CodeSpells

About

CodeSpells is a single player and multiplayer simulation game. It was developed by ThoughtSTEM, LLC and was released on September 18, 2015. It received negative reviews from players.

When we were young, wizards like Gandalf and Dumbledore struck a chord in our minds. We spent hours pretending to be wizards and casting epic imaginary spells. Now, we want to bring that kind of creative freedom to video games. Instead of giving the player pre-packaged spells, CodeSpells allows you to craft your own magical spells. It's the ultimate spellcrafting sandbox. What makes it all possi…

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39%

Audience ScoreBased on 231 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

optimization3 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, while complex, can be rewarding for those with programming knowledge, offering a sense of accomplishment when crafting spells.
The graphics and environment design are visually appealing, creating an immersive experience for players exploring the magical world.

The game has been abandoned by the developers, with no updates or communication for several years, leading to a lack of content and polish.
Many players have reported technical issues, including crashes and a broken login system, making the game unplayable for some.
The lack of a tutorial or proper documentation makes it difficult for new players, especially those without coding experience, to engage with the game effectively.

graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
53%
20%
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 some minor graphical glitches appear 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.”
- “So I was pretty excited to see that the game was getting a complete revamp that looked pretty promising; it also looked like it had a pretty slick art style.”
- “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
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay is currently basic and primarily focused on sandbox mechanics, appealing mainly to players interested in engineering their own spells. While some users find the magic mechanics innovative, many criticize the lack of fully developed core gameplay and the need for more engaging content beyond simple challenges. Overall, it is recommended for those who enjoy tinkering and programming, but may not satisfy players seeking a more structured or extensive gaming experience.
- “The best magic mechanics I've ever played!”
- “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.”
- “Solid (but not explained) mechanics.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of purpose, missions, or plot, leading to a sense of boredom and a lack of motivation to continue playing. While some players appreciate the opportunity to relax and use their imagination, many express a strong desire for a more engaging narrative to enhance their experience. Overall, the absence of a compelling story is seen as a significant drawback that could improve the game's appeal.
- “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
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting severe performance issues even on high-end PCs, and significant slowdowns on older machines. Many feel that the execution is poorly done, lacking clear objectives and interaction, leading to an overall disappointing experience. While there is hope for future improvements, the current state is deemed unacceptable.
- “Performance on older machines may require you to turn the graphics settings down a bit, but it's okay.”
- “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
5 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 spells fail to function, and overall, the game feels unfinished and abandoned, despite some minor graphical glitches on lower settings.
- “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.”
- “Along with the array of game-breaking bugs and glitches.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is derived from its absurdity, with players finding the mechanics and visuals amusingly ineffective. Many reviewers suggest that the overall experience feels more like a comedic misfire than a serious endeavor, with the price point itself being a source of laughter.
- “The mana needed to cast spells is a chore, enemies are pointless, nothing seems to actually do anything, and the game just looks... funny.”
- “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.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many users express frustration with the monetization of early access games on Steam, labeling them as cash grabs and advising others to avoid these titles.
- “Maybe all early access games should be removed from Steam as they seem like a cash grab.”
- “Sad to say it was a cash grab.”
- “Stay away from this cash grab!”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is described as charming and engaging, effectively drawing players into its world, despite the lack of a compelling story or standout sound design. Overall, it contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The art style and music are very charming and draw you into the world from the start.”