WitchHand

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 384 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • music
WitchHand Game Cover
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"Witchhand" is a single-player fantasy strategy game with stellar mechanics and impressive visuals. As the leader of a coven, players use cards to build and manage their witch empire, focusing on areas like trade, alchemy, or war to secure a place on the Council of Fates. With real-time card placement, players must expand and defend their coven against unseen forces and rival covens, utilizing the powers of the witch to survive and thrive in this 4X strategy game.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 384 reviews
gameplay35 positive mentions
grinding18 negative mentions
  • Charming art style and engaging gameplay that combines resource management with card mechanics.
  • Offers a satisfying progression system with unique witches that provide different playstyles and strategies.
  • Addictive gameplay loop that keeps players invested, with plenty of content and replayability.
  • Performance issues in late game with lag and frame drops when many cards are on screen.
  • Can become tedious with micromanagement and cluttered boards, especially in mid to late game.
  • Lack of clear guidance on certain mechanics and spells, leading to confusion for new players.
  • gameplay97 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it addictive and engaging due to its clever mechanics and unique character abilities, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth after a few hours. Many appreciate the charming art style and music, but some note issues with bugs, lag, and a lack of clarity in certain mechanics. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience for fans of resource management and card-based gameplay, though it may not appeal to those seeking a more dynamic or story-driven experience.

    • “Addictive, beautiful, and full of clever mechanics that keep every stage of the game exciting and engaging.”
    • “The gameplay loop is super fun and addictive, and the art style is lovely.”
    • “The mechanics are simple to learn, charming, and they scale with you as you progress, getting more and more complex as you go.”
    • “The bottom line though is that the gameplay is just not fun enough for me (mostly just waiting around for stuff to happen, or doing repetitive tasks to make them happen slightly faster) and there is no engaging story to keep you going either.”
    • “Sadly, after a few hours you'll realize it's pretty shallow once you've experienced the gameplay loop, and the different witches aren't as radical as the 'classes' in Cultist Simulator.”
    • “With no snapping, long, long strings of resources butting into each other as part of regular gameplay, and a lot of tedious repetition (as an example; to grow silversage you consume one to get two back, meaning that it's a bottleneck early until you RNG into it and harvesting the process can't be automated with magnets), this game learned the wrong lessons from Stacklands.”
  • story39 mentions

    The story aspect of the game is generally described as minimal and straightforward, with some players finding it intriguing but lacking depth. While there are cute characters and a whimsical setting involving witches and fae, many reviewers feel that the narrative does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience, which is often more focused on mechanics and resource management. Overall, the story serves as a light backdrop rather than a driving force, with some players appreciating its charm while others desire more complexity and variety.

    • “One of the best games in the genre of card management, amazing balancing, captivating story, and an adorable art style, 10/10.”
    • “A cute and addicting game that's easy to get into with an interesting enough story that you'll want to see through to the end.”
    • “The story and characters are cute, building up your coven full of familiars is satisfying, and there always seems to be more to do.”
    • “The bottom line though is that the gameplay is just not fun enough for me (mostly just waiting around for stuff to happen, or doing repetitive tasks to make them happen slightly faster) and there is no engaging story to keep you going either.”
    • “While I love the art, and the music itself is chill and pleasant, I just can't get around the gameplay and lackluster story.”
    • “It also has a very thin plot and too many annoying bottlenecks.”
  • music32 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and ability to enhance the overall experience, creating a cozy and enjoyable atmosphere. While many reviewers appreciate the soundtrack's quality and its fit with the game's aesthetic, some note that certain tracks can feel mismatched with the gameplay intensity. Overall, the music is considered a strong point, contributing to the game's addictive nature and visual appeal.

    • “The art is really nice, and in conjunction with the soundtrack gives the game a very comfy vibe.”
    • “The music sets a nice mood for the gameplay and is enjoyable to listen to, especially the final boss fight music.”
    • “I absolutely adore this game, the gameplay loop is super fun and addictive and the art style is so lovely (the music and sound design are as well).”
  • graphics32 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their gorgeous and charming art style, featuring unique and eye-catching designs that enhance the overall aesthetic experience. Players appreciate the smooth animations and the cute, witch-themed visuals, which contribute to a delightful atmosphere that complements the gameplay. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics and a captivating soundtrack makes the game visually appealing and engaging for players.

