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Fights in Tight Spaces

We find out how well card battling, roguelikes, and Daredevil-style corridor brawls mix with Fights in Tight Spaces.
84%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
story, grinding
93% User Score Based on 4,214 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 11 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4Steam DeckSteam DeckWindowsWindowsXbox OneXbox OneXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SPlayStationPlayStationXboxXbox

About

"Fights in Tight Spaces" is a tactical lap-based game that combines deck-building and turn-based combat with animated fight sequences in a classic action-movie setting. You must carefully balance your hand, momentum, and positioning to emerge victorious in intense battles. The game features over 150 cards to choose from, allowing you to build a deck to suit your play style and adapt to changing circumstances. Control the space, upgrade your agent, and make critical decisions in this thrilling card-based fight simulator.

Fights in Tight Spaces screenshot
Fights in Tight Spaces screenshot
Fights in Tight Spaces screenshot
Fights in Tight Spaces screenshot
Fights in Tight Spaces screenshot
Fights in Tight Spaces screenshot
Fights in Tight Spaces screenshot
Fights in Tight Spaces screenshot

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,225 reviews
gameplay288 positive mentions
grinding22 negative mentions

  • Unique blend of deck-building and tactical combat, reminiscent of games like Slay the Spire and Into the Breach.
  • Satisfying gameplay with a focus on positioning and using the environment to your advantage.
  • Stylish visuals and a great soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
  • Some decks and cards feel underpowered or less viable, leading to a lack of balance in gameplay.
  • Repetitive level design and enemy encounters can diminish replayability over time.
  • The final boss and certain enemy mechanics can feel unfair, punishing players for mistakes without room for recovery.
  • gameplay
    797 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Fights in Tight Spaces" combines deck-building mechanics with tactical positioning in a grid-based environment, creating an engaging and addictive experience. While many players appreciate the strategic depth and unique mechanics, some express concerns about repetitiveness, balance issues, and the steep learning curve associated with the game's complexity. Overall, the game is praised for its stylish presentation and rewarding gameplay loop, though it may require patience to fully grasp its intricacies.

    • “The gameplay is so simple but gets so deep and rewarding; it's all the best parts of Into the Breach + all the best parts of Slay the Spire.”
    • “Not only is the gameplay clean and polished to the point of a glossy sheen, but it has the stylistic smoothness to create one of the most satisfying gameplay experiences ever.”
    • “Gameplay is smooth and engaging, very understandable, and the reward system is very gratifying. You always want to try a run again with a different approach, and the deck-building option opens you up to any playstyle you can come up with.”
    • “It'll keep you entertained for a decent while (though much of my playtime is idling for trading cards) but the gameplay loop isn't fun enough to keep me sustained through several attempts.”
    • “While the gameplay loop is fun, it gets repetitive once you’ve seen everything.”
    • “Great concept and amazing design, but has too many problems with gameplay and replayability.”
  • story
    447 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. Players note that while the premise involves a spy on various missions, the storytelling is simplistic and often feels like a missed opportunity for richer world-building. Despite this, some players appreciate the straightforward setup as a means to focus on the game's mechanics, though many express a desire for more engaging plot elements and character development.

    • “The story is light, barely existent, but hits the appropriate beats for your James Bond-styled protagonist.”
    • “As to be expected of a game that seems to try to emulate and pay homage to James Bond-style action movies, the story is merely a justification for why cool things are happening, and it does that job wonderfully.”
    • “The last mission is an amazing spy action movie with you as the main character and I love it.”
    • “Unlike Cobalt Core and Inscryption, there is no plot here.”
    • “A few negatives to mention are that the story is very bare bones and there isn't much there.”
    • “The 'story' is lacking; a few chats between your handler and your agent is the extent of it.”
  • graphics
    423 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist and stylized aesthetic, often compared to the visuals of "Superhot," which effectively complement its gameplay mechanics. While many players appreciate the bold and striking art style, some note that the simplicity can lead to confusion regarding gameplay elements, and there are calls for improved optimization and additional visual variety. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received, enhancing the immersive experience of the game with fluid animations and a vibrant color palette.

