Fights in Tight Spaces

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,651 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Fights in Tight Spaces Game Cover
We find out how well card battling, roguelikes, and Daredevil-style corridor brawls mix with Fights in Tight Spaces.
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Card-Based Tactical Fighting! Fights in Tight Spaces blends deck-building, turn-based tactics, and thrilling animated fight sequences in classic action-movie settings. Learn to balance your hand, momentum, and positioning to overcome the odds to defeat your adversaries. Pick from over 150 cards as you build a deck to suit your play style and your opponents’. Encounter random events, acquire enha…

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,651 reviews
gameplay256 positive mentions
stability20 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 strong emphasis on positioning and using the environment to your advantage.
  • Stylish art design and engaging soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
  • Some decks and cards feel underpowered or less viable, leading to a lack of balance in gameplay.
  • The game can be punishingly difficult, especially in later levels, which may frustrate some players.
  • Limited variety in maps and enemy types can lead to repetitive gameplay over time.
  • gameplay659 mentions

    The gameplay of "Fights in Tight Spaces" is a well-crafted blend of deck-building and tactical combat, reminiscent of titles like "Slay the Spire" and "Into the Breach." Players appreciate the engaging mechanics, strategic depth, and the rewarding nature of the gameplay loop, although some find the reliance on RNG and certain design choices frustrating. Overall, the game offers a polished experience with a unique aesthetic, compelling card interactions, and a variety of playstyles, making it addictive and enjoyable despite some balance issues and a steep learning curve.

    • “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.”
    • “Fights in Tight Spaces rides the line between turn-based tactics, deckbuilder, and roguelite, mixing a blend of gameplay that's both highly addictive and remarkably polished, well-designed mechanics keep you informed of the effects of every move.”
    • “The gameplay captivated me from day one - it was a great mix of positional and situational tactical battles with the additional layer of board-game-style deck management.”
    • “Instead, the fight replays are just as bland and tedious as the gameplay itself.”
    • “Tl;dr: weird design decisions, inconsistent mechanics, RNG heavy dependence, and ongoing balance changes that only seem to serve to nerf various cards make this game more frustrating than fun.”
    • “Strange design decisions (how enhancements are handled is, frankly, terrible - needing an enhancement to open up more enhancements?), inconsistent mechanics (a bleed card that triggers at 0 block works fine, but a stun card that does the same does not - and no mention of this anywhere in the game), and half the mechanics being useless at the end of the game (you can't throw or shove any of the last couple of end game bosses) makes this game more frustrating than fun.”
  • story349 mentions

    The game's story is minimal and often described as simplistic, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. Players take on the role of a secret agent tasked with defeating various criminal organizations, but the narrative lacks depth and is often overshadowed by the mechanics and combat. While some appreciate the light-hearted, action-movie vibe, many reviewers express a desire for a more engaging storyline and character development to enhance the overall experience.

    • “The player is a British spy, on a mission to take down gangs of bikers, prisoners, ninjas, and mafia.”
    • “The story that's there is a fun, simple setup for sure, but it's a thought.”
    • “While the premise and story is simple, it's a very innovative and well thought out game that combines the positioning strategy of games like chess or Into the Breach, satisfying turn-based combat with stylish animations as you elbow ninjas in the face and throw mafia thugs off the roof, and deckbuilding strategy from Slay the Spire.”
    • “There's no story however, and replaying all the stages on each death is just too brutal.”
    • “The 'story' is lacking, a few chats between your handler and your agent is the extent of it.”
    • “The story is light, barely existent, but hits the appropriate beats for your James Bond-styled protagonist.”
  • graphics339 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist and stylish art style, reminiscent of titles like "Superhot" and "Into the Breach," which effectively complements its tactical gameplay. Players appreciate the clean visuals and fluid animations, noting that while the graphics may not be hyper-realistic, they are visually appealing and enhance the overall experience. The aesthetic is often described as simple yet striking, with a unique charm that fits the game's theme of tactical combat and deck-building.

