The Last Spell

A roguelike tower defence game that doesn’t throw any punches in relation to its story, pixelated graphics and killer soundtrack. I’m sure you’ll have a blast on the pursuit to banish all magic with The Last Spell.

93%Game Brain Score

gameplay, music

grinding, optimization

93% User Score Based on 5,559 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $15.89

Buy NowGet on Steam$24.99

About

"The Last Spell" is a turn-based tactical RPG with roguelite elements, where you must defend a city from hordes of enemies over consecutive nights. During the day, strategize by building defenses, leveling up heroes, and choosing skills and weapons. Overcome challenges, break the magic seal, and banish all magic from the world. Experience a range of stats, skills, perks, and traits for a deep RPG experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,559 reviews

gameplay442 positive mentions

grinding264 negative mentions

The Last Spell offers a unique blend of tactical RPG, tower defense, and roguelike elements, providing a challenging yet rewarding gameplay experience.
The game features a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of the game.
The character customization and progression systems are deep and engaging, allowing for a wide variety of builds and strategies.

Each run can take several hours, making it frustrating to lose progress after investing so much time.
The game heavily relies on RNG, which can lead to runs being determined by luck rather than skill, especially in character traits and weapon drops.
The difficulty spikes can feel unfair, particularly during boss fights where players may not be adequately prepared due to lack of information.

