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Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege

If you miss biting your NES controller in anger, have I got a game for you.
Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege Game Cover
88%Game Brain Score
music, gameplay
optimization
95% User Score Based on 66 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStationNintendo Switch 2
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Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege Game Cover

About

Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege is a single player and multiplayer arcade hack and slash game with horror, fantasy, medieval, historical and others themes. It was developed by Lillymo Games and was released on April 19, 2026. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Saint Slayer is an NES-style 2D action game, featuring loads of stages, enemies, and gore set against the backdrop of late-17th century Europe. Play as the ex-soldier Rudiger and wield the Spear of Sacrilege as you save the Holy Roman Empire from the corrupt Catholic priest Father Pacer.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege screenshot
Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege screenshot
Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege screenshot
Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege screenshot
Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege screenshot
Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege screenshot
Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege screenshot
Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege screenshot
Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege screenshot
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95%
Audience ScoreBased on 66 reviews
music21 positive mentions
optimization1 negative mentions
  • Authentic and well-crafted homage to NES-era Castlevania and similar classic platformers with excellent pixel art and animations.
  • Outstanding soundtrack that perfectly complements the game's atmosphere and retro aesthetic.
  • Challenging but rewarding gameplay with tight controls, diverse level design, creative boss fights, and a helpful password system that reduces frustration.
  • Intentionally stiff and slow controls can feel frustrating and unresponsive, making the challenge sometimes feel like fighting the game rather than enemies.
  • Difficulty level and knockback mechanics may be too punishing for players not accustomed to old-school NES platformers, potentially limiting appeal.
  • Some stages feature cheap or frustrating traps and long levels without mid-level checkpoints, which can lead to aggravation.
  • music
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's music receives widespread praise for its fantastic, infectious, and haunting soundtrack that perfectly complements the retro pixel art and overall atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, with memorable compositions that enhance gameplay and create an engaging "urban mystic" vibe. Many consider the music one of the best aspects of the game, rating it highly alongside the game's visuals and gameplay.

    • “The soundtrack is great!”
    • “The music is infectious and creates an engaging atmosphere along with the beautiful graphics.”
    • “Soundtrack: the music is fantastic and perfectly complements the "urban mystic" energy the game aims for.”
  • gameplay
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay offers a challenging, old-school experience with deliberate, weighty mechanics reminiscent of classic NES titles, complemented by creative boss fights and a satisfying upgrade system. While some find the mechanics archaic and stiff, many appreciate the addictive, rewarding nature of the gameplay enhanced by a great soundtrack and well-paced level design. The option to adjust difficulty helps make the game accessible to a wider range of players.

    • “Levels are fun, the soundtrack is great, and they introduce new mechanics at a satisfying pace.”
    • “It provides a solid challenge, with enough of an upgrade system to keep the gameplay interesting.”
    • “Beautiful pixel art, brutal difficulty, rewarding gameplay and some really creative boss design.”
    • “First I enjoyed the pixel graphics, animations, and music, but the gameplay is archaic.”
    • “The game aims for a hyper-authentic NES feel, but it inherits the stiff responsiveness and 'heavy' jump mechanics of that era.”
    • “There really could have been some in-game lore to explain some of the game mechanics.”
  • graphics
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics are praised for their excellent, nostalgic pixel art that perfectly captures the NES-era aesthetic, with crisp and detailed visuals that enhance the overall atmosphere. Users highlight the beautiful animations and immersive setting, consistently rating the graphics as top-tier and integral to the game's vibe.

    • “A near perfect homage to NES adventure games with top tier writing and crispy, chunky visuals.”
    • “Absolutely nails the NES-era Castlevania/Ghosts 'n Goblins aesthetic.”
    • “The music is infectious and creates an engaging atmosphere along with the beautiful graphics.”
  • story
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is praised for its engaging retro-inspired setting and multiple endings, offering depth for players to explore. The writing is concise, improved over previous games, and includes humor and Easter eggs without being overly spoiler-heavy. Overall, it effectively balances challenge and narrative to enhance the gameplay experience.

    • “Very good retro game, challenging and fun with a good OST and base storyline.”
    • “Great setting and story so far (I'm on stage 9).”
    • “I can tell the writer tightened up the writing, keeping the dialogue short and sweet, while still explaining the story well with a bit of humor and some easter eggs.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its intentional writing, immersive vibe, and engaging music that complements the beautiful graphics. While it may not be suited for extended play sessions, players appreciate its ability to create a captivating and memorable environment.

    • “Aesthetic and atmosphere: the vibe is immaculate.”
    • “The music is infectious and creates an engaging atmosphere along with the beautiful graphics.”
    • “It's not a game I would sit down and play for hours on end, but it is a game I will chip away at; it has atmosphere, the writing is intentional, and the bosses are great.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's humor is praised for its old-school charm and clever writing, featuring funny characters and lighthearted elements like amusing death visuals. The dialogue is concise yet engaging, blending story and humor effectively with entertaining easter eggs.

    • “Fun old school style game, incredible soundtrack, hilarious co-op.”
    • “It really takes the edge off of dying when you get to see a funny little rotten Rudiger, or a floating hat, or some bones in all the spots you died.”
    • “I can tell he tightened up the writing, keeping the dialogue short and sweet, while still explaining the story well with a bit of humor and some easter eggs.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers strong replayability through secrets, collectibles, and various unlocks, as well as multiple challenges and difficulty levels that keep players engaged.

    • “There are also secrets and collectibles that add to its replayability.”
    • “Lots of replay value with unlocks, challenges, and difficulties.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization is lacking fluidity, making gameplay feel less smooth and more like compensating for unresponsive inputs rather than mastering a skill. It feels outdated compared to modern indie standards.

    • “It reminds me of the original NES Tetris; playable, certainly, but lacking the fluidity we’ve come to expect from modern indie 'love letters.' Instead of feeling like I was mastering a skill, it felt like I was compensating for unoptimized inputs.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is appreciated through strong character design, contributing positively to the overall experience.

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75%Critics’ scoreBased on 5 critic reviews
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15h Median play time
15h Average play time
15-15h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege Released

April 20 on bluesnews.com

Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege releases an updated demo in time for Steam Next Fest and locks in a April 20th release date

February 24 on gaming-age.com
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Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege is a arcade hack and slash game with horror, fantasy, medieval, historical and others themes.

Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 15 hours playing Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege.

Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege was released on April 19, 2026.

Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege was developed by Lillymo Games.

Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege for its music but disliked it for its optimization.

Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Shovel Knight, Odallus: The Dark Call, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, Primal Light, Cursed Castilla and others.