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Spiral Knights

Spiral Knights is fast, accessible and fun until the spiteful pricing system pops up to punch you in the face.
77%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, monetization
83% User Score Based on 14,563 reviews
Critic Score 51%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSPCPCWindowsWindowsLinuxLinux
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About

"Spiral Knights" is a free-to-play online action RPG where players explore the mysterious clockwork world of Corkus. Players control customizable knights, battling enemies and solving puzzles in real-time combat. The game features cooperative play, crafting, and a variety of weapons and gear to collect.

Genres & Tags
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Spiral Knights screenshot
Spiral Knights screenshot
Spiral Knights screenshot
Spiral Knights screenshot
Spiral Knights screenshot
Spiral Knights screenshot
Spiral Knights screenshot
Spiral Knights screenshot
Spiral Knights screenshot
Spiral Knights screenshot
Spiral Knights screenshot
+10

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 14,564 reviews
story376 positive mentions
grinding1k negative mentions
  • Spiral Knights features engaging cooperative dungeon-crawling mechanics with simple controls and a charming art style, making it enjoyable, especially when played with friends.
  • The music and atmosphere are widely praised for their nostalgic qualities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience and creating a cozy vibe.
  • The character design is charming, and the game offers a unique top-down dungeon crawler experience with colorful graphics and fun, fast-paced combat.
  • The game suffers from excessive grinding and a pay-to-win model, which can make progression tedious and frustrating for many players.
  • Many players feel the game lacks meaningful updates and content expansion, leading to a stale experience after the initial playthrough.
  • The optimization and stability issues, including bugs and crashes, significantly hinder the gameplay experience, making it difficult to recommend without caution.
  • story
    1,691 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Spiral Knights" is described as charming yet incomplete, with many players expressing disappointment over its abrupt ending and lack of updates. While the initial missions provide an engaging narrative and a whimsical setting, the grind for gear and resources becomes a significant barrier to progression, often overshadowing the storyline. Overall, the game offers a fun experience with a light-hearted plot, but many players feel it lacks depth and resolution, leaving them wanting more content and a satisfying conclusion to the story.

    • “The story is engaging, and the overall design is on point.”
    • “The story itself is pretty good, although I'm very sad it's abruptly cut off due to the cessation of development.”
    • “The main story missions expand upon this narrative line quite well, and kept me always wanting to move onto the next mission to get more of the story.”
    • “The story is as simple as it can get.”
    • “The story hasn't been updated in years, and most likely will never be finished.”
    • “The missions are rather dull and it doesn't have as many action as you would like.”
  • gameplay
    1,193 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Spiral Knights is characterized by its engaging, cooperative dungeon-crawling mechanics reminiscent of classic Zelda games, featuring simple controls and a variety of weapons. While many players appreciate the nostalgic art style and the fun, fast-paced combat, the experience can become repetitive and grind-heavy, particularly due to the game's reliance on a pay-to-win model and limited free playtime. Overall, the game offers a charming and enjoyable experience, especially when played with friends, but suffers from a lack of meaningful updates and content expansion.

    • “The gameplay is fun and simple to grasp, yet gets complex and engaging at later levels.”
    • “Spiral Knights offers a unique top-down dungeon crawler experience with its colorful graphics and cooperative gameplay.”
    • “The core gameplay is casual but also fun and addictive.”
    • “After a while, gameplay may feel rather stale.”
    • “The first such flaw is the gameplay itself, which is unlikely to seem long-lasting to you; moreover, it may seem unimaginably boring to many, because the whole essence of the game boils down to the most ordinary grind, without any interesting game solutions.”
    • “The gameplay is linear, and once players complete 100%, what they have left is the PvP to occupy them.”
  • grinding
    1,048 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of "Spiral Knights" is a significant point of contention among players, with many noting that it becomes excessively tedious, especially after reaching higher gear tiers (4-5 stars). While some players find enjoyment in the grind, appreciating the game's cooperative elements and random dungeon layouts, others criticize it for being overly reliant on repetitive tasks and microtransactions to progress. Overall, the game is described as fun but heavily grind-oriented, making it less appealing for those who dislike grinding or are looking for a more casual experience.

    • “Another major plus is that it requires no grinding/farming to achieve the highest level, and even once you have the best gear and have completed all of the regular missions, there's still so much you can do.”
    • “It isn't really grindy at the start and the tutorial is understandable.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “The game is very grindy, and with a tiny player base, it's not really worth getting into.”
    • “I'm not recommending this game because in order to get the full experience you'll need to do an absolutely repulsive amount of grinding (or spend money), which isn't worth it anymore when the in-game population is practically barren.”
    • “The amount of grinding required for any sort of progression becomes absolutely unreasonable.”
  • graphics
    892 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Spiral Knights are widely praised for their charming, colorful, and cartoonish art style, which many players find appealing and fitting for the game's lighthearted tone. Despite being an older title, the visuals have aged well, maintaining a unique aesthetic that stands out in the genre. While some critiques mention the graphics as simplistic or dated, the overall consensus is that they contribute positively to the game's nostalgic and enjoyable experience.

