see how shallow the game really is once you play for a couple of hours. I'm almost 100 hours in and without a doubt I can say this. This is not a game, it's a slot machine that makes you think that it's a game. You have almost no say in building your deck, your encounters or even the way you play. Still you're up against unforgiving enemies, set-back and awful balance issues. So much so, your luck is the only true player. You either get a winning combination (cards, potions and relics) and soar through the levels or you get handed a **** hand and you got nothing to do about it. I can say without no doubt in my mind that the dev team worked hard on this but stopped halfway and put up a RNG system to cover the other half.
    Can't recommend this to anyone who wants to really sink their time and effort into a strategic deck building game. It's just not worth it.    … Expand
  23. playpod
    May 23, 2022
    2
    i liked the game at first. but to much random and the further you get the more bullcrap enemies get. like, no matter what you do sometimes you just can't win. you put in all this effort just for it to not matter.
  24. whathefaq
    Jul 25, 2022
    2
    99% luck based
    and ofc if you complain about that dumbazses will tell you some streamer can get 10 win in a row blah blah blah
    even if you can consistently win the game with 1% skill, its still not fun - repetitive gameplay. Do the same thing over and over again until you die and repeat - If you somehow lucky and win the reward is the fuken same, you gain some xp which in turn give    99% luck based
    and ofc if you complain about that dumbazses will tell you some streamer can get 10 win in a row blah blah blah
    even if you can consistently win the game with 1% skill, its still not fun
    - repetitive gameplay. Do the same thing over and over again until you die and repeat
    - If you somehow lucky and win the reward is the fuken same, you gain some xp which in turn give you some useless stuff nobody cares about once you level up
    - there no deck building here because there's nothing to even build when cards are given to you at complete random. You cant choose to limit the random pool. It randoms from all the cards you've unlocked

    overall its much better game than Monster train but its still pretty garbage    … Expand
  25. Ughduty
    Aug 10, 2019
    0
    Its all fake! Everything in this game is predetermined! I can prove it to you. At the start of a battle remember your cards. Force quit the game and reload it. The next draw will always be the same which could never occur if the cards were drawn randomly. So unfortunately its all fake!

    I expect a card game to be random. By that I mean that cards should be drawn randomly. Not in this    Its all fake! Everything in this game is predetermined! I can prove it to you. At the start of a battle remember your cards. Force quit the game and reload it. The next draw will always be the same which could never occur if the cards were drawn randomly. So unfortunately its all fake!

    I expect a card game to be random. By that I mean that cards should be drawn randomly. Not in this game, you either get cards drawn preselected by the developers or their random card drawer is extremely bad implemented. I had a deck of 50 cards and one of the cards I had five times in the deck. Next draw I get 4 of those 5 cards onto my hand! Do you know how low the odds are for that to happen?! And this did not happen only once, it happens all the time. After this the game became unplayable for me.    … Expand
  26. Low19
    Jun 6, 2022
    0
    Literally can't play games I enjoy because someone is playing this piece of trash. Do not buy this game. Save yourself from this pain.
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Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Best PC Game of 2019
37
#37 Most Discussed PC Game of 2019
71
#71 Most Shared PC Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Worth Playing
    May 31, 2022
    95
    Slay the Spire is the very definition of a game that's simple to learn and difficult to master. The core mechanics and gameplay are so easy that anyone can pick it up and have a relatively fun time, but learning how to survive takes time and effort. No matter the level, it remains engaging throughout by making every choice meaningful, and victory is decided by your skill and just a dash of RNG. There are many clones out there, many of which are excellent on their own right, but the original Slay the Spire is still one of the most addictive deck-builders ever made.
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  2. CD-Action
    Dec 11, 2019
    95
    Slay the Spire proves that tactical games can glue the player to the chair for long hours without depriving them of mental comfort. At this moment Mega Crit’s debut doesn’t seem to have any competition – neither in the card game genre, nor in the roguelike. [03/2019, p.68]
  3. Eurogamer Italy
    Apr 16, 2019
    90
    Deck-building RPG + Roguelike, Slay the Spire is one of the most surprising, deep and engaging game you'll see this year. An absolute must play.
    Read full review
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