    • “The graphics are a delight for a card game, with each card flaunting unique, eye-catching designs, and the battle animations are silky smooth.”
    • “The art style is charming, as is the music.”
    • “The developer did such an awesome job with the artwork, it looks magical.”
    • “If it was balanced, it would be Stacklands with better graphics.”
    • “There are some problems, but the aesthetics carry it.”
    • “The gameplay is very similar to Stacklands but with a cutesy, witch-themed art style.”
  • optimization21 mentions

    The game's optimization is a significant concern, with players reporting a stable 60 fps in early stages that deteriorates to as low as 20 fps during late-game scenarios, particularly when many cards are on screen. Performance issues, including stuttering and lag, become increasingly problematic as players progress, detracting from the overall experience and hindering gameplay. Many reviewers express a desire for improved optimization before they can fully recommend the game.

    • “The art direction is decent, and where I arranged cards not to bump into each other, I did not experience the performance issues some others report.”
    • “There are some interesting loops and synergies, and a lot of opportunity for optimization of resource creation and use that I really only touched the surface of.”
    • “Once you get your engine up and running late game, it does face some performance issues; however, by the time it gets bad, the game is nearly done.”
    • “Starts locked at 60 fps, gets worse as you progress and got to around 40 fps in the end game for me with huge performance hits any time a lot of cards spawn at once, which happens often in the late game.”
    • “Even on my main rig the game would not keep stable 60 fps, and towards the late game started stuttering noticeably.”
    • “The game will slow down during the end game when there are hundreds of cards on screen, most likely an optimization issue.”
  • replayability18 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it enjoyable with distinct character classes that offer varied playstyles, others feel it lacks depth and long-term engagement. The addition of new characters and potential updates may enhance replay value, but many reviewers note that the experience can feel limited after the initial playthrough. Despite these concerns, the game is generally considered fun and worth revisiting for its solid core gameplay.

    • “All three current witches offer a twist on the core gameplay loop for replayability, and the dev currently has plans to add a fourth, which I can't wait to see.”
    • “The three characters you can play are different enough that the game is very replayable.”
    • “Very satisfying progression through automation and exploration, and though the game itself is pretty short, it feels decently replayable and what you get is good fun either way.”
    • “The one piece of feedback I have is that it has limited replayability.”
    • “Overall, it is a pretty decent game and even though running through it again doesn't really add much replay value, it is pretty solid on a first time around.”
    • “It's not the game's strong suit and doesn't do much for replayability, which, speaking of, feels a bit limited.”
  • grinding18 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and detracting from the overall experience, particularly in the late and postgame stages where resource management and repetitive tasks become overwhelming. While some automation features help alleviate the grind, many reviewers feel that the game suffers from excessive repetition and a lack of engaging mechanics, making the grind feel more like a chore than a rewarding challenge. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant flaw that impacts enjoyment, despite some players appreciating the game's humor and concept.

    • “Why add such weird tedium to a game that isn't trying to be tedious?”
    • “Overall, I think the game has a lot of flaws that impact the player experience, and lead to the latter half of the game feeling really slow and tedious.”
    • “Endgame is really tedious though with no option to kill the 20+ mobs automatically and scaling your 'base' is not as organic as I hoped it would be.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the quirky elements like witches with animal familiars donning funny hats. Comparisons to other games highlight its comedic aspects, suggesting it combines humor with engaging gameplay in a way that feels fresh and entertaining. Overall, the game is described as funny and enjoyable, despite some criticisms regarding its creator.

    • “I love that different witches have different animal familiars, and if you specialize them, they maintain their familiar species but are wearing a funny hat now.”
    • “Nice and funny game - something akin to Cultist Simulator (but shorter, easier, and much less grindy) and Stacklands (but more complex and funnier) combined.”
    • “And, well, Cultist Simulator lost its luster for me what with all the funny business surrounding its maker.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The game experiences notable stability issues, including frequent freezes and lag, particularly in the late-game. Players have reported bugs and difficulties with certain mechanics, suggesting a need for quality-of-life improvements to enhance overall performance.

    • “You are supposed to acquire more and more cards while expanding the play area, but every time you do, there is a chance the game just freezes.”
    • “Sometimes buggy, gets laggy in the late game, some mechanics are difficult to grasp (i.e., magnets), and it could use a few quality of life features (i.e., having the time boost be toggle-able with the space bar or having something that could lessen the clutter of cards you see in the late game).”
    • “This game is a bit buggy!”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be a blend of wholesome and relaxing, as the automation of villages and the training of familiars create a comforting atmosphere that alleviates stress.

  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is described as atmospheric and charming, drawing inspiration from cultist simulator and stacklands, which contributes to a unique and engaging experience in the new genre.

    • “An atmospheric and charming take on the new genre, led by Cultist Simulator and Stacklands.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is visually appealing, though some players express disappointment over the limited variety in character designs. Overall, the existing art is enjoyable, but there is a desire for more diverse representations.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

16hMedian play time
16hAverage play time
12-26hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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