    • “I've never seen another game like Spiral Knights -- it's great for multiplayer, it's got charming enemies and graphics, and a unique style you just don't see anywhere else.”
    • “The graphics are incredible and the art style is super unique.”
    • “The graphics are cute and the game play is co-op and party based.”
    • “The graphics are definitely average, but depending on the person's likeability, it can fluctuate.”
    • “The graphics here are peculiar, somewhat similar to anime, but this, nevertheless, is something different!”
    • “The graphics may not be everyone's cup of tea, but to me, they go amazing with the game.”
  • music
    495 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its nostalgic and charming qualities, with many players highlighting its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Composed by Harry Mack, the soundtrack features a mix of catchy, retro-inspired tunes that resonate with players, often evoking fond memories and a sense of comfort. Overall, the music is described as a standout element, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and immersive qualities.

    • “The music hits hard.”
    • “Nostalgia as hell and the music is a banger.”
    • “The soundtrack is fantastic, and its art style is incredible as well.”
    • “At times it’s more background noise and ambience than proper music.”
    • “They clearly didn't spend the microtransaction money on improving the stock sounds or expanding the soundtrack to be more than a minute long.”
    • “Music quickly gets very repetitive and so widely advertised 'changing environments/levels' are pretty much a lie - there are few presets into rotation, you can learn the maps, very, very quickly.”
  • monetization
    141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players describing it as aggressive and predatory, heavily reliant on microtransactions that often hinder gameplay progression. While some players find enjoyment in the game despite these issues, the overwhelming sentiment is that the monetization system detracts from the overall experience, with frequent cash grabs and a lack of meaningful content updates. Overall, the game is seen as a fun experience marred by excessive grinding and a monetization strategy that prioritizes profit over player satisfaction.

    • “Microtransactions are there, but you don't feel like you have to spend any money to get the full experience anymore.”
    • “A nice little MMO that has a nice balance between the in-game purchases you make with money or crowns.”
    • “The sea of microtransactions, the gear upgrading system seemingly being tailored to force you into spending money, the energy system, and the abandonment of this game by the developers save for recycling cosmetics.”
    • “The biggest change is you used to be able to revive a downed knight by standing over them and giving them half your health to revive them; they have since replaced this system for a cash grabbing system called sparks of life you can only revive yourself or others using sparks of life you have to pay real money for.”
    • “The game has in-game purchases for cosmetics, which is entirely acceptable to me up to and until it becomes the solitary focus.”
  • humor
    131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players enjoying its quirky characters, funny sound effects, and lighthearted atmosphere. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to create amusing moments through gameplay glitches and cooperative interactions, making it a fun experience for friends. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's charm, making it a delightful choice for those seeking a lighthearted gaming experience.

    • “Nevertheless, if you do not perceive Spiral Knights as a serious MMO (which it is not), then its visual style, unobtrusive gameplay, and funny atmosphere will be able to brighten up a lot of your time, especially since the game is free and undemanding to hardware.”
    • “The missions and so are more tolerable with a fun group, as the dulling world can take on a new sense of rejuvenation with good talks, funny dialogue, and crazy moments.”
    • “Awesome, colorful, funny game.”
  • atmosphere
    69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming art style, soothing music, and overall cozy vibe, creating a nostalgic and inviting experience for players. Many reviews highlight the unique and vibrant environments that enhance gameplay, making it enjoyable both solo and with friends. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and server issues, the game's atmosphere remains a standout feature that captivates players.

    • “The atmosphere, story, details, and general gameplay is simple yet extremely effective and fun.”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing; I can just stand in a level and marvel as the cradle turns in the background forever and never get tired.”
    • “Spiral Knights is a charming and lovable game with great atmosphere, designs, and music, as well as decently engaging progression.”
    • “Since the beginning, the game has had a special, charming art style that brings a comfortable atmosphere to the now laggy servers, limited content, and slow progression rate that has been developed.”
    • “Although it has a redeeming feature of its friendly casual atmosphere, it can get insanely boring and painful to even bother.”
    • “While simple in design, its gameplay and atmosphere can often surprise you.”
  • stability
    58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that hinder gameplay. While some players find humor in the glitches, the overall sentiment is that the game feels abandoned, with unresolved issues affecting performance and user experience. Despite its potential, the lack of updates and fixes has led to a frustrating experience for many, making it difficult to recommend without caution.