    • “The mini cutscene style combat is super immersive and feels really satisfying, alongside a great progression system, intuitive play, and striking visuals; it's a must-buy for fans of games like Superhot, Slay the Spire, etc.”
    • “The aesthetics of the game feel refreshing, and the animations are also quite nice.”
    • “The art style is simple but bold and arresting, and it's generally just fun to play.”
    • “This game is very poorly optimized for such minimal aesthetics.”
    • “While the graphics aren't the greatest, it captures what you really need to play this style game.”
    • “Graphics are missing from many cards, some animations are incomplete or missing, sound effects don't play sometimes, and there are bugs present.”
  • music
    319 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and engaging soundtrack, often described as a mix of techno, dubstep, and electronic styles that perfectly complements the gameplay. While some players noted that the music can become repetitive over time, the overall consensus is that it enhances the game's aesthetic and provides a motivating backdrop for combat. Additionally, the soundtrack by nervous_testpilot is highlighted as a standout feature, with many recommending it for listening outside of the game as well.

    • “The soundtrack is fire too.”
    • “The combos hit hard, the animations are fluid, and the overall aesthetic and absolute banger of a soundtrack really help you get into the groove of punching, kicking and yeeting your enemies.”
    • “The soundtrack makes you want to keep playing which is why I've bought the soundtrack and you should too!”
    • “The music though... I'm afraid it's not for me.”
    • “Music was fun at first but it gets annoying after a while, since there aren’t many songs.”
    • “However, the soundtrack for me felt distinctly lacking, and painfully average, though this obviously isn't a game played for the soundtrack, so I'll let it slide.”
  • replayability
    232 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its addictive nature and variety in deck-building, leading to high replay value. However, some reviewers note limitations due to repetitive scenarios and similar boss fights, which can diminish long-term engagement. Overall, while it offers significant replay potential, especially with randomized elements, it may not reach the heights of other roguelikes like "Slay the Spire."

    • “The card-based fight dynamics keep this game interesting for replayability.”
    • “The reward system, different decks, and various combo styles make for an addictive replayability.”
    • “The game is randomized so that it essentially has infinite replayability - each round you'll find different cards, different upgrades, different enemies, different random encounters, different path layouts, etc.”
    • “Replayability was not the focus for this one.”
    • “Replayability is the weakest part of the game, while it's roguelike.”
    • “There isn't a whole lot of replayability after your first playthrough, but it's still quite fun regardless.”
  • humor
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its charming and humorous elements, featuring hilarious ragdoll physics and entertaining mini-movies that play after each puzzle. Players enjoy the absurdity of creating ridiculous builds and the comedic outcomes of their strategies, often leading to funny moments during gameplay and replays. Overall, the humor is a significant highlight, enhancing the fun and addictive nature of the roguelite deckbuilding experience.

    • “And getting to see a whole mini movie of you knocking guys out cold at the end of each puzzle is just hilariously fun.”
    • “Watching replays after each fight is actually super fun and the dumb ragdoll physics just add to the enjoyment as I find myself laughing at each replay.”
    • “You can make a totally ridiculous build that either works really well or fails hilariously.”
  • grinding
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a double-edged sword; while some appreciate the addictive nature of the repetition, many criticize the unlock system and lengthy gameplay, which can extend runs to over four hours. The combat, though initially engaging, often becomes tedious due to the slow pace and the necessity of grinding for card unlocks and deck building. Overall, the game is seen as overly grindy, detracting from the fast-paced experience it aims to deliver.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The unlock system is tedious, requiring huge amounts of grind to unlock all the cards which you seem to be able to get before you unlock them anyway.”
    • “Building perks and decks from scratch every time can extend a full game run to over 4 hours, which is unusually long for a roguelike and tedious.”
    • “On one hand, it has a very high ceiling, and tight play can have a great deal of reach, which is something I value, but on the other hand, at its worst, this game is obnoxious, slow, and tedious.”
  • stability
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is currently a significant issue, with numerous glitches, bugs, and performance problems reported by users, including softlocks and freezes that can disrupt gameplay. While some players find the glitches amusing and the game fun overall, many recommend waiting for patches to address these stability concerns, especially since it is still in early access. Despite these issues, the developers are noted to be actively working on improvements.

