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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.
87%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
grinding, optimization
93% User Score Based on 11,118 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

NSNintendo SwitchPCPCP4Playstation 4P5Playstation 5WinWindowsCloCloudNGNNVIDIA GeForce NOWPlaPlayStation
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
The Last Spell screenshot
The Last Spell screenshot
The Last Spell screenshot
The Last Spell screenshot
The Last Spell screenshot
The Last Spell screenshot
The Last Spell screenshot
The Last Spell screenshot
The Last Spell screenshot
The Last Spell screenshot
The Last Spell screenshot
+9

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 11,128 reviews
gameplay885 positive mentions
grinding528 negative mentions
  • The music is widely praised for its heavy metal and orchestral elements, significantly enhancing the game's atmosphere and gameplay experience.
  • The game features stunning pixel art and animations that effectively capture the dark, apocalyptic setting, contributing to an immersive experience.
  • The gameplay offers a compelling blend of turn-based tactics, roguelite mechanics, and city management, providing depth and strategic variety that encourages replayability.
  • The game suffers from significant performance issues, including bugs, freezes, and poor optimization, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • Many players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and frustrating, particularly in the early stages where progression feels slow.
  • The narrative is often criticized for being sparse and underdeveloped, leaving players wanting a more compelling story to accompany the gameplay.
  • gameplay
    2,170 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "The Last Spell" is a compelling blend of turn-based tactics, roguelite mechanics, and city management, offering a deep and strategic experience that rewards careful planning and adaptation. Players appreciate the variety of weapons, abilities, and character builds, although some mechanics can be poorly explained, leading to frustration during challenging boss encounters. While the game features a satisfying core loop and engaging progression, it can become repetitive and grindy, particularly in the early stages, which may deter some players.

    • “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 game balances complexity with accessibility, ensuring that while the mechanics are deep, they're never overwhelming.”
    • “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 kind of 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 gameplay loop can become monotonous, so even if you have the time, you may still want to take a few breaks over the course of a run.”
  • music
    1,979 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its heavy metal and orchestral elements that enhance the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. The soundtrack, composed by The Algorithm, is described as phenomenal, engaging, and perfectly suited to the game's intense combat and strategic planning, often leading players to headbang or listen to it outside of gameplay. While some users noted that the music can become repetitive over time, the majority agree that it significantly elevates the game's appeal and is worth the price of admission alone.

    • “The soundtrack is superb.”
    • “The music is phenomenal.”
    • “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
    693 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are predominantly praised for their charming pixel art style, which effectively enhances the dark, apocalyptic atmosphere and evokes nostalgia for classic games. Many reviewers appreciate the detailed animations and cohesive art direction, noting that the visuals complement the gameplay well, despite some minor criticisms regarding graphical glitches and a lack of customization options. Overall, the aesthetic is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.

    • “The pixel art style is beautiful and simple, and the soundtrack is very atmospheric to the game.”
    • “This is a fantastic sweet spot of long-term challenge, requiring careful strategy, quick tactics, and intelligent decision-making, dressed with a beautiful pixel art style and killer soundtrack.”
    • “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.”
    • “In fact there are literally no graphics options.”
  • story
    629 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "The Last Spell" is generally described as sparse and secondary to the gameplay, serving primarily as a backdrop for the tactical mechanics. While some players appreciate the intriguing premise and the slow drip of lore revealed through gameplay, others find the writing lacking and the narrative underdeveloped. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of strategy and emotional storytelling, but those seeking a deep narrative may be disappointed.

    • “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, which I won't spoil in this review, is nice and actually goes well with the gameplay.”
    • “The story and artwork on the cutscenes is amazing and you can tell a lot of love went into this game.”
    • “In typical roguelike fashion, the story is bare bones.”
    • “The story is almost non-existent once the one good cutscene ends.”
    • “There really isn't a story worth seeing or uncovering, so it seems like the only real point to keep going is because the gameplay is enjoyable... but it isn't really.”
  • grinding
    542 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate that the game features a significant amount of grinding, which many players find tedious and frustrating, particularly in the early stages where progression feels slow and heavily reliant on repeated runs. While some players appreciate the strategic depth and incremental rewards that come with grinding, others criticize it for making the gameplay feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience. Overall, the consensus suggests that while grinding is a core aspect of the game, it can detract from the overall enjoyment, especially for those who prefer a more streamlined progression system.

    • “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.”
    • “Progression is way too grindy.”
    • “The meta-progression isn't fun and doesn't lead to significant increases in power... the whole experience feels like a death by 1000 cuts... it is extremely slow, often tedious, and very punishing if you don't happen to get a hero with good traits or you never roll the weapons you wanted.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability
    514 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game exhibits a high level 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 map variety, the game's mechanics, unlockable content, and customizable builds contribute to a compelling experience that keeps players engaged. Many reviews highlight that the replay value is a core strength, making it enjoyable for both casual and dedicated gamers.

