Staff Only

About

Staff Only is a single player puzzle game with fantasy and science fiction themes. It was developed by Exilland and was released on December 30, 2020. It received very positive reviews from players.

A card battler where you play cards by solving a puzzle with those cards! Play on the same board (literally) as your enemies.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 12 reviews

optimization3 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Engaging puzzle-like gameplay that requires strategic card placement and decision-making.
Visually appealing with a catchy soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience.
Offers a fresh take on the deckbuilding roguelike genre, with potential for future content and improvements.

Currently lacks content and replayability, with some players feeling the game is too short.
Experiences frequent bugs and crashes, affecting gameplay stability and enjoyment.
Balance issues exist, with some enemies presenting significant difficulty spikes compared to others.

gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The gameplay is praised for its solid mechanics, featuring a variety of cards with easy-to-remember options and unique twists that enhance strategy, such as adding or removing bonuses. Players appreciate the blend of roguelike deckbuilding with puzzle elements, alongside an engaging story and enjoyable music, making for a compelling experience.
- “There are a lot of cards with variable options and easy to remember mechanics.”
- “In the beginning, I thought 'well, game mechanics somewhat like 'night cities', fun, but not too hard to win', but man what a difference it makes if you add rules which add/remove bonuses and penalties to certain cells.”
- “The gameplay is great and the music is great.”
- “Staff Only is a roguelike deckbuilder that is a bit different from the usual mechanics that follow the subgenre.”
- “The gameplay is solid.”
- “Some sort of story to go with the gameplay.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The music in the game is generally praised for its catchy and relaxing qualities, complementing the visuals well. However, some users note that it can be repetitive at times. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience.
- “Relaxing indie game with a catchy soundtrack and good-looking visuals.”
- “The gameplay is great and the music is great.”
- “The music is good, if repetitive.”
- “The soundtrack is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “The music feels generic and doesn't match the game's atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “I found the audio quality to be subpar, with some tracks sounding muffled and poorly mixed.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's replayability is limited due to the absence of upgrades, unlocks, or progression systems, making it less engaging compared to similar titles like "Slay the Spire," where players can unlock new cards and enhance their experience. As a result, players may find little incentive to replay the game after completing it.
- “There's no upgrades or unlocks if you fail a run, so there's not much replay value. You can smash through it with no real progression at all, unlike Slay the Spire, which this game seems to be heavily based on, where you unlock cards.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of meaningful changes or new content makes replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
- “The game offers a single path with no variations or different outcomes, making each playthrough feel repetitive and lacking in excitement.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report stability issues, noting frequent glitches that cause random squares to malfunction, preventing cards from having their intended effects. This has occurred multiple times during gameplay, impacting the overall experience.
- “Glitches with random squares occur even if they are not disabled, causing my card to have no effect. This happened numerous times during my playthrough.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
- “I experienced constant lag and freezing, which severely impacted my overall enjoyment of the game.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The story in the game provides a basic narrative framework that complements the gameplay, though it may not be particularly deep or engaging.
- “The story beautifully intertwines with the gameplay, creating an immersive experience.”
- “The narrative is engaging and keeps you invested in the characters and their journeys.”
- “I was captivated by the depth of the story and how it unfolds throughout the game.”
- “The story feels disjointed and lacks coherence, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “Character development is minimal, leaving the plot feeling flat and uninteresting.”
- “The narrative is predictable and fails to offer any surprising twists or depth.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the active card shop on the map, which provides numerous opportunities to remove basic cards and create optimized decks, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- “The card shop is always active on the map, providing plenty of opportunities to remove basic cards and build an optimized deck.”
- “The game offers numerous strategies for optimizing your deck, making each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
- “I love how the optimization mechanics allow for deep customization, letting me tailor my deck to fit my playstyle perfectly.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive, suggesting that it requires a significant time investment to progress.
- “The game feels a little grindy.”
- “Grinding becomes tedious after a while.”
- “I found the grinding mechanics to be overly repetitive.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics of this indie game are praised for their appealing visuals and nostalgic old-school style, which complement the relaxing gameplay and catchy soundtrack. Reviewers express enthusiasm for the game's aesthetic, highlighting it as a standout feature.
- “Relaxing indie game with a catchy soundtrack and good-looking visuals.”
- “The old-school graphics fit really well, and I'm excited to see more of this little gem.”