Touhou Spell Carnival

About

Touhou Spell Carnival is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Compile Heart and was released on May 7, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

The Limited Edition includes: - Reimu and Marisa Figures - Official Hardcover Art Book (56 Pages) - Official Soundtrack (52 Tracks) - Reversible Cover Sleeve - Collector's Box - Exclusive Trading Card

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 18 reviews

music5 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a unique fusion of tactical RPG mechanics and bullet-hell gameplay, offering a fresh and engaging experience for players.
Visually stunning with vibrant artwork, expressive Live2D animations, and a fantastic soundtrack that blends classic Touhou music with new compositions.
The character variety and interactions add charm and depth, encouraging experimentation with different team compositions and strategies.

The controls are clunky and poorly optimized for keyboard and mouse, making character management and combat feel frustrating and cumbersome.
The learning curve is steep, especially for newcomers to the series, and the absence of pause or slowdown options during combat can lead to overwhelming situations.
The story is relatively light and may not satisfy players looking for deeper narrative development, while the gameplay can feel chaotic and difficult to manage in later stages.

gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
78%
13%
The gameplay of the latest Touhou title is a bold and experimental blend of traditional bullet-hell mechanics and strategic RPG elements, featuring a grazing system that rewards skillful dodging. While the game offers a unique and engaging experience with distinct character abilities and mesmerizing bullet patterns, it suffers from control issues and a lack of polish, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these flaws, it remains a welcome addition for fans seeking a fresh take on the Touhou universe.
- “Drawing from the extensive Touhou cast, each playable character feels mechanically distinct, with spell cards and abilities that reflect their established personalities and powers.”
- “Touhou Spell Carnival is a refreshing and ambitious take on the beloved Touhou universe, blending strategic RPG mechanics with the series’ signature bullet-hell chaos.”
- “The absence of generous pause or slowdown options during combat means mistakes are often punished quickly, and success depends on developing both tactical foresight and mechanical confidence.”
- “Gameplay is trash honestly, battle space needs to be larger to be able to control the characters properly.”
- “But, as it stands, it's more of an unpolished yet curious experiment in the gameplay department paired with top-tier presentation that most of the budget seemingly went to.”
story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The story revolves around the "spell carnival," a competition in Gensokyo that brings together various characters for magical duels, creating a festive atmosphere rather than a traditional war narrative. While the plot is simple and may not appeal to those seeking deep storytelling, it effectively showcases character interactions and offers charm through side stories, though newcomers to the Touhou series might find themselves lost without prior knowledge of the lore. Overall, the narrative serves as a light-hearted backdrop for engaging gameplay rather than a profound tale.
- “The story is framed around a mysterious new event in Gensokyo known as the Spell Carnival, a competition announced through strange pillars appearing across the land.”
- “Centered on the 30-day 'Spell Carnival' in which Reimu and others participate, allies and story branches change depending on which opponents you challenge.”
- “The interactions between fan favorites and lesser-known characters add charm and humor, making the story segments a joy to experience.”
- “Additionally, while the narrative is charming, it remains relatively light and may not satisfy players looking for deep story development or dramatic stakes.”
- “On a personal note, I generally can barely bring myself to care about Gensokyo and still couldn't about the main story here, but some of the side ones actually got me emotionally invested.”
- “[*] The story leans on Touhou lore—newcomers may feel lost at first.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The music in the game is widely praised for its energetic soundtrack that enhances both the festive and combat elements, featuring a mix of classic Touhou melodies and new compositions. While some players may find the appeal stronger if they are familiar with the Touhou series, the overall quality of the music and voice acting is solid, making it a highlight for fans. The digital deluxe edition offers a high-quality soundtrack, further elevating the game's auditory experience.
- “The soundtrack complements the action with energetic arrangements that fit both the festive tone of the spell carnival and the high-pressure nature of combat.”
- “The soundtrack is another highlight, blending classic touhou melodies with new compositions that perfectly complement the game’s energetic and mystical atmosphere.”
- “Additionally, if you're a big fan of touhou music, you definitely don’t want to miss this one.”
- “The soundtrack is another highlight, blending classic Touhou melodies with new compositions that perfectly complement the game’s energetic and mystical atmosphere.”
- “Additionally, if you're a big fan of Touhou music, you definitely don’t want to miss this one.”
- “The anime-style graphics are high quality, and in addition to full Japanese voice acting, the soundtrack features the main theme by 'Kishida Kyoudan & The Akeboshi Rockets' along with many arranged Touhou classics.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
The graphics in the game are highly praised for their gorgeous artwork and vibrant character designs, featuring expressive Live2D animations that enhance conversations and combat. While the overall art style evokes a nostalgic PS2-era vibe, standout elements like the design of the Hakurei Shrine and high-quality anime visuals contribute to a visually stunning experience. The combination of impressive graphics, engaging combat effects, and a lively cast makes it a standout title for fans of the genre.
- “Character artwork and Live2D-style animations give conversations personality, while combat effects are vibrant and often spectacular.”
- “One of the game’s strongest aspects is its vibrant cast of Touhou characters, brought to life through stunning artwork, expressive Live2D animations, and excellent Japanese voice acting.”
- “Gorgeous artwork - the best I've seen from Touhou Project games.”
- “The graphics have a nostalgic, PS2-era vibe, and while they could’ve done a bit more with the animation, the design of the Hakurei Shrine is a standout.”
- “Art style:”
- “That being said, I really love the artwork and soundtracks in this game.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by lighthearted banter and character-driven interactions, creating a charming and enjoyable narrative. Players have noted that unexpected gameplay quirks, particularly related to framerate variations, can lead to hilarious outcomes, further enhancing the comedic experience. Overall, the blend of familiar and lesser-known characters contributes to the humor, making story segments particularly delightful.
- “The narrative leans into lighthearted banter, character-driven humor, and episodic encounters rather than heavy drama.”
- “The interactions between fan favorites and lesser-known characters add charm and humor, making the story segments a joy to experience.”
- “I've actually messed around a bit to see what happens if you forcibly unlock the framerate and surprise-surprise, there's some core gameplay logic that's framerate-dependent and breaks hilariously if you do that.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players highlight the high replayability of the game, attributing it to extensive team customization options and various unlockables that encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “High replay value with team customization and unlockables.”
- “The game offers endless replayability thanks to its diverse character builds and strategies.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the variety of choices and outcomes available.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in the game makes replayability feel almost non-existent.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
- “The game offers very few variations in gameplay, which severely limits its replay value.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players note that the game's optimization fosters a dynamic tension between safety and engagement, encouraging active participation in chaotic scenarios. While some sound effects feel recycled, the overall audio experience, including music and voice acting, is well-executed.
- “This creates a constant tension between safety and optimization, pushing players to engage with the chaos rather than simply retreating to defensive positions.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the main story may not resonate with all players, several side narratives effectively evoke emotional investment, highlighting the potential for deeper connections within the game's world.
- “On a personal note, I generally can barely bring myself to care about Gensokyo and still couldn't about the main story here, but some of the side stories actually got me emotionally invested.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by a standout soundtrack that fuses classic Touhou melodies with new compositions, creating an energetic and mystical ambiance that resonates with players.
- “The soundtrack is another highlight, blending classic Touhou melodies with new compositions that perfectly complement the game’s energetic and mystical atmosphere.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted by charming designs and smooth Live2D animations, complemented by excellent voice acting that enhances the overall immersion and personality of the characters.
- “The character designs are really cute; the smooth Live2D animation, along with the gorgeous voice acting, truly brings the characters to life.”