Spellweaver
- February 1, 2016
- Dream Reactor
- 10h median play time
Spellweaver is a free TCG that will feel familiar to fans of Magic or Hearthstone, but brings its own surprises to the table.
Get on SteamSpellweaver is a fast-paced and strategically deep digital card game, offering both single-player and massively multiplayer experiences. It features unique mechanics such as hero development and a combat system with a creature speed mechanic. With quick games and a huge number of combinations, Spellweaver promises endless hours of fun for both new and veteran card game players.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Innovative mechanics such as creature speed and dual resource management enhance strategic depth.
- Generous free-to-play model allows players to earn cards and resources without spending money.
- Beautiful artwork and engaging gameplay create an enjoyable experience for card game enthusiasts.
- Steep learning curve may deter new players unfamiliar with complex card games.
- Limited player base can lead to long matchmaking times and repetitive matchups.
- Some balancing issues exist, with certain factions or cards being perceived as overpowered.
- gameplay329 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this card game is characterized by a blend of familiar mechanics from titles like Magic: The Gathering and Hearthstone, enhanced by unique features such as a speed mechanic and a dual resource system that mitigate common issues like mana screw. While the game offers strategic depth and a variety of deck-building options, players note a steep learning curve due to insufficient tutorials and some mechanics that are not clearly explained. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its balance and complexity, making it appealing to both casual and competitive players, though some find it can become repetitive over time.
“The speed mechanic especially brings a lot of depth to the gameplay, and it keeps big monsters in check.”
“Gameplay is very good and strategically deep, with a large variety of mechanics to play around with.”
“Spellweaver is a card game that utilizes the good and fun mechanics from Magic: The Gathering and Hearthstone.”
“The actual mechanics are a mix of MTG and the new wave of digital CCGs that make this game so unenjoyable to play.”
“I was hoping that this game would be as fun as Magic: The Gathering, but sadly it is actually a lot like Might and Magic: Duel of Champions, with a steep learning curve, poor gameplay interface, and shamelessly plugging micro-transactions.”
“The speed mechanic is confusing at first, but keep at it.”
- story141 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is primarily conveyed through a generous quest system that rewards players with cards, gold, and other resources, allowing for significant deck building without the need for monetary investment. Players appreciate the variety of quests available, which can be completed against AI, although some quests can feel overly grindy or frustrating due to challenging AI opponents. Overall, the questing experience is seen as a strong point, providing a steady stream of rewards and opportunities for progression in a free-to-play model.
“The quest and rewards system is very generous for a free-to-play game; if you are an average player, you can expect to build some very competitive decks within a few days of simple questing.”
“The game features multiple quest sites per unlocked aspect that reward gold, packs, or cards, making it easy to progress and build your collection.”
“The quest system gives grinders a never-ending series of fun, short-term goals to shoot for as you build your collection and power over time.”
“The story and goals did become a similar burden.”
“There are also certain specific quests where you have to beat AI with an extremely ridiculous advantage where you can get a perfect first hand, play perfectly and still get roflstomped no matter what, and it becomes apparent the only way to win is by using incredibly cheap combos that you will only be able to achieve by building up your collection.”
“Even if you get some of the quest sites unlocked, the time requirements are a bit... intense.”
- graphics70 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful artwork and art style while criticizing the overall graphical quality as mediocre or basic. While some players appreciate the polished visuals and clean interface, others feel that the graphics lack depth and creativity, often comparing them unfavorably to other titles in the genre. Overall, the game's visuals are seen as a strong point, but they do not elevate the gameplay experience significantly.
“The artwork is beautiful, and the graphics and sound are well put together.”
“The graphics are good, and the art style is simply superb; each new card expansion proves the quality in this area continues to improve.”
“The visuals are lovely, and the art style is very well done!”
“A generally mediocre game with rather weak graphics.”
“The graphics are a bit bare bones, the effects cards make are nothing special, and there's only one battlefield, but it's fine.”
“If you care about graphics/polish over gameplay, then you should not play this game.”
- grinding33 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it excessively tedious and time-consuming, others appreciate the flexibility it offers, allowing for progress without mandatory PvP. Many agree that while collecting cards can be grind-heavy, the game provides generous rewards and opportunities to earn cards without spending money, making it less grindy compared to other free-to-play collectible card games. However, new players may feel overwhelmed by the initial grind and the high costs associated with acquiring competitive decks.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Grinding out a decent deck isn't reasonable.”