    • “It actually runs great under Wine.”
    • “Originality, replayability, bug-free, and just right on balance and difficulty.”
    • “Very buggy at the moment, with real problems in the RNG department for now.”
    • “Adding to that, I encountered several horrible performance issues (and I can play Elden Ring perfectly fine on second highest setting), soft locks and freezes in the short hours when I wrote this review, and I can't say I'd recommend the game right now as it is.”
    • “The game would be fine, if not for the inexcusable glitches.”
  • optimization
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues, including softlocks and freezes, despite its minimalistic graphics. Users note that it consumes excessive CPU and GPU resources, even more than some older AAA titles, and offer limited settings for performance adjustments. While some improvements have been acknowledged, many still find the game poorly optimized and in need of further balancing and enhancements.

    • “Wall-to-wall banger soundtrack, visuals that ooze style, and a refreshing puzzle of not just the gameplay, but card selection and deck optimization in the context of the isometric space.”
    • “General performance issues persist (at least on my machine), and I'd still advocate tightening many of the animations, but the game is in a better place now and it seems like the developers are going to keep trying to improve that.”
    • “What it needs, apart from the standard re-balancing and optimization and enemy-tweaking that you'd expect, is a better deck-building experience.”
    • “This game is very poorly optimized for such minimal aesthetics.”
    • “Adding to that, I encountered several horrible performance issues (and I can play Elden Ring perfectly fine on second highest setting), soft locks and freezes in the short hours when I wrote this review, and I can't say I'd recommend the game right now as it is.”
    • “Despite small disk space requirement and simple graphics, the game is unoptimized and memory-hungry.”
  • atmosphere
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is described as abstract and minimalistic, lacking immersion in certain combat scenarios. However, it effectively captures the tension and strategy of tight-quarters combat through its mechanics, graphics, and animations, evoking comparisons to stylish action films like "John Wick" and "James Bond." Overall, while some find it less immersive, others appreciate the aesthetic and thematic elements that enhance the gameplay experience.

    • “Atmospheric mechanics: the game mechanics adeptly encapsulate the tense, strategic atmosphere of tight-quarters combat.”
    • “Deckbuilding, tactics, cool graphics, and atmosphere... I am happy I discovered this gem.”
    • “Graphic, animation, color, and atmosphere are really great and satisfactory too.”
    • “I wouldn’t call the atmosphere immersive, as it is very abstract and minimalistic.”
    • “I wouldn’t call the atmosphere immersive, as it is very abstract and minimalistic.”
    • “I wouldn’t call the atmosphere immersive, as it is very abstract and minimalistic.”
  • monetization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its lack of advertisements and microtransactions, providing a straightforward experience without any monetization pitfalls. Players appreciate the strategic depth added by the movement component, which enhances gameplay without the interference of pay-to-win mechanics.

    • “The game makes no advertisement or mention of this fact; but the game will intentionally draw cards that minimize your potential to avoid damage.”
    • “- no microtransactions or other nonsense.”
    • “The game makes no advertisement or mention of this fact; but the game will intentionally draw cards that minimize your potential to avoid damage.”
  • emotional
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews highlight a mixed emotional response to the game, with some players experiencing emotional detachment, while others find it both punishing and heartbreaking yet still express deep affection for it. The recent roadmap from the developers has instilled a sense of optimism among fans, suggesting a complex emotional landscape surrounding the game's experience.

    • “I love, love this game, but let me tell you, it is punishing and heartbreaking.”
    • “The devs released a roadmap recently and it made me feel even more optimistic about the game.”

Buy Fights in Tight Spaces

22h Median play time
36h Average play time
9-62h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 26 analyzed playthroughs

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