    • “The visuals are stylish, the gameplay loop is really clean, and it has a similar rewarding style to other great deckbuilders where as you get better you are able to make more and more different playstyles work.”
    • “The art style is minimalist and aesthetically pleasing, and the devs recently added a dark mode, which makes a surprisingly big (positive) difference aesthetically.”
    • “The game was carefully crafted, there's actual heart and soul in it; the devs were inspired, and it shows in every facet of the game, be it the stylish presentation, snappy art style, excellent attack animations, great music or the consistent balancing tweaks that followed the early access release.”
    • “The graphics look like if someone took a flash stickman fighting game and turned it 3D, and complement the theme.”
    • “Graphically it's bottom of the barrel but I guess that's a design choice.”
    • “While the graphics aren't the greatest, it captures what you really need to play this style game.”
  • music259 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its energetic and engaging quality, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the gameplay experience. While the soundtrack, primarily composed by nervous_testpilot, is described as catchy and fitting for the game's aesthetic, some players noted that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the game's stylish visuals and strategic mechanics.

    • “All in all, though, super solid game with catchy music and very punchy sound design.”
    • “The soundtrack is another point of pride, somehow suiting both moments of careful contemplation and juicy hand-to-hand combat.”
    • “The best part of the game has to be the soundtrack though which really excites the fights to a whole new level (a mix of electric synths and powerful drums).”
    • “Music was fun at first but it gets annoying after a while, since there aren’t many songs.”
    • “The sound/music is okay, but I found the music becoming far too repetitive.”
    • “There isn't much music variety; I had to just turn mine off after a while and listen to my own.”
  • replayability196 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally praised, with many players highlighting the variety of deck builds, randomized elements, and unique strategies that keep each run fresh and engaging. However, some reviewers note limitations due to repetitive node layouts and consistent boss encounters, which can diminish long-term replay value. Overall, while the game offers significant replayability, especially in its early access phase, there are calls for more diverse content and mechanics to enhance the experience further.

    • “Great replayability, since no run is like the other.”
    • “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. There are also several starting decks, which make every new game feel different.”
    • “It feels like infinite replayability with all the immensely varying builds and strategies at your disposal.”
    • “Long-term replayability is limited because the node layouts are quite similar for each run, and each act has the same boss fight every time.”
    • “However, once you start to consistently reach the later levels, you'll find that certain card archetypes are much stronger than others, which is a huge detriment when it comes to replayability.”
    • “There isn't a whole lot of replayability after your first playthrough, but it's still quite fun regardless.”
  • humor46 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by its charming and often absurd elements, such as hilarious ragdoll physics and over-the-top action reminiscent of 80s and 90s martial arts films. Players enjoy the comedic moments that arise from both successful and failed strategies, as well as the entertaining replays of chaotic battles. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging gameplay, making for a fun and addictive 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.”
  • stability24 mentions

    The game's stability is currently a significant concern, with numerous bugs, performance issues, and occasional softlocks reported by users. While some visual glitches are considered minor and even amusing, the overall experience is marred by serious problems, particularly in the RNG and gameplay loop. As the game is in early access, players hope for improvements in upcoming patches, but many recommend waiting until stability issues are addressed.

    • “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.”
  • grinding22 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, with some runs extending over four hours due to repetitive deck-building and lengthy combat encounters. While the game offers a high skill ceiling, many reviewers feel that the grind detracts from the overall experience, making it feel slow and monotonous, especially compared to other roguelikes like "Slay the Spire."

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “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.”
    • “I really like the concept of the grappler deck, but heavy units make the fights long 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.”
  • optimization16 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues, including softlocks and freezes, even on capable machines. Despite its simple graphics and small disk space requirement, the game is described as memory-hungry and poorly optimized, leading to slow gameplay and general performance problems. While some improvements have been noted, ongoing issues with UI features, card balance, and enemy scaling indicate that further optimization is necessary for a smoother experience.

    • “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 keep that going.”
    • “What it needs, apart from the standard re-balancing and optimization and enemy-tweaking that you'd expect, is a better deck-building experience.”
    • “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.”
    • “UI lacks many obvious features, performance is bad which slows down the game speed that isn't quick as it is even more; the card balance needs work, so does enemy scaling (which is weirdly non-linear) and map generators.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    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.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its effective encapsulation of tense, strategic tight-quarters combat, enhanced by impressive graphics, animations, and color design. Overall, players find the atmospheric elements to be both engaging and satisfying.

    • “The game mechanics adeptly encapsulate the tense, strategic atmosphere of tight-quarters combat.”
    • “Graphic, animation, color, and atmosphere are really great and satisfactory too.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting its punishing and heartbreaking nature, which evokes strong feelings. Despite the challenges, the recent roadmap from the developers has instilled a sense of optimism and hope for the future of the game.

    • “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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

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Play time

16hMedian play time
23hAverage play time
9-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 22 analyzed playthroughs

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