“With their first expansion, they made it impossible for new players to get alternative heroes before months of grinding or spending cash.”
“Unless you want to spend hours grinding battles, or throw real money into this game, don't bother even trying to play it.”
- music16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the music in the game receives positive feedback, with many users praising its quality and ability to enhance the gaming experience. While some find certain sound effects annoying, the soundtrack is often described as nostalgic, relaxing, and enjoyable enough to listen to even outside of gameplay. The combination of great artwork and music contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“The music is fantastic; I even let it continue playing while I had the game minimized, doing internet browsing and writing this review.”
“One thing can be said though, and that is this: even if you don't end up liking the game, the in-game music would almost make it worth it anyway!”
“The soundtrack is pretty cool too!”
“Let me turn the music off!”
“Music: 1/5”
“The constant clanging whenever you enter combat grates on my nerves a bit.”
- monetization11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 45 % negative mentions
The monetization in "Spellweaver" has received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing it as a pay-to-win (P2W) model due to expensive DLC, while others appreciate the game's free-to-play (F2P) structure that allows for enjoyment without mandatory purchases. Many users noted that, despite the presence of microtransactions, it is possible to fully engage with the game without spending real money, suggesting a balanced approach to monetization. Overall, while some see it as a cash grab, others find the optional purchases reasonable and non-intrusive.
“I haven't made a single in-game purchase with real money yet.”
“Gameplay is very well-balanced, and while I'm not usually in favor of microtransactions using real-world currency to purchase in-game currency/items, I see that it is very possible to obtain all the decks and enjoy every aspect of the game without purchasing crystals, the in-game currency.”
“Most of the rewards are decent enough that the microtransactions don't feel forced.”
“Spellweaver is yet another Hearthstone/Magic: The Gathering ripoff, a pay-to-win deck builder game. While it looks like they've eschewed the mobile app cash shop for this cash grab, it is infested with an eye-wateringly expensive set of pay-to-win DLC.”
“Remove all the monetization from the game: almost nobody is buying DLC nor in-game currencies anyway, and making the game fully and truly free-to-play could give it an attention boost.”
“The initial impression was that this was trying to be a pay-to-win collectible card game cash grab, but after a few hours, I can honestly say that it's pretty entertaining.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some players find it enjoyable despite these issues, many express frustration over the developers' apparent focus on monetization rather than addressing stability concerns. Overall, the game is seen as a buggy alternative to other card games, with ongoing server issues and a lack of support for players seeking a smoother experience.
“It's also quite buggy.”
“If you're looking for a card game that is fun, challenging, and free of bugs and glitches, then this game is not for you.”
“But at the end of the day, these developers are not concerned with glitches and bugs; rather, they just want your money, which seems to have become the norm for free-to-play titles.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in Spellweaver is described as simple yet engaging, avoiding banality while enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Players appreciate that the game remains entertaining even in defeat, contributing to its charm and potential for enjoyment.
“The good thing about Spellweaver is that gameplay is deep, interesting, funny, customizable, and the random component is really low.”
“It's simple and funny but not banal and boring.”
“A really good thing about this game is that even when you lose, it’s still a funny game and pretty, but even more importantly, you can receive a pretty good reward.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by beautiful presentation and excellent card designs, creating a relaxing and enjoyable experience for players. Each card features a unique aesthetic that contributes to a distinctive universe and epic narrative, enhancing the overall immersion.
“Beautiful presentation and excellent card designs; the game has a relaxing atmosphere and is a pleasure to play because of this.”
“Maybe I should say a few words about the art as well - all the cards have a unique atmosphere, distinctive and unique for the game, with its own universe and epic story.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game experiences notable server issues that can disrupt gameplay, but when functioning properly, it offers an enjoyable experience. Overall, optimization appears to be inconsistent, affecting the overall performance.
“There are obvious server issues, but when everything runs smoothly, it's a treat to play.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game enjoyable and replayable despite a limited card collection, as there are still numerous viable and fun decks to explore, particularly for free-to-play users.
“Even with the lack of cards currently, there are enough decks that are playable and fun, which is quite nice for a start. It will still take you a couple of months to get your full collection as a free-to-play player.”
