Vault of the Void
- October 4, 2022
- Spider Nest Games
- 64h median play time
It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you’re a veteran of deck building you’ll find a lot to love in Vault of the Void.
Get on Steam"Vault of the Void" is a turn-based strategy game where players build and manage their own spider nest, collecting resources, expanding territory, and defending against enemies. Battle rivaling spider factions in the void, utilizing unique abilities and strategies to secure dominance. Experience a dark and atmospheric world filled with challenging gameplay and strategic depth.
Reviews
- Innovative mechanics that enhance deckbuilding and strategy, such as the ability to purge cards for energy and retain cards between turns.
- Each of the four classes offers unique playstyles and mechanics, providing a fresh experience with every run.
- The game allows players to see upcoming rewards and plan their routes, reducing RNG and increasing player agency.
- The learning curve can be steep due to the abundance of keywords and mechanics, which may overwhelm new players.
- Runs can feel long, averaging around 1-2 hours, which may not appeal to those looking for quicker gameplay.
- Some players feel that the game lacks a sense of progression or meaningful rewards after completing runs.
- gameplay578 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Vault of the Void" is characterized by its rich and complex mechanics, offering a unique blend of strategic depth and variety across its four distinct characters, each with their own unique abilities and starting decks. While the game introduces a plethora of keywords and mechanics that can initially overwhelm new players, those who invest the time to learn will find a rewarding experience with high replayability and a focus on planning and strategy. The innovative "purge" mechanic, which allows players to discard cards for energy, alongside a well-designed interface and engaging combat, sets it apart from other deck-building roguelikes like "Slay the Spire."
“Despite its modest origins, the game manages to deliver a compelling and deep gameplay experience that stands out in a crowded market.”
“The gameplay itself is rich and complex, offering a multitude of mechanics that provide depth and replayability.”
“The game's replay value is high, with multiple characters to master, various challenges to overcome, and an ever-evolving meta as new cards and mechanics are introduced.”
“The gameplay itself I just found kind of boring.”
“As it stands, new players might find themselves overwhelmed by the numerous mechanics and interactions.”
“I found the deck customization to be a bit overwhelming, and it felt like I was drowning in a wave of new mechanics on every card I came across.”
- graphics79 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and colorful art style, with many reviewers noting the impressive artwork on cards and the overall aesthetic that enhances the gameplay experience. While some players desire more animations and cohesive UI elements, the visuals effectively convey a dark, mysterious atmosphere and are complemented by strong sound design. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's charm and immersive quality, making it visually appealing despite not reaching AAA standards.
“The artwork is incredible and the gameplay offers plenty of variety and complexity.”
“Visually, the game has a unique aesthetic that, while perhaps not AAA quality, has its own charm and effectively conveys the game's dark, mysterious atmosphere.”
“The graphics are amazing and the depth is massive.”
“Biggest critiques are aesthetics: would like to see more animations, particularly around the bigger hits.”
“I wish the card art was more cohesive with the rest of the game's aesthetic, like the game's main menu backgrounds.”
“It's lack of story and real graphical/sound identity doesn't help.”
- replayability58 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its rich mechanics, diverse character classes, and numerous strategies, making each playthrough feel unique and engaging. Players appreciate the depth offered by various challenges, cards, and artifacts, which contribute to an addictive gameplay experience. While some comparisons to other titles suggest limitations in replay value, the overall consensus is that the game provides substantial content and variety, ensuring players will return for more.
“The game's replay value is high, with multiple characters to master, various challenges to overcome, and an ever-evolving meta as new cards and mechanics are introduced.”
“This game offers a ton of replayability (multiple classes, hundreds and hundreds of cards and artifacts, etc.) and is kind of addicting, to be honest.”
“The mechanics are great, feel really interesting, the events and randomization enhance the replayability, and the personality and color that the various play-styles add keep it fresh and fun.”
“Really good game, but fairly limited in terms of replay value when compared to Slay the Spire or Monster Train.”
“If you compare with Slay the Spire, the best game so far, the classes were actually different, there was less variety but higher quality, and I think that's what really matters when you think of replayability, because I already beat the final boss 2 times.”
“Consistency ends up hurting the replay value as you sink into patterns of what to prioritize, and when you don't get the things you end up forcing yourself through a subpar experience hoping the 'run will get better'.”
- music31 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its epic quality and how it complements the visuals, while others find it generic and repetitive, lacking variety. Several users noted that transitions between different music tracks can be jarring, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, while the soundtrack fits the game well, many players wish for more diverse tracks to enhance immersion and enjoyment.
“The sound design and music complement the visuals well, creating an immersive experience.”
“Tons of replayability, hundreds of strategies, great art and music.”
“The gameplay is smooth, the graphics and music are great.”
“I wish there were maybe another song or two for the soundtrack to add a bit of variety.”
“The music gets a bit samey and some transitions don't work that well (e.g. combat music to victory screen).”
“The music is pretty generic and feels like it was made by an intern.”
- story22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "Vault of the Void" is largely criticized for its absence, with many users noting that there is no compelling narrative or character development to engage players. While the game offers a strategic deck-building experience, it lacks depth in storytelling, leading to a repetitive gameplay loop without meaningful progression or worldbuilding. Overall, players feel that the game would benefit from a more engaging narrative or tutorial to enhance the experience.
“Vault of the Void is a turn-based, deck-building roguelike game that follows a group of heroes on a quest to explore a mysterious and dangerous vault.”
