CodeSpells

About

"CodeSpells" is a simulation game that offers a variety of play modes, including single-player, local multi-player for up to 2 players, and player-versus-player. The game's development and community are still active, with a new focus on building an open-source platform for the creation of various games and experiences. There was a delay in updates between September 2017 and August 2020 due to the team seeking additional funding and taking care of personal needs.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

39%

Audience ScoreBased on 446 reviews

graphics8 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game has a unique concept that allows players to create their own spells, providing a sandbox experience that encourages creativity.
The spell creation system is intuitive for those with programming knowledge, making it a fun way to learn coding basics.
The graphics and environment design are visually appealing, creating an immersive experience for players.

The game has been abandoned by the developers, with no updates or communication for several years, leading to a lack of content and features.
Many players report technical issues, including crashes and a broken login system, making the game unplayable for some.
The game lacks a tutorial or guidance, making it difficult for new players, especially those without coding experience, to engage with the spell creation mechanics.

graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
10%
The game's graphics are generally praised for their beauty and charming art style, with impressive landscapes generated through random map creation. However, performance issues on lower-end machines can lead to significant frame rate drops and minor graphical glitches, particularly at reduced settings. Overall, while the graphics are appealing, they may require optimization for smoother gameplay on less powerful systems.
- “The graphics are beautiful and the random map generation makes for some amazing landscapes.”
- “It is fairly impressive graphics-wise, and the physics do not take a supercomputer to run, which is good, as my computer is not great.”
- “The art style and music are very charming and draw you into the world from the start.”
- “Constant 10 fps or lower on the lowest resolution... I know my graphics card isn't the best, but it should be very capable of handling at least 50 fps or even 60 at the lowest resolution.”
- “There are a few relatively minor graphical glitches in the game on lower quality settings.”
- “On low graphics settings, the spell-making menu has the controls graphic all pixelated. When checking the code for a specific spell, the menu at the bottom is pixelated as well.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
68%
19%
The gameplay is primarily focused on programming mechanics, appealing to those who enjoy engineering and sandbox-style challenges. However, many users caution that the game is still in early access, lacking substantial content beyond simple challenges and requiring a willingness to learn complex systems. Players seeking a more structured campaign or extensive gameplay may want to wait for further development.
- “If you like programming and want to try programming in a game, TIS-100, Exapunks, or Shenzhen I/O are good games which explore programming as a game mechanic.”
- “Solid (but not explained) mechanics.”
- “Be aware that at the moment this will only be fun to you if you like to engineer your own spells, since there isn't much gameplay yet.”
- “Don't get it if you are looking for a campaign or any kind of gameplay above a few simple challenges and a sandbox mode (yet) or if you aren't willing or able to learn a few complicated mechanics.”
- “Hold off if you're not a fan of early sandbox gameplay but keep an eye out for this one.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The game's lack of a compelling story or clear objectives has led to mixed reviews, with many players expressing boredom due to the absence of missions or a plot. While some appreciate the opportunity to relax and use their imagination, the consensus is that a more defined narrative could significantly enhance the experience and keep players engaged. Overall, the current storytelling elements are seen as insufficient, leaving players craving a deeper, more meaningful context for their gameplay.
- “Some people need action, story, and things to do; however, this game just lets me relax with my imagination.”
- “Once story is put into the game, then I will be hooked for life.”
- “Do you want some sort of story or greater meaning to what you are doing?”
- “But it gets boring quickly as there's no real purpose or story in the game.”
- “There is no mission, story, plot, survival, etc., so there's no reason to keep playing.”
- “There is no story; there is not much in the way of brilliant sound or music, the graphics are tolerable, and yet the game still stands.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
59%
33%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting severe performance issues even on high-end PCs, and older machines struggle significantly, often requiring reduced graphics settings. Many describe the execution as poorly optimized and disappointing, with hopes for future updates to improve performance. Overall, the optimization is considered a major flaw that detracts from the game's potential.
- “Performance on older machines may require you to turn the graphics settings down a bit, but it's ok.”
- “Great concept; badly optimized, confusing, ugly disappointment of an execution.”
- “Performance is horrible, including on high-end PCs, and what little was implemented before the project was dropped is not in any way enjoyable.”
- “Unfortunately, it runs extremely slowly on older computers. Hopefully, it will be optimized as more updates come out, though.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from severe stability issues, with numerous game-breaking bugs and glitches rendering it nearly unplayable. Many users report that essential features, such as spells, fail to function, and the overall experience is marred by persistent technical problems. Additionally, the game's abandonment suggests that these issues are unlikely to be resolved.
- “The game is and was extremely buggy, and many of the spells just straight up didn't work.”
- “Perfect - unplayable and non-refundable since I spent my entire time owning/playing this game on troubleshooting.”
- “Edit: this game has been abandoned, and the little that is there is nowhere near finished and very buggy.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of this game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing frustration over the prevalence of early access titles on Steam that seem to prioritize profit over quality. Many reviewers recommend avoiding this game due to its perceived exploitative practices.
- “Sad to say it was a cash grab.”
- “Stay away from this cash grab!”
- “Maybe all early access games should be removed from Steam as they seem like a cash grab.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as unintentionally amusing, with some reviewers finding the pricing and overall quality laughable. However, the humor may not resonate with everyone, leading to a suggestion to avoid the game unless it's offered at a significantly lower price.
- “Otherwise, don't bother, and especially don't pay the full price of 20 dollars, which is honestly hilarious.”
- “But all we see in present-day games is just hilarious hocus-pocus.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is described as charming and effective in immersing players in its world, despite the overall lack of a compelling story or standout sound design. While some reviews note that the music isn't particularly brilliant, it still contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The art style and music are very charming and draw you into the world from the start.”

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CodeSpells
$4.99
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6h Median play time

6h Average play time

6-6h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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CodeSpells

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