Witching Stone
- September 16, 2024
- Alexander Taylor
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Witching Stone" is a unique blend of puzzle, roguelite, and deckbuilding gameplay, where you draw paths on a stone board to cast spells against enemies. Your objective is to battle deeper into procedurally generated dungeons, upgrading your spellbook with new spells, enchantments, and abilities. Watch out for enemies that retaliate with damage, harmful status effects, and alterations to the stone grid. The game features persistent upgrades and rewards strategic planning to build the perfect spell book.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and engaging spellcasting mechanic that combines puzzle elements with deckbuilding, providing a satisfying and strategic gameplay experience.
- It has a wealth of content, including a variety of spells, characters, and unlockable loadouts, ensuring high replayability and exploration.
- The art style and soundtrack are charming and enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable to play for extended periods.
- Current balance issues can lead to frustrating gameplay, particularly in later acts where RNG can dominate the experience and make runs feel unfair.
- Some characters are unevenly balanced, which can make it difficult to create viable builds, especially for those with more complex mechanics.
- The enemy design in the full version can be exhausting, with foes that disrupt gameplay excessively, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
- gameplay18 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its unique and engaging mechanics, blending roguelike elements with a compelling puzzle system that encourages strategic thinking and experimentation. Players appreciate the depth and variety in gameplay, despite some minor balance issues among characters and mechanics. Overall, the intuitive design and charming presentation contribute to a fun and replayable experience.
“Although it uses the same roguelike format as Slay the Spire, the core gameplay is done in such a unique way that is also incredibly fun.”
“There's a deeply playful spirit to how the game explores its mechanics, especially once you start secret hunting.”
“The casting system along with the possibilities that come with the deck building and card upgrade mechanics give surprising depth, especially for something that was so easy to pick up.”
“While it's still possible here to make a single mechanic-centric spellbook to win you most battles, some enemies can hard counter your ace in the hole if you're not careful.”
“Some of the characters are way stronger than others, and there's one baffling design choice the dev put in for the late game, but those are minor flaws when compared to the mechanical depth and replayability.”
“Takes a little while to get used to the mechanics of it, and some prudence born of experience is necessary to start getting a truly satisfying and fun build, but when you get a good run, it's very fun.”
- music11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised as fantastic and catchy, with many reviewers highlighting its retro appeal reminiscent of the early '90s. The soundtrack is described as charming and memorable, complementing the game's visuals and enhancing the overall experience. Overall, the combination of excellent music and art contributes significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“The absolute banger of a soundtrack is immediately apparent.”
“The retro graphics and memorable soundtrack have some great, early-90s appeal, too!”
“The music is just absolutely fantastic.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features appealing retro graphics reminiscent of the early '90s, complemented by a catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the polished user interface and the attractive aesthetic, making it a fun and memorable visual experience.
“The retro graphics and memorable soundtrack have some great, early-90s appeal, too!”
“I played the demo of this game on a whim based on the attractive aesthetic and found the polished UI and simple system to be very fun.”
“Love the aesthetics as well; easy recommend from me.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Replayability is highly regarded, with players noting significant mechanical depth that encourages multiple playthroughs. While some character balance issues and a questionable late-game design choice are mentioned, they are considered minor compared to the overall replay value.
“Replayability seems great so far!”
“Some of the characters are way stronger than others, and there's one baffling design choice the developer put in for the late game, but those are minor flaws when compared to the mechanical depth and replayability.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices that would encourage multiple playthroughs, making it feel repetitive after the first run.”
“Once you've experienced the story, there's little incentive to go back, as the gameplay doesn't change significantly.”
“The limited character options and predictable outcomes diminish the replayability, leaving it feeling stale after just a few sessions.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's story is considered somewhat lacking and superficial, but players feel that this is not the main attraction, as the focus lies on engaging puzzles and strategic gameplay.
“The story, fluff, and flavor of the game are a bit thin, but that's not really why I showed up, and chances are it won't be for you: the real draw is some fun puzzling and strategy.”
“The narrative feels disjointed and lacks depth, making it hard to become invested in the characters or their journeys.”
“I found the plot to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the game.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the optimization aspect of the game engaging and enjoyable, as experimenting with different builds and discovering new abilities that significantly alter their strategies adds a layer of excitement to the gameplay.
“It is a really fun time trying to create an optimized build, and it is exciting when you come across a new ability that completely changes your build.”
“The optimization options in this game are extensive, allowing for a high degree of customization that keeps gameplay fresh and engaging.”
“Finding the perfect balance in your build through optimization is incredibly rewarding and adds a layer of depth to the overall experience.”