    • “It's a difficult game but makes for some memorable playthroughs on the replay, which is where this game has its core strength: replayability.”
    • “One of the best strategy games of the last decade, with tons of depth and replayability.”
    • “The game has tons of fun and interesting build options, massive replay value, and a huge amount of enemy and strategy variety.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “However, that's when it gets frustrating and this title currently wastes potential, since the replayability quickly runs out.”
  • atmosphere
    118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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, perfectly complementing the gameplay. Reviewers highlight the dark, apocalyptic setting and the emotional weight it carries, creating a sense of foreboding and urgency that keeps players invested. Overall, the combination of art, music, and design effectively draws players into a rich, atmospheric experience reminiscent of classic RPGs and roguelikes.

    • “The last spell is more than just a game; it’s an experience that fuses masterful design with an unforgettable atmosphere.”
    • “Gorgeous music and visual style, instantly immersing you in the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Not a big deal, but it did really detract from the atmosphere and take me out of the setting instantly (much like Cobalt Core does).”
    • “The game itself is visually impressive, with stunning 2D graphics and animations that really capture the dark and foreboding atmosphere of a world overrun by monsters.”
    • “Punishing tone and atmosphere (stressful neck ache after tensing for 6 hours).”
  • optimization
    117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as lag, stuttering, and low frame rates, even on high-end hardware. While some improvements have been noted over time, particularly regarding memory leaks and stuttering during combat, the overall consensus is that the game still requires substantial optimization to enhance the gameplay experience. Despite these challenges, players appreciate the depth of character and gear optimization, which adds a strategic layer to the game.

    • “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.”
    • “So you have to be efficient, from supplies, buildings, skill points, health, mana, and energy points; everything must be optimized if you want to survive the later nights, and it really fuels my addiction to min-maxing characters.”
    • “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. Hotfixes do not address these issues, and the developers only respond to bug requests with 'thanks, please send logs' but not only do they require you to use 3rd party uploading websites because there are 4 log files, and they can't fit in pastebin, but there is no communication outside of that.”
    • “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
    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark, biting wit with absurdity, often contrasting its grim aesthetic. Players appreciate the unhinged dialogue of characters during combat, humorous cutscenes, and the quirky customization options, all of which contribute to a lighthearted experience amidst the game's challenging mechanics. While some humor may be seen as questionable or insulting, it generally enhances the overall enjoyment and charm of the gameplay.

    • “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.”
    • “Cutscenes and characters are detailed, witty, and charming; in general, the game delivers humoristically.”
    • “This is one of those incredibly rare gems where grim aesthetic, humor, genuine tactical gameplay, and rewarding progression converge.”
  • stability
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game is a mixed bag, with many users reporting significant bugs, frequent freezes, and graphical glitches that hinder gameplay. While some players have experienced smooth, bug-free sessions, the consensus is that the game remains in an early access state and requires further polishing to reach its full potential. Overall, it shows promise but is currently marred by instability issues that can detract from the experience.

    • “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.”
    • “Dreadfully buggy with an extremely slow gameplay loop that looks like it'll get stale quickly.”
  • character development
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is noted for its depth and variety, offering players multiple options for skills, weapons, and buffs, which enhances strategic gameplay. However, some reviews criticize the lack of a compelling narrative and suggest that the city-building mechanics serve as a substitute for more traditional character development, leading to a less satisfying experience. Overall, while the game provides a solid RPG-lite character development system, it may not meet the expectations of players seeking a rich story or deeper character arcs.

    • “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.”
    • “That being said, some of the tracks of the OST were cool, the art is neat, and if you're looking for an X-COM style game with some random character development then this might scratch the itch... I bought the game looking for a city-builder defense with roguelike gameplay and high replay value, and this isn't it.”
  • emotional
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 strategic mechanics and atmospheric soundtrack, which amplify the emotional stakes of each decision. Overall, the game is praised for its unique blend of strategy and emotional depth, making it a standout in the tactical and roguelike genres.

    • “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
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users expressing frustration over perceived cash grab tactics and excessive advertisements during gameplay. However, a notable positive is the absence of microtransactions, which many players appreciate, especially in the context of an early access title. Overall, while there are concerns about monetization practices, the lack of microtransactions is seen as a significant advantage.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”

80%Critics’ scoreBased on 10 critic reviews

Buy The Last Spell

28h Median play time
37h Average play time
10-62h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 116 analyzed playthroughs

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