Spells & Secrets
- September 27, 2023
- rokaplay
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Spells & Secrets" is a rogue-lite game with a focus on local co-op play, where you explore a magical academy and use spells creatively to battle creatures and solve puzzles. Customize your character's appearance and abilities as you uncover powerful artifacts and unravel the mysteries of the academy. Note that there is no online co-op mode. * Rogue-lite game with local co-op play * Creative spell usage for combat and puzzle-solving * Customizable character appearance and abilities
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 5
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a charming art style and engaging spell mechanics that allow for creative combat and puzzle-solving.
- Co-op mode enhances the experience, making it fun to play with friends and explore the game's mechanics together.
- The game offers a good balance of challenge and accessibility, making it suitable for both newcomers to the roguelike genre and experienced players.
- The game can feel repetitive after a few runs due to limited enemy and puzzle variety, which may lead to a lack of long-term engagement.
- Technical issues such as bugs and crashes can disrupt gameplay, particularly in co-op mode, affecting the overall experience.
- The game lacks online multiplayer options, limiting co-op play to local or remote play, which may disappoint players looking for a more flexible multiplayer experience.
- gameplay45 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of spellcasting and puzzle-solving, reminiscent of titles like Magicka and The Binding of Isaac, offering a variety of spells and mechanics that encourage creativity. While the core mechanics are engaging and the art style is charming, some players find the controls unresponsive and the gameplay loop repetitive, with a desire for more enemy variety and content. Overall, it presents a fun, cozy roguelike experience, though it may feel grindy and lacks depth in certain areas.
“You get a nice selection of spells and very simple mechanics to defeat enemies and solve the puzzles on each floor.”
“Being able to manipulate objects and other parts of the environment is amazing, and it makes it so that the core gameplay mechanics never get dull.”
“The gameplay is fantastic with lots of spells, potions, and other unlockables.”
“After 10 hours of gameplay, I had no motivation to play any more.”
“The mechanics and controls are not tight or responsive enough for the gameplay type, and the trappings around the lackluster mechanical core did not compensate sufficiently to bring me back after my first foray into the game.”
“Update in 2025 after having played significantly more than at the time of the review: while I still agree with my previous opinion as it is a very cute game, the gameplay loop is grueling, frustrating, and unforgiving, especially when it comes to health management.”
- story33 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the character interactions and lore, while others find it lacking depth and originality, often feeling like a backdrop to the gameplay. Many users noted that the narrative could benefit from more quests and character development, as well as a more engaging progression throughout the game. Overall, while the story is enjoyable for some, it tends to be overshadowed by the dungeon-crawling mechanics and repetitive gameplay.
“The story is great, and I like how each rescued classmate actually appears in the courtyard so you can talk to them.”
“A nice story and intuitive combat system make this roguelike a fun-filled romp through a magic castle.”
“The story also unfolds as you play, with little bits of info strewn around the various areas you'll encounter.”
“The story starts out of nowhere; you don't even experience the school before being thrown to the wolves on your own.”
“It's more of a dungeon crawler than a story-based game.”
“And second, there are loads of people to see, yet no one has any voice lines; it's just text boxes, and there is a lot of reading. Thirdly, it's the most generic story: you start school, that night a tower blows up, it's the work of a dark person, we are the only ones who can stop them, get XP, get stronger, a bunch of filler, stop the bad guy, the end.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and vibrant art style, which contributes to a unique and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. Players appreciate the cute visuals, detailed character customization, and the overall composition of the graphics, although some find the gameplay to be somewhat simplistic. Overall, the game's art direction is considered a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience.
“The graphics are beautiful and well composed.”
“The art style of both the characters as well as the environment gives this game its own unique atmosphere and it's really wonderful to look at.”
“The graphics and character customization are super cute and familiar for a cozy game audience, and the simple gameplay is super helpful since this is a genre that's known for its difficulty.”
“Looks fun, graphics are cute, but incredibly boring.”
“I've encountered the odd bug here and there, but all graphic hiccups, nothing gamebreaking in any way.”
“The graphics are so sweet.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overly tedious and lacking excitement, often feeling like a mindless chore rather than an engaging experience. While some enjoy the initial hours of gameplay, many express frustration with the slow pace of progress and the repetitive nature of grinding for items and achievements, suggesting that it detracts from overall enjoyment. The absence of checkpoints in randomized dungeons further exacerbates the grind, making long-term engagement feel less rewarding.
