MAIDEN & SPELL

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 389 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
MAIDEN & SPELL Game Cover
Starting at €10.79Buy now
Get on Steam Get on itch.io Store

"Maiden & Spell" is a pixel art bullet hell game where the player controls a magical girl fighting against evil beings. The game features a variety of enemies, boss battles, and spells to master. With its hand-drawn animations and catchy soundtrack, "Maiden & Spell" offers a charming and challenging experience for fans of the genre.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 389 reviews
story44 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • Charming art style and cute characters that enhance the overall experience.
  • Engaging gameplay that combines bullet hell mechanics with fighting game elements, making it accessible yet challenging.
  • Excellent netcode allows for smooth online multiplayer, making matches enjoyable even with players from different regions.
  • The single-player story mode is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • Finding online matches can be difficult due to a smaller player base, especially for new players.
  • Some character balancing issues exist, with certain characters feeling overpowered or underwhelming in comparison to others.
  • story105 mentions

    The game's story is described as cute and charming, featuring light-hearted character interactions and a whimsical narrative that draws players in. While the main story mode is relatively short and simple, it effectively showcases unique character arcs and engaging gameplay mechanics, making it enjoyable for both casual and hardcore players. Overall, the story serves as a delightful complement to the bullet hell gameplay, with many reviewers appreciating its art style and humor reminiscent of the Touhou series.

    • “The story is really cute, and I adore every character in this game.”
    • “It's a wonderfully charming game with cute characters, lovely music, and a nice story.”
    • “The story mode itself feels like a love letter to the Touhou project, and indeed veterans of the series will notice a good number of cute little references to the series.”
    • “Unfortunately, the main story stages feel extremely forgettable in comparison.”
    • “The only story elements that don't fit those two things are cool (like the explanations of some of the characters' powers) or just serve as context for the fights.”
    • “The story is okay even if this element in particular isn't a strong point for shmups; multiplayer works fine, characters are unique and interesting to play, and the soundtrack is nice.”
  • gameplay86 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its fun and engaging mechanics, blending bullet hell and fighting game elements with a charming aesthetic and diverse characters. Players can enjoy a mix of strategic depth and frenetic action, with varying difficulty levels that cater to both casual and competitive play. While some aspects may feel unbalanced or simplistic, the overall experience is rewarding and encourages replayability, especially in multiplayer modes.

    • “The gameplay is fast and frenetic yet strategic, driven by reflex, spatial awareness, and an understanding of matchups and some rock-paper-scissors mechanics.”
    • “An amazing game with a nice story, lovely characters, and very entertaining gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is simple, but deep; the way each character can combine their different projectiles leads to fast, strategic play where you work your opponent into a corner, managing your cooldowns and using your bullets to limit their maneuverability.”
    • “Buy for story mode, but get on sale because there isn't a whole lot here in terms of gameplay.”
    • “It just felt like I was pressing buttons and dodging stuff, no interesting mechanics to really make you think about the game, and everything's so telegraphed that there's little to no mind games that I could find.”
    • “The battle mechanics are quite confusing at first, but eventually you get used to them!”
  • music74 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and suitability, enhancing the overall experience with catchy and well-composed tracks that fit the game's aesthetic and various stages. While some comparisons to the Touhou series highlight its strengths, others note that it may not reach the same iconic status. Overall, the soundtrack is described as engaging, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and atmosphere.

    • “The music's great, the visual presentation is eminently charming, the dialogue is funny yet still earnest when it needs to be.”
    • “The soundtrack is so elegant and it fits the game's aesthetic perfectly!”
    • “The music is amazing and the art is very cute.”
    • “Soundtrack-wise it works... though having to be compared to the likes of Touhou means it never stood a ghost of a chance of being the best in that category.”
    • “My only real problem with it is that two of the characters (the lich and the wolf, the former particularly) seem kinda eh and for a game that is obviously Touhou inspired, the music is somewhat lackluster, but that's fine.”
    • “For criticisms, more variation in music and maps (and map size?) would be something I'd have liked to see, but they are minor issues.”
  • graphics67 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cute art style, which features clean character designs and vibrant backgrounds that enhance the overall aesthetic. Many reviewers highlight the game's whimsical, fairy tale-like visuals and the effective integration of music, creating an immersive experience that complements the gameplay. Overall, the graphics are described as polished, functional, and reminiscent of the Touhou franchise, making them a standout aspect of the game.

