Spite & Malice

About

Spite & Malice is a single player action game. It was developed by North Sky Games and was released on November 19, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Spite & Malice, also known as Skip-Bo and Cat and Mouse, is a card game now with online multiplayer to play with friends or random opponents. Choose from 4 difficulty levels, customize with 8 unique themes, and complete daily challenges to earn coins. Features include realistic graphics, intuitive gameplay, and cloud-based statistics with Facebook integration."

Genres & Tags

Casual

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,740 reviews

graphics71 positive mentions

monetization231 negative mentions

Fun and addictive gameplay that keeps players engaged.
Great graphics and a charming aesthetic that enhances the gaming experience.
Multiple game modes and variations provide a good mix of challenges.

The game often feels rigged, with the AI consistently getting better cards and runs than the player.
Excessive ads, particularly long ones, can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
Unlocking new game modes requires a significant amount of in-game currency, making it hard to progress without spending money.

monetization
239 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing frustration over the excessive and intrusive nature of ads, often describing them as aggressive and difficult to close. While some users appreciate the option to pay for ad removal or reduced ads, others feel that the in-game currency system is tied too closely to ad viewing, making it hard to progress without watching multiple ads. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, the overwhelming presence of ads significantly detracts from the user experience.
- “The game is phenomenally fun with non-predatory monetization.”
- “Fun game, app does what it's supposed to with a nice interface, little to no ads.”
- “I still have the app, I still play it daily; it gets addicting after a while. I like the fact that there's no ads.”
- “Lately, ads required between every game have gotten completely out of control.”
- “This game is a delivery service for advertisements.”
- “The real issue is there are too many ads.”
graphics
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
25%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty, unique art style, and smooth animations, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere that enhances gameplay. Many users appreciate the minimal ads and the overall aesthetic, although some suggest that a graphical overhaul could improve the game's appeal further. While the visuals are a highlight, opinions vary on the gameplay experience, with some feeling that the graphics alone may not compensate for other shortcomings.
- “The graphics are beautiful and the game itself is challenging but not impossible.”
- “Smooth gameplay, lovely graphics.”
- “Amazing graphics and so fun!”
- “Game is fun against online players; however, they have graphically violent ads featuring people getting their limbs cut off with gore and blood.”
- “On top of that, the end graphic when you lose is not motivating, interesting, or pleasant.”
- “Graphics too busy.”
gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
32%
9%
Overall, the gameplay is generally praised for its smoothness, fun mechanics, and beautiful graphics, creating an enjoyable experience. However, some users report issues with bugs, difficulty settings, and occasional mismanagement of game elements, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. While the game offers a variety of unlockable content and optional ads, certain mechanics and explanations could use improvement for a more seamless experience.
- “Beautiful graphics, smooth gameplay, all kinds of unlockable game mods and skins; this is truly a perfect card game.”
- “The gameplay is fun, the artwork is adorable, and customer service is awesome.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and incredibly fun!”
- “Alright gameplay, but sometimes it doesn't pick up the right card or put it in the right place.”
- “It's obnoxiously buggy for a central mandatory gameplay element.”
- “Gameplay is okay except the app often plays wild cards and discards to the wrong pile!”
stability
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
97%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent glitches and freezes reported by users, often disrupting gameplay and causing loss of progress or coins. Many players experience automatic card plays and other bugs that detract from the overall experience, although some note that restarting the app can temporarily resolve these issues. Overall, while the game can be enjoyable, its stability problems are a major concern for many users.
- “The game mimics the original well, and I haven't encountered any glitches.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive; it runs smoothly without any interruptions.”
- “I appreciate how stable the game is; it enhances the overall experience.”
- “It freezes and glitches frequently.”
- “The latest update created a glitch where if the deck runs out during gameplay, the game freezes and won't continue.”
- “It's great when it works, but half the time it freezes and never deals the cards.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's music aspect is notably lacking, with users expressing disappointment over the absence of background music, which detracts from the overall experience. While the artwork is praised, the intrusive ads disrupt audio playback, further diminishing the enjoyment. Many players wish for the inclusion of music to enhance gameplay and create a more immersive atmosphere.
- “The aesthetic of the game and artwork is amazing; I only wish the card art was more unique and it had music.”
- “Great game all around, but I do wish there was some sort of background music.”
- “But if they put background music for it, it'll be much better.”
- “There is no music to help the game, though the artwork is stellar.”
- “This company typically makes 10/10 games, and the gameplay on this one is good, but the ads shut off background apps (music & YouTube) and you can't get it back on until you exit the app, but once you do that it restarts the ad so you watch another ad... which shuts off the sound again.”
- “The ads have loud music that you don't have an option to turn down or off.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its absurd mechanics, such as the inclusion of wildcards that shouldn't exist, leading to nonsensical yet amusing gameplay moments. Players find themselves laughing at the illogical wins of opponents and the quirky character designs, contributing to an overall lighthearted experience despite some frustrations with game balance. The combination of unexpected outcomes and humorous interactions keeps the atmosphere entertaining, making it a standout feature for many users.
- “You'll begin to notice that the game really lives up to its name in a subtle but hilarious way (and is why I am giving it all 5 stars).”
- “Tried it and my friends and I were laughing so hard at the other players' wins because they seem to not make any sense: red 10 of diamonds, followed by a black 9, then suddenly he's layering numbers that are completely out of sequence yet... he's winning.”
- “So far no complaints, nice looking interface, funny characters, I like the style, typical ads, no bugs so far, difficulty levels are distinct but not ridiculous.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to frequent ads after each match and a significant disparity in wild card production favoring the CPU. This imbalance leads to a frustrating experience that feels more like a chore than enjoyable gameplay, making it difficult to stay engaged while grinding for in-game currency.
- “The percentage of wild cards the CPU produces is, on average, after counting in 200+ games, about 300-500% higher than the player, making it less of a game and more of an exercise in grinding your teeth.”
- “Makes it hard to not get bored grinding out gold before you potentially get hooked on the other rule variations.”
- “Starting every game with an ad gets a bit tedious.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story aspect of the game is perceived as potentially engaging, with users expressing confidence in the possibility of a well-developed story mode. However, there are concerns about the low coin rate for leveling up and completing daily quests, which may hinder the overall narrative experience.
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, with users noting that it runs smoothly and features impressive visuals.
- “Runs smoothly and looks great.”
- “Game runs smoothly.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's theme and artwork effectively contribute to an enjoyable atmosphere that enhances the overall gameplay experience.
- “The theme and artwork create an enjoyable atmosphere that complements the gameplay.”
- “The immersive sound design and stunning visuals transport you to another world.”
- “The game's ambiance is hauntingly beautiful, enhancing every moment of exploration.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's replayability, noting that the inclusion of challenges enhances the overall experience and keeps the gameplay engaging without being hindered by excessive ads.
- “Good game with minimal ads; the challenges add an extra dimension that keeps the game fun and enhances replayability.”