    • “The game runs great without any crashes or glitches.”
    • “I haven't experienced any stability issues; it runs smoothly.”
    • “The performance is solid, providing a stable gaming experience.”
    • “This game is alright, but beware that it's super buggy.”
    • “Game is so buggy it crashes loading either into parties or right out the gate at launch.”
    • “Without further development, the game will remain a stale and buggy experience, and eventually die.”
  • optimization
    54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many players reporting persistent performance issues, including lag and frame rate drops, particularly on older systems and due to its Java engine. While some users have found workarounds, such as using third-party launchers to improve performance, the official support from the developers has been lacking, leading to frustration within the community. Overall, the game's optimization is considered subpar, impacting the overall gameplay experience.

    • “Everyone that used Knightlauncher from then on were able to enjoy Spiral Knights with added optimization and stability.”
    • “More importantly, this game is an example of quality and optimization; Spiral Knights did with 512MB RAM and 700MB storage what games today ask for at least 4GB RAM and 3+GB of storage.”
    • “As for performance, the game runs perfectly on my 5-year-old Dell laptop with no upgrades on low settings.”
    • “This game is good, but the poorly optimized engine (Java, duh) makes it unplayable.”
    • “Suffering from heavy optimization issues; there's no excuse for a high-end PC to struggle in this game.”
    • “Unfortunately, there's one flaw with all this: the game's optimization is rather subpar.”
  • replayability
    51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its procedural generation and cooperative elements that offer varied experiences, while others criticize the lack of depth and grindiness that can lead to boredom after the initial playthrough. Many reviews highlight that while there are multiple ways to engage with the game, the overall replay value diminishes once players exhaust the available content or feel pressured by monetization aspects. Ultimately, the game provides a decent amount of replayability, but it may not sustain long-term interest for all players.

    • “The game has a ton of replay value and even features its own economy so hardcore players can enjoy premium content.”
    • “With very easy to understand gameplay and lots of replayability, Spiral Knights is a wonderful game to sit down with for a few hours and slash, shoot, and bomb things with your friends.”
    • “The fact that the dungeons are procedurally generated like in a rogue-like fashion allows for nearly never-ending replay value, due to the curiosity that comes from our human nature.”
    • “Lacking combat depth, balance, and earnest replayability. Once you finish the campaign, there are quite literally 3 more items to get via 4 of the most annoying dungeons in any game ever, and they require microtransactions to access.”
    • “Fun experience which becomes grindy as it goes on, but has minimal replayability.”
    • “Not much replay value to be found, and I have stopped playing for the most part.”
  • emotional
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke a range of feelings, from joy and nostalgia to heartbreak and melancholy. Players appreciate the beautiful soundtrack and art style, which enhance the game's wholesome and dramatic moments, often leading to deep emotional connections with the characters and story. Many reviewers highlight the game's capacity to refresh their spirits, even after periods of absence, making it a memorable and impactful experience.

    • “It holds this title both because the game itself is fantastic, and because of the emotional significance it holds to me.”
    • “A very nice RPG with cute little knights, enemies, and a heartbreaking story which you'll totally want to try out.”
    • “It might just be nostalgia that's hitting me hard, but every time I start the game and hear the main menu soundtrack, I shed a tear.”
  • character development
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with minimal dialogue and a simplistic skill system that relies heavily on grinding. While the character design is praised for its uniqueness and charm, the overall development process feels underwhelming, leaving players wanting more in terms of narrative and character progression. Despite the aesthetic appeal and engaging gameplay mechanics, the absence of substantial character growth detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The character design is so charming, the setting and plot is an absolutely fantastic premise, and the good effects/visuals across the board do help make the combat even better.”
    • “Character designs are nothing short of adorable, and the game features an enormous variety of armor and weapons (including swords, guns, and bombs) as well as several impressive bosses, with more content being added all the time.”
    • “Another aesthetic positive of this game is the overwhelmingly good character design.”
    • “Most characters have lines of dialogue in the single digits, and character development is non-existent.”
    • “The aforementioned simplicity also applies to the character development process itself, since we have only 2 active combat skills, a pet, the development of which will take more than one hour of the same grind, and several slots for weapons and armor, including additional ones that open for so-called energy, which is a substitute for real, but successfully changes for in-game currency.”
    • “Camera angle character design (that made me want to vomit), story line is awful af.”

51%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Buy Spiral Knights

83h Median play time
445h Average play time
11-500h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 56 analyzed playthroughs

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