gameplay
1,083 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
56%
4%
The gameplay of "The Last Spell" is characterized by a deep and engaging blend of tactical turn-based combat, roguelite mechanics, and base management, offering players a variety of strategies and builds to explore. While the game features a rewarding progression system and a compelling gameplay loop, some players find the mechanics can be overwhelming or poorly explained, leading to frustration, especially during challenging boss encounters. Overall, the game is praised for its addictive nature, beautiful pixel art, and a fantastic soundtrack, though it may require a significant time investment to fully appreciate its depth and complexity.
- “The gameplay is a perfect blend of all the genres I love.”
- “The last spell brilliantly incorporates roguelike mechanics, where every decision matters and the stakes feel real.”
- “The gameplay loop is fun with zero filler, progression feels meaningful, a lot of different builds work and it's fun to figure them out.”
- “There's also a few mechanics that deviate from the early flow of the game and are poorly explained/signaled, making it easy to get stuck on the same segment if you don't happen to know the right course of action.”
- “It's a shame because there is so much to work with here, but the obscure map mechanics and roguelite unlocking progression gimping are just too much for a game where a single map takes 5+ hours to finish.”
- “The major drawback is that it is frustrating to play through a town for a few hours only to lose to the final boss (whose mechanics you would have no way of predicting) and have to restart the whole town again.”
music
988 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its heavy metal and synthwave influences that perfectly complement the gameplay. The soundtrack is described as "phenomenal," "banging," and "a total banger," enhancing the overall atmosphere and engagement during intense combat sequences. While some players noted a lack of variety in tracks over extended playtime, the majority agree that the music significantly elevates the gaming experience, making it a standout feature worth the price of admission alone.
- “The music is phenomenal.”
- “The soundtrack is superb.”
- “The music is fantastic.”
- “The only negatives I could even think of were that the music catalog is short.”
- “The soundtrack for the game is also worth talking about, because while it is great overall I did find the lack of variety in the battle themes to be very grating.”
- “The music is lacking but fulfills its role as a background embellishment to the main action.”
graphics
346 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
45%
1%
The graphics of the game are predominantly praised for their charming pixel art style, which effectively captures a nostalgic and atmospheric aesthetic that enhances the overall gameplay experience. Many reviewers appreciate the detailed animations and cohesive art direction, noting that the visuals complement the game's dark themes and engaging mechanics. While some critiques mention the simplicity of the graphics, they are generally seen as fitting and well-executed, contributing positively to the game's immersive qualities.
- “The pixel art style is beautiful and simple, and the soundtrack is very atmospheric to the game.”
- “The graphics are perfect, and I can imagine myself back in the 90s losing my mind over a game like this.”
- “The last spell's visuals are stunning, with an intricate and detailed pixel art style that really brings the game's world to life.”
- “The graphics are 1980s quality.”
- “The graphics are less than mediocre and (intentionally?) emphasize the feeling of overcrowding.”
- “I can not technically say that this artstyle is inconsistent, because it uses around 4 different ones for cutscenes, units, portraits and promotional materials, none of which can agree on the colour palette and enemy design.”
story
314 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
68%
5%
The story in "The Last Spell" is generally described as sparse but intriguing, serving primarily as a backdrop to the engaging gameplay. While some players appreciate the unique premise and emotional undertones, others find the narrative underdeveloped and the writing inconsistent. Overall, the game is praised for its strategic depth and mechanics, with the story being a secondary element that enhances the experience rather than the main focus.
- “The last spell stands out as a true gem among tactical and roguelike games, weaving a unique blend of strategy, resource management, and emotional storytelling that sets it apart as one of the finest games ever made.”
- “The story is simple to understand but is interesting as hell.”
- “The story and premise of the game is definitely an interesting one in a very good way; the opening cinematic describing the events and current state of the world is really cool.”
- “The story is barebones, which is understandable, but it's there.”
- “The plot is, though, the game's weak point.”
- “The game definitely feels lazy in terms of story, plot, writing, and character development; it's largely absent.”
grinding
271 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
1%
97%
The reviews indicate that the game features a significant amount of grinding, which many players find tedious and frustrating, particularly in the early stages. While some appreciate the sense of progression and strategic depth that comes with grinding, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, making the gameplay feel more like a chore than a challenge. Overall, the consensus suggests that while grinding is a core aspect of the game, its execution can lead to a repetitive and slow-paced experience.
- “I truly thought this was a game about strategy, not grinding and random luck.”
- “Lol at that logic, when all of these other games are much grindier than Last Spell - which is not grindy at all.”
- “I personally would've much rather preferred some sort of Darkest Dungeon-esque haunting orchestra, not grinding metal.”
- “The game is incredibly unbalanced and unbeatable without a lot of grinding.”
- “The core gameplay loop of upgrading your heroes and town during the day and fighting endless hordes of enemies overnight is well designed and satisfying - however, the game is overly reliant on grinding out the metaprogression buffs and unlocks before you really stand a chance at getting anywhere past the first 4-5 waves, which bogs down the whole experience with completely unnecessary tedium.”
- “It becomes so tedious to click on the skill then the enemy and to consistently click on one unit in a sea of hundreds with no mana.”
replayability
257 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
45%
2%
Overall, the game exhibits a strong sense of replayability, with many players praising its depth, variety of strategies, and roguelike elements that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some users noted potential repetitiveness and limited content in early access, the majority found the mechanics, unlocks, and difficulty modifiers to provide ample incentive to return. The combination of randomized elements and character customization contributes to a highly engaging experience that keeps players coming back for more.
- “It's a difficult game but makes for some memorable playthroughs on the replay, which is where this game has its core strength: replayability.”
- “The game has tons of fun and interesting build options, massive replay value, and a huge amount of enemy and strategy variety.”
- “The overwhelming variety of weapons & skills make me feel like I'm just starting after 40+ hours, and add replayability...as if this game needed it.”
- “So I ended up with a game that seemed to offer a lot of replayability at first, but overstayed its welcome to such a degree that I never even finished the last couple of levels.”
- “Second and worst of all, the replay value of this game is bad because all you have to do is the same.”
- “The game touts its roguelite formula as providing replayability, but in reality, you're being forced to repeat a lot of content over and over for another shot at bosses with hidden rules that you will lose against until you figure them out.”