    • “The art style is delightfully adorable, the hand-drawn characters look especially cute against the Touhou-esque scrolling 3D backgrounds.”
    • “Great bullet hell game that, despite taking inspiration from the Touhou franchise, manages to remain original by bringing a stunning art style, great soundtracks, and memorable boss battles.”
    • “The visuals and music are incredibly good, and really tie everything together.”
    • “One criticism I do have for Maiden & Spell is that the devs should've added more cut scenes because I do want to see more interactions between the characters and more of the art style through the cut scenes.”
    • “Though smaller in scope than those games and mechanically somewhat simpler, Maiden and Spell far outpaces them aesthetically.”
    • “It's a whimsical fantasy world with simple character sprites of a fitting cutesy art style with scrolling/moving 3D backgrounds - very Touhou-inspired, but more skillfully executed.”
  • humor11 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by charming dialogue, quirky character interactions, and a lighthearted tone that balances earnest moments with comedic elements. Players appreciate the funny formats of tournaments and the game's ability to evoke laughter while also providing engaging gameplay. Overall, the combination of adorable art, witty writing, and humorous storytelling contributes to a delightful and entertaining experience.

    • “The music's great, the visual presentation is eminently charming, the dialogue is funny yet still earnest when it needs to be.”
    • “Beautiful art, brilliantly funny and touching stories, killer gameplay!”
    • “The story is pretty simple, but satisfying, though it's the character interactions and funny dialogue that takes more focus here.”
  • replayability11 mentions

    Overall, the game offers a solid level of replayability, particularly through its engaging PvP mode and various challenges in the story mode. Players who enjoy tackling difficult challenges and achieving high scores will find ample content to revisit, while those less inclined towards such gameplay may find the replay value diminished. The charming characters and accessible mechanics further enhance the game's appeal for repeated playthroughs.

    • “I can't tell how, but I'm winning. 10/10 worth the price, short game but with decent replayability and lovely characters.”
    • “Maiden & Spell is fun, easy to pick up, and relaxing to play, with a good amount of replay value.”
    • “So even when the PvP aspect of the game is the main attraction and has the most replayability, the story mode and extras offer you a lot of hours of replayability as well if you care about things like beating the hardest difficulties, getting 1cc's or perfect runs, having high scores, etc., like any other bullet hell/shmup game.”
    • “Replayability might be pretty low though.”
    • “This limits the replayability of the game's single player mode.”
    • “You lose replayability if you don't enjoy challenges.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Character development in the game is primarily reflected through its appealing and unique character designs, which feature a cute and functional art style that enhances the overall aesthetic. While the story is described as light and not deeply engaging, the characters themselves stand out with distinct identities, particularly noted in the design of the sun priestess. Overall, the character designs are well-received, contributing positively to the game's charm and identity.

    • “Also, the character design is on point, which is of utmost importance for both fighting games and bullet hell games.”
    • “Character designs are fairly unique, but definitely fit in the category of 'girls in dresses shooting lasers', but manages to have its own identity.”
    • “I really love the character design, especially the sun priestess, and am excited for more alternate costumes or even characters sometime down the line.”
    • “The story is cute and nothing extreme, although I felt it didn't really tell a story but sort of just nodded to one.”
    • “Character designs are fairly unique, but definitely fit in the category of 'girls in dresses shooting lasers', yet manage to have their own identity.”
    • “It's related to monster girl's character design.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally impactful, highlighting its beautiful art and touching narratives that evoke strong feelings, including moments that can bring players to tears. The combination of humor and heartfelt storytelling enhances the overall emotional experience, making it a memorable and engaging title.

    • “Beautiful art, brilliantly funny and touching stories, killer gameplay!”
    • “If I'm honest, one of the story missions even made me cry.”
    • “Cute and wholesome fighting game”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players appreciate the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it offers a challenging experience for all skill levels. The game's new format and simple controls allow newcomers to engage without feeling overwhelmed, making it easier to improve without excessive grinding.

    • “However, if you are looking for that teeth-grinding mania, it sure is there, providing players of all skill levels something to try out.”
    • “Even if you do not have any fighting game or bullet hell skills, the newness of the format and the simplicity of the controls should make it easy to catch up rather than grinding out getting trashed.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is praised for creating a relaxed and enjoyable mood, making it ideal for a laid-back gaming experience.

    • “The atmosphere really sets the mood for a chill gaming session.”
    • “The immersive environment draws you in and makes you feel part of the world.”
    • “The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the visuals, creating an unforgettable experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy MAIDEN & SPELL

Videos

Similar Games

Game News