“But... I'd love something more to do than just grinding blindly to get all the items and achievements (and I'm usually all in on maxing out games, almost obsessively).”
“I really wanted to get more into this game but any long-term progress is so slow and grindy, but not in a fun way.”
“To sum up, I enjoyed my first 10-15 hours, grinding without excitement on autopilot through the rest.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting minor visual glitches and bugs, particularly with clothing clipping and a problematic targeting system. However, others have noted a lack of major bugs during their playthroughs, highlighting a generally stable experience. Issues with freezing during remote play have also been mentioned, indicating room for improvement in online functionality.
“There are some visual glitches involving soft bodies (e.g. most clothing, especially skirts), mostly clipping through other clothing.”
“If your partner accidentally levitates you, which is very easy to do due to the buggy targeting system, you are left to just stand there until they move you or the time on the ability runs out.”
“The game freezes every time I use remote play with a friend; hope the developers add online multiplayer.”
- music5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and fitting ambiance, enhancing the overall aesthetic alongside the graphics and story. Reviewers note that the soundtrack is enjoyable and relaxing, complementing the gameplay experience, and evokes a whimsical, Harry Potter-like atmosphere.
“The music fits the game so well, and it's so fun to listen to.”
“The art style is cute and the soundtrack fits the ambience very well.”
“The music is chill and rather relaxing considering you're running around blasting things with magic all the time.”
“The setting, music, and style is very much Harry Potter, but in an enjoyably generic way that might even be appealing for those who felt uncomfortable supporting Hogwarts Legacy.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players generally find the game highly replayable, particularly for fans of collectathons and roguelites, as it offers challenges and the motivation to achieve 100% completion. The randomness of elements like spell enhancements adds to the replay value, ensuring that each playthrough can feel fresh and engaging. Overall, many users express a desire to revisit the game even after completing the main story.
“I think it's a really good game if you like collectathons and replayability. The ability to just go through and try to get everything is a challenge, but the simplicity of the game doesn't make me want to quit; it makes me want to 100% the game even more!”
“If you are a hardcore action roguelite fan, you might get the nooks and crannies early and think of it as easy, but the game has some sustenance and good replayability.”
“I don't know how much replayability to expect as I approach story completion, but I've enjoyed the time spent and would probably do another playthrough in the future.”
“The randomness adds a lot of replayability, since you never know which spells will be enhanced by the artifacts.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it amusing and lighthearted, though some note that it lacks challenge. Comparisons to titles like Magicka and Nine Parchments highlight its comedic elements without being overly punishing or frustrating. Overall, the humor adds an enjoyable layer to the gameplay experience.
“I've beaten her a few times that way, and it's always funny.”
“It's funny, sure, but not very challenging.”
“It has some elements of Magicka or Nine Parchments without being overly punishing or frustrating—just enough to be funny.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's unique art style creates a visually stunning and cozy atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience despite the challenging gameplay. It effectively combines elements of magic and rogue-lite mechanics, making it a recommended choice for fans of these genres.
“The art style of both the characters and the environment gives this game its own unique atmosphere, and it's really wonderful to look at.”
“If you're looking for a game with a cozy atmosphere, love wizards and magic, unique combat elements, and need to add a good rogue-lite to your library, I'd highly recommend Spells & Secrets.”
“The atmosphere is cozy for sure, but the gameplay can be tough.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is criticized as a cash grab, suggesting a lack of genuine support from the developers, who seem to rely on a Harry Potter-inspired aesthetic to attract players. However, despite these concerns, many users find the game enjoyable and fun to play.
“This game is a cash grab with no real support.”
“It kinda feels like the devs didn't have faith in the game, so they made the style a Harry Potter rip-off as sort of a cash grab - but like, the game is actually pretty dang good and a lot of fun.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
"Spells & Secrets" is praised for its cute and wholesome atmosphere, offering a forgiving gameplay experience that minimizes frustration from mistakes. The emotional tone is enhanced by its charming design, making it accessible and enjoyable for players seeking a lighthearted roguelike experience.
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is generally well-received, with solid character design noted, though some users find the walk cycle to be somewhat odd. Overall, this minor issue is seen as a minor drawback in the context of the game's overall quality.
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices feel impactful and personal.”
“The depth of each character's backstory adds layers to the gameplay, making every interaction meaningful.”