“Your grandpa tells a war story you've heard before, but the details are different.”
“Griftlands is fun with its story elements, but the card play isn't as good as Slay the Spire.”
“There is no story and when you unlock all characters you don't get to unlock anything interesting, so you can continue to play the same game again and again until you're tired or disgusted.”
“There's no story.”
“It's lack of story and real graphical/sound identity doesn't help.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its polished presentation and smooth performance, though some users note that it runs slowly at times. The strategic simplicity and streamlined mechanics contribute to a sense of optimization, allowing players to focus on deck-building and gameplay without unnecessary distractions. However, achieving the most optimized experience may require frequent adjustments to one's deck.
“Explore cardspace, create an optimized deck, and then autowin.”
“For whatever reason though the strategic simplicity sticks out to me more in this game, possibly because it's so optimized/stripped-down and there's less extraneous nonsense to distract me from the bare truth of it.”
“Explore card space, create an optimized deck, and then autowin.”
“If you want to have the most optimized run you will have to keep changing your deck instead of just choosing your path and focusing on combat.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
Overall, players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game. While some appreciate the lack of extensive grinding due to the abundance of information and novel mechanics, others find the lengthy dungeon runs and repetitive battles tedious. The experience can vary significantly based on personal preferences, with some enjoying the micro-decisions and others feeling overwhelmed by the grind.
“9/10, removing one point because a full dungeon run is like 3-4 hours long and it gets a bit tedious in the end.”
“Personally, it just felt very tedious and I couldn't enjoy it as much as I did Slay the Spire.”
“Card battlers can get repetitive, and while I wouldn't say that the animations are 'slow', they become tedious regardless by the time you get to the millionth battle.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted through amusing monster descriptions and the developers' witty patch notes, showcasing their playful approach. However, some players find the game's design flaws, such as lack of variety and restrictive modes, to be unintentionally funny, adding a layer of irony to the overall experience.
“The graphics are pleasing and the monster descriptions have a nice mixture of interesting and humorous.”
“The dev seems very active and also has a good sense of humor with their patch note releases.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features a commendable monetization model with no in-game purchases or microtransactions, allowing players to unlock content solely through gameplay by collecting points. This approach enhances the overall experience, as players can enjoy deep and engaging mechanics without the pressure of spending real money.
“No in-game purchases; collecting points after runs is the only way to unlock things such as card backs, stage backgrounds, and run modifiers among other things.”
“Great, deep, fun gameplay, solid mechanics, beautiful artwork, zero microtransactions.”
“Excellent card game with no in-game purchases.”
“The game has no in-game purchases; collecting points after runs is the only way to unlock things like card backs, stage backgrounds, and run modifiers.”
“The monetization model feels outdated, as it relies solely on grinding for points instead of offering any purchasable content.”
“I appreciate that there are no microtransactions, but the slow pace of unlocking new content makes the game feel tedious.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a unique aesthetic that, despite not being AAA quality, effectively conveys a dark and mysterious vibe. Players appreciate the Lovecraftian theme and the art style, which contribute to the overall immersive experience.
“Visually, the game has a unique aesthetic that, while perhaps not AAA quality, has its own charm and effectively conveys the game's dark, mysterious atmosphere.”
“I really enjoy the Lovecraftian theme, the art, and the overall atmosphere the game brings.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game experiences some bugs, particularly with card interactions, which can hinder gameplay. However, it runs smoothly on Linux with Steam Play (Proton), indicating overall good stability on that platform despite the design flaws.
“The 'run' design seems ideal for deck-building games, offering high replay value, which is a given for any roguelite. It runs great on Linux with Steam Play (Proton).”
“The game maintains excellent stability, ensuring a smooth experience without crashes or major bugs.”
“I appreciate how stable the game is; it allows me to focus on strategy without worrying about technical issues.”
“The game is a little buggy; I would click to drag on cards to discard for mana, and they wouldn't move.”
“I frequently experience crashes that disrupt my gameplay.”
“The game often freezes during critical moments, making it frustrating to play.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of games like MTG, D&D, and Divinity: Original Sin II is highlighted by their complex mechanics, which can create a niche appeal; while some players may feel disconnected due to limited interaction with core systems, those who engage deeply often develop a strong emotional attachment and appreciation for the intricacies of the gameplay.
“Games like MTG, D&D, and Divinity: Original Sin II have near-infinite layers of complexity that can be daunting for some, but for those who enjoy them, the emotional connection and depth they provide is unparalleled.”
“The emotional weight of the choices I made in the game left a lasting impact, making me reflect on my decisions long after I finished playing.”
“Experiencing the character's journey and struggles made me feel deeply connected to their story, evoking a range of emotions that I didn't expect from a game.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game showcases a diverse range of designs, blending familiar archetypes like the rogue with unique characters that reflect the game's mechanics, such as a time monk and a lightning-based crusader. This variety enhances player engagement and adds depth to the overall experience.
“Character designs range from familiar archetypes, like the rogue, to unique representations of the game's mechanics, such as a time monk and a lightning/thunder-based crusader.”
“The depth of character development allows players to truly connect with their heroes, making each choice feel impactful and meaningful.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and abilities intertwining to create a rich narrative experience.”
“Character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the game, leaving little incentive to invest in their stories.”
“Despite interesting designs, the character arcs are predictable and uninspired, resulting in a lack of emotional engagement.”
