Slay The Spire Review (Early Access)

  Card games are a dime a dozen and when I hear about a new one I tend to ignore it.  Even if I don't ignore it I play for a day and forget all about it.  Slay the Spire by Mega Crit Games was a card game I had set aside in my mind but decided I would give it a try.  This title surprised me and had me locked in for several days. 

It's A Solo Adventure

  What Slay the Spire has done is taken a deck building game to PC.  You will start with a basic deck and make your way through a map.  Rather than fighting a player, you are pit against NPCs.  In an RPG fashion you will deal and receive damage and this will be based on the deck you build.  The concept is pretty simple but the gameplay can go pretty deep.  This is because you are constantly trying to think about the cards you have, the cards you are getting, and how this can all work together to take down some of the stronger enemies. There are items like potions and relics you gain that will provide additional buffs.  On the other side are curses that add a card to your deck that can do nothing or deal damage to your character.

  There are three classes that each have their own deck.  The decks are definitely unique and provide a variation in combat.  The caveat is after a while you will start getting a pretty good idea of the deck you need to build based on your early cards.  Even then you will find yourself subjected to the RNG gods and you may never see the cards you want for whatever reason.  Even if you have those cards, the order which you pull is random and that can screw you over as well.

  The enemy variety is pretty decent with each stage holding its own set of bad guys and bosses.  None of them are impossible but some of them can just come at the worst times.  Everything at the beginning can be killed, even though sometimes it doesn't feel like it.

  The graphics aren't the sharpest but they get the job done.  Sounds assets are fine but I found myself muting the music after a few playthroughs.  It's not necessary and after an extended amount of play gets a bit repetitive.  The UI is pretty intuitive and I found myself falling in love with the hotkeys when in battle.

    The game is in early access so there is time for fine tuning but what I have seen so far it's a pretty good game.  While it would seem repetitive the varied nature of deck building will place you in new scenarios giving the game a lot more weight.  If you have ever played board games like Dominion or enjoyed the variation of deck building in Hearthstone, this game is definitely worth a look.  The best part is there are no loot crates and new cards are unlocked through playing.  This game has been a time vampire for me but an enjoyable one.

TL;DR:  

  Slay the Spire is a deck building game you play against NPCs, which I found to be a fun and entertaining concept.