atmosphere
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
24%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, enhanced by stunning pixel art and a dynamic soundtrack that shifts from chill to intense, reflecting the game's dark, apocalyptic themes. Reviewers highlight the successful fusion of art, music, and gameplay mechanics, creating a sense of foreboding and emotional depth that captivates players. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as a standout feature, drawing players into its richly crafted world.
- “The last spell is more than just a game; it’s an experience that fuses masterful design with an unforgettable atmosphere.”
- “The pixel art style is beautiful and simple, and the soundtrack is very atmospheric to the game.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is great and the sense of dread when you know that it's doomed, but you still try to save everything is great.”
- “Not a big deal, but it really detracted from the atmosphere and took me out of the setting instantly.”
- “Punishing tone and atmosphere (stressful neck ache after tensing for 6 hours).”
- “Grim atmosphere.”
optimization
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as lag, stuttering, and low frame rates, even on high-end hardware. While some users noted improvements over time and found the gameplay engaging, the persistent performance problems, especially during busy in-game events, detracted from the experience for many. Developers are encouraged to address these optimization concerns to enhance overall gameplay satisfaction.
- “Base building has its own depth, and if you're into gear optimization, there's a lot to min/max about each character.”
- “The great part about this game is that optimization involves both permuting the item builds between characters and the order of actions you do in the prep phase.”
- “You control the economy, the equipment, the perks, the gear; every little detail is under your control and has a modest to profound effect on your performance.”
- “Game is extremely un-optimized, using 70% of an 8c16t CPU as well as 70% of an RTX 3070.”
- “Most players play with sub-30 FPS due to poor optimization; new features are broken and require you to restart the game quite often to fix them.”
- “I gave it a really fair shot; the difficulty and gameplay are not the issue, it's the horrible performance, constant bugs, the memory leaks, and the amount of times I've had to restart the game to try and fix them is just absurd.”
humor
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark and bleak themes with witty dialogue and absurd situations that elicit genuine laughter. Players appreciate the quirky character interactions, humorous cutscenes, and the game's self-aware commentary on its challenges, creating a unique balance between grim aesthetics and comedic relief. Overall, the humor enhances the gameplay experience, making it both entertaining and engaging.
- “Your heroic lunatics (they say some unhinged, funny things in combat) are both powerful and at the mercy of their own lives/faults, demonstrated in their traits.”
- “The setting is incredibly dark and bleak as it makes sure that's rubbed in your face at all times with a biting sense of humor that perfectly balances out its grim dark tone.”
- “This is one of those incredibly rare gems where grim aesthetic, humor, genuine tactical gameplay, and rewarding progression converge.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, frequent freezes, and graphical glitches that hinder gameplay. While some users have experienced smooth and nearly bug-free sessions, the consensus is that the game, currently in early access, still requires further development to address these issues. Overall, while there are signs of improvement, the game remains unstable for a substantial number of players.
- “Smooth, essentially bug-free gameplay.”
- “Now, the price may seem a bit high for an early access title, but it is really well polished and bug-free (as far as I can tell). The slow, yet fun progression system turned out to be a good way to keep me hooked, without having seen all the content in the first two days.”
- “I played the game for two weeks straight and, as far as I can tell, it's bug-free, though there are a few minor balance issues.”
- “It took me over an hour of troubleshooting and restarts to get through the tutorial.”
- “Could be a good game but right now it's still a buggy mess, freezes constantly for no reason making the game unplayable.”
- “The game looks like it could be fun, but graphical glitches that cut off menus and make them unusable take away from the immersion.”
character development
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
Character development in the game is noted for its depth and variety, offering players numerous options for skills, weapons, and party dynamics, which enhances strategic gameplay. However, some reviews criticize the lack of a compelling narrative and cohesive character arcs, suggesting that while the mechanics are robust, the overall character development feels somewhat superficial or overshadowed by city-building elements. Overall, the game provides a mix of RPG-lite character progression and tactical gameplay, appealing to fans of the genre despite some shortcomings in storytelling.
- “The game demonstrates depth in both character development and city building, for defense purposes.”
- “It brings a lot of depth to strategy on so many levels when going into character development, base defense, party members, etc. It was a little overwhelming at first glance, but once I cleared the first battle, I quickly realized all of what the game has to offer.”
- “If you like lots of options in weapons, skills, buffs, and character development, this is the game for you.”
- “Game has a lot in common with the top-down, turn-based RPGs like Shadowrun: Dragonfall...except no plot, no story to speak of, no character development.”
- “The game definitely feels lazy in terms of story, plot, writing, and character development (it's largely absent). The mechanics feel shipped in wholesale from other games.”
- “It is a blend of survival zombie rush and turn-based combat with a dash of city building and RPG-lite character development.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "The Last Spell" is highlighted by its compelling storytelling and the intense highs and lows experienced during gameplay, where victories bring satisfaction and losses evoke heartbreak. Players resonate with the game's ability to create tension through its mechanics, while the soundtrack amplifies the emotional stakes, making each decision feel impactful. Overall, the game effectively intertwines strategy with deep emotional engagement, leaving a lasting impression on players.
- “The Last Spell stands out as a true gem among tactical and roguelike games, weaving a unique blend of strategy, resource management, and emotional storytelling that sets it apart as one of the finest games ever made.”
- “Super satisfying when you finally win but heartbreaking when you lose.”
- “The soundtrack will get your blood pumping and the mistakes you make will have your heart breaking.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users expressing frustration over perceived cash grab elements and excessive advertisements during gameplay. However, a notable positive point is the absence of microtransactions, which many players appreciate, especially in a game that is still in early access.
- “Beyond all that, one of the biggest bonuses in my opinion, is that there are no microtransactions, at least as of this writing.”
- “No microtransactions, honest about being early access, and so far didn't have any game-breaking bugs that a reboot didn't immediately fix.”
- “Just becoming a cash grab.”
- “Even if you're not microing to the utmost degree (even though you very much have to if you want to have a chance at the bosses, who just positively spam you with ads while you wait for their phases to change).”
- “I've been looking for a casual tactical sim without microtransactions for a while... and yes, 6-8 hour runs may not sound 'casual', but there are several natural breaking points in the game, and the story is... well, there isn't much of one that I've seen so far.”