"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.
The game features a unique and engaging gem-matching spellcasting mechanic that adds depth and variety to gameplay, making each run feel fresh and rewarding.
Players appreciate the game's charming art style, catchy soundtrack, and the strategic decision-making involved in building and executing spell combinations.
Witching Stone offers a high level of replayability with multiple characters, spells, and unlockable content, making it a compelling choice for fans of the roguelike genre.
The game can be excessively punishing due to RNG elements, with unfavorable starting boards leading to significant early damage and frustrating encounters.
Some characters feel unevenly balanced, making it difficult to create viable builds, especially for those that rely on specific stones or mechanics.
Non-boss encounters can drag on longer than expected, often due to stalling effects and the nature of the gem board, which may detract from the overall pacing of the game.
gameplay
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
75%
6%
The gameplay is praised for its unique blend of roguelike mechanics and puzzle-solving elements, offering a rich and engaging experience that encourages strategic planning and customization. Players appreciate the intuitive yet deep mechanics, charming art, and the fun of exploring various strategies, although some balance issues with character strength and late-game design choices are noted. Overall, the game is highly recommended for those who enjoy innovative gameplay and replayability, with many suggesting trying the demo to gauge interest.
“It's all very well thought out; the dev clearly put a lot of work into the game's mechanics.”
“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.”
“The casting system, along with the possibilities that come with the deck building and card upgrade mechanics, gives surprising depth, especially for something that was so easy to pick up.”
“Not even RNG, just bad gameplay.”
“Gameplay is very intuitive yet lacks a lot of depth and varying strategies and mechanics to play with.”
“Some of the characters are way stronger than others, and there's one baffling design choice the dev put in for the late game.”
music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
23%
9%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and memorable soundtrack that evokes a charming retro vibe reminiscent of early-90s gaming. The combination of lo-fi pixel art and engaging music enhances the overall presentation, creating an immersive experience that players find delightful. While a few users expressed indifference towards the music, the overwhelming consensus highlights its fantastic quality and significant contribution to the game's appeal.
“The music is just absolutely fantastic.”
“Witching stone's pixel art style and atmospheric soundtrack create a visually stunning world that draws players in and keeps them engaged.”
“The absolute banger of a soundtrack on the other hand is immediately apparent.”
“The soundtrack rules.”
“The art and music has a lot of charm.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
36%
The graphics of Witching Stone are praised for their retro pixel art style, which evokes a nostalgic early-90s charm, complemented by a memorable soundtrack. Players appreciate the polished user interface and attention to detail, which enhance the overall visual experience. The game also offers customizable graphic settings, allowing players to tailor their experience to their preferences.
“Witching Stone's pixel art style and atmospheric soundtrack create a visually stunning world that draws players in and keeps them engaged.”
“However, the game's attention to detail in its visuals and sound design is a testament to the developers' commitment to delivering a high-quality experience.”
“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.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
34%
22%
Overall, the game offers strong replayability due to its mechanical depth, diverse character strengths, and the inclusion of 12 achievements along with a daily run mode. While some spells may feel less useful, the variety of spells, items, and challenges encourages players to explore different strategies. Minor design flaws do not significantly detract from the overall replay value, making it reminiscent of other successful titles in the genre.
“Elegantly designed with lots of replayability, this reminds me of other greats of the genre like Dicey Dungeons or Slice and Dice!”
“Not all spells are created equal-- some seem to me borderline useless-- but all available spells, items, and boons/banes pay some favor at the altar of replayability.”
“Not all spells are created equal-- some seem to me borderline useless-- but all available spells and items and boons/banes pay some favor at the altar of replayability.”
“The inclusion of 12 achievements and a daily run mode makes the game more replayable, giving players extra goals to achieve.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's story is considered thin and lacking depth, which may not appeal to players seeking a rich narrative; however, many reviewers emphasize that the primary attraction lies in its 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.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the optimization aspect of the game enjoyable, as it allows for creative build-making and the thrill of discovering new abilities that can significantly alter their strategies.
“It is a really fun time trying to make an optimized build, and it is exciting when you come across a new ability that changes your build completely.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted through fantastic key art and character design that draws intentional inspiration from late 80s to 90s anime, creating a nostalgic yet fresh aesthetic.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Witching Stone's pixel art style, combined with its atmospheric soundtrack, creates a visually captivating world that effectively immerses players and maintains their engagement throughout the game.
“Witching Stone's pixel art style and atmospheric soundtrack create a visually stunning world that draws players in and keeps them engaged.”