Fights in Tight Spaces

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,820 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

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,820 reviews
gameplay128 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • Unique blend of deck-building and tactical combat, reminiscent of games like Slay the Spire and Into the Breach.
  • Each run feels fresh due to the variety of cards, enemies, and strategic options available.
  • Satisfying gameplay with stylish animations and a great soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Some decks and cards feel underpowered or less viable, leading to a lack of balance in gameplay.
  • The final boss and certain enemy types can create frustrating scenarios that feel unfair.
  • Limited content and repetitive mission structures may reduce long-term replayability.
  • gameplay329 mentions

    The gameplay is a blend of deck-building and tactical turn-based mechanics, drawing comparisons to titles like "Slay the Spire" and "Into the Breach." Players appreciate the engaging and addictive nature of the mechanics, which allow for strategic depth and varied playstyles, though some express concerns about balance issues and the reliance on RNG. Overall, the game is praised for its polished execution, stylish presentation, and the rewarding experience it offers, despite some minor inconsistencies and design flaws.

    • “The gameplay is so simple but gets so deep and rewarding; it's all the best parts of Into the Breach and 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.”
    • “Fights in tight spaces ride the line between turn-based tactics, deckbuilder, and roguelite, mixing a blend of gameplay that's both highly addictive and remarkably polished, with well-designed mechanics that keep you informed of the effects of every move.”
    • “Instead, the fight replays are just as bland and tedious as the gameplay itself.”
    • “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.”
    • “The only negative is it can be a little awkward to understand some of the mechanics initially as it isn't 100% clear sometimes.”
  • story174 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 control a secret agent on various missions against criminal organizations, but the narrative lacks depth and variety, with many reviewers expressing a desire for more substantial storytelling and character development. While some appreciate the light-hearted, action-movie vibe, the consensus is that the gameplay mechanics overshadow the narrative, which is often seen as a mere justification for the combat.

    • “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.”
    • “You play as a James Bond/Ethan Hunt stand-in, sent by his handler to put a damper on various shadowy clans and gangs, paying homage to action movie staples, such as 007, John Wick, Mission Impossible, and Nolan's Batman, to name a few.”
    • “The story is light, barely existent, but hits the appropriate beats for your James Bond-styled protagonist.”
    • “The 'story' is lacking; a few chats between your handler and your agent is the extent of it.”
    • “The story in this game is very much of the Carmack school of thought; it's there, but really only as a pretext and a courtesy.”
  • graphics169 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist and stylish art style that draws inspiration from titles like "Superhot" and "Into the Breach," creating a visually appealing experience that complements its tactical gameplay. While some players appreciate the simplicity and clarity of the visuals, others feel that the graphics could benefit from more detail and polish. Overall, the aesthetic is well-received for its unique charm and effective presentation, enhancing the immersive combat experience.

    • “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.”
    • “I wouldn't mind a map with more route choices, and visuals with a little more detail and maybe some customization options.”
  • music129 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 some find the soundtrack catchy and fitting, others note that it can become repetitive over time, leading to a desire for more variety. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's stylish presentation and immersive atmosphere.

    • “All in all, though, super solid game with catchy music and very punchy sound design.”
    • “The soundtrack is just full of great songs one after another, just adds to each fight so well with the electronic style.”
    • “The music pumps you up, the animations are clean.”
    • “The 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.”
  • replayability98 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits a mixed reception regarding replayability. While many players appreciate the variety offered through randomized card drops, different deck builds, and unique strategies, some express concerns about repetitiveness in mission layouts and boss encounters, which can diminish long-term replay value. Despite these criticisms, a significant number of users find the game addictive and engaging, highlighting its potential for replayability, especially with future updates and improvements.

    • “Great replayability, since no run is like the other.”
    • “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.”
    • “As a result, the replayability isn't anywhere close to Into the Breach or Slay the Spire, and certain starter decks feel like exercises in frustration rather than fun variations to try. The final boss can also be a bit of a slog; they should probably have cut his health pool by 20% given his summons and how many attacks he's immune to.”
    • “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.”
    • “There isn't a whole lot of replayability after your first playthrough, but it's still quite fun regardless.”
  • humor23 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and comedic elements, particularly through the use of ragdoll physics and absurd scenarios, such as enemies being knocked off rooftops or engaging in ridiculous builds. Players enjoy the blend of strategy and humor, with many finding the replays of fights to be particularly entertaining due to the game's quirky animations and funny moments. Overall, the game successfully combines a lighthearted tone with engaging gameplay, making it a fun experience for fans of action and humor alike.

    • “Such a charming game and I love the humor; I would love to grab a beer and talk about trashy 80/90's action movies with the developers.”
    • “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.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The game's stability is currently a mixed bag, with users reporting various bugs, visual glitches, and performance issues, including softlocks and freezes. While some glitches are seen as humorous and not overly disruptive, the overall experience is hampered by the need for significant improvements and bug fixes, especially given its early access status. However, the developers are actively addressing these issues, which offers some hope for future stability.

    • “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 settings), 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.”
  • grinding11 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, with some runs extending over four hours due to repetitive mechanics 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.

    • “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.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues, including softlocks and freezes, despite its simple graphics and low disk space requirements. While some improvements have been noted, persistent general performance problems and a lack of essential UI features hinder the overall experience, suggesting that further optimization and balancing are necessary for a smoother gameplay 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 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.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The game features no advertisements or microtransactions, providing a straightforward experience without additional monetization tactics. Players appreciate the intentional design choices that enhance gameplay, such as card mechanics that influence damage avoidance, contributing to a strategic and engaging experience.

    • “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.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its ability to create a tense and strategic environment, particularly in tight-quarters combat, enhanced by impressive graphics, animations, and color design. Overall, players find the atmospheric mechanics to be both engaging and visually 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.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting its punishing and heartbreaking nature, which adds to its impact. The recent roadmap release has fostered a sense of optimism among the community, enhancing their emotional investment in the game's future.

    • “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 11 analyzed playthroughs

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