Words Can Kill

About

Words Can Kill is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Typing Monkey and was released on September 29, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Words Can Kill" is a roguelike deckbuilder and word game hybrid, where success hinges on decision-making and resource management, not vocabulary. Engage in strategic combat, plan future moves, and manage RNG as you travel through a fantasy world, upgrading your deck along the way. Simple mechanics combine with deep strategy, offering a challenging and rewarding experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 83 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Unique blend of word games and roguelike mechanics, providing a fresh gameplay experience.
Offers multiple difficulty levels and character classes, allowing for varied strategies and replayability.
Engaging and fun, especially for fans of Scrabble and deck-building games.

Repetitive gameplay and reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating experiences, especially with unplayable starting decks.
Limited dictionary and clunky mechanics detract from the overall enjoyment and strategy of the game.
Balancing issues with enemy actions and difficulty scaling can make the game feel unfair at times.

gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of enjoyment and frustration, with players appreciating the strategic depth offered by mechanics like redraws, but criticizing the limited dictionary and clunky mechanics that hinder the core spelling experience. While some find the deck-building and item collection engaging, others note that certain mechanics can be overly punishing or detached from the game's spirit, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, the gameplay has potential but suffers from execution issues that detract from its enjoyment.
- “And there are anti-RNG mechanics like redraw that also deepen the strategy - it was very fun to kill the level 4 boss by getting exact lethal from redrawing tiles like 8 times.”
- “I don't really like the aesthetics but the mechanics are super solid.”
- “It's like Bookworm, but more in-depth with a bunch of fun mechanics that work very well together.”
- “This game fails at its primary mechanic, that of spelling words.”
- “There aren't enough tiles on the board to make interesting words, the dictionary used is painfully limited, and the upgrading mechanics and deck building are barely significant.”
- “The gameplay idea (combining deckbuilding with spelling) is neat and I do think it can work well, but the way it was executed leaves a lot to be desired.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding the art style unappealing and reminiscent of mid-2000s flash games, while others appreciate the charming artwork and unique designs. Despite the aesthetic criticisms, many agree that the gameplay mechanics are solid and engaging, suggesting that graphics are not the primary focus of the experience. Overall, the visuals may not impress everyone, but they do not detract significantly from the game's depth and strategy.
- “The artwork is charming and no two games are the same.”
- “Don't let the mid-2000's flash game aesthetics deter you, this game has a great amount of depth and strategy behind its cartoon facade.”
- “I think graphics are good and I don't usually care too much about looks when it comes to what I play.”
- “It's not too good graphically and has its flaws, such as:”
- “Skip if you're looking for fast-paced, heart-racing combat and/or the highest fidelity graphics to test your latest rig.”
- “Graphics aside, because one person made this, it's unrealistic to expect much more from what I think is their first game. The board you interact with all the time and the tiles, and pretty much everything just doesn't feel responsive enough.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and context, with players noting minimal narrative elements to explain the gameplay. While some express a desire for a more developed storyline and richer world-building, others find the existing narrative either non-existent or overly simplistic. Overall, the story aspect leaves much to be desired, with calls for expansion and enhancement.
- “ Epic story.”
- “Moral of the story, you never know what life holds in store for you, and if I would have given up when all the odds were stacked against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “This game has no story.”
- “When starting a new run, there isn't much story as to why I'm fighting all the creatures, and it's a little difficult to prepare a word by leaving letters in the shield or sword for the next turn because you end up preventing yourself from spelling some words in the beginning.”
- “I would still love to see an expansion of the story, and an expansion of the dictionary available, names given to the encounters on the map to make me feel like I'm in a place.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Users consistently highlight the game's high replayability, with many describing it as "infinitely replayable" and suggesting that additional features could enhance the experience even further. Overall, players find the game highly enjoyable to revisit.
- “Infinitely replayable.”
- “Some additions to make the game more enjoyable and replayable.”
- “So replayable!!”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is praised for its calming and soothing qualities, providing a relaxing experience that helps players feel at ease.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes to this music long enough to realize that I was going to be okay.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a charming blend of cute humor and clever British slang, enhancing its unique roguelike deckbuilding experience. Players appreciate how the humor contributes to the overall balance and enjoyment of the game.
- “A unique roguelike deckbuilder with some cute humor.”
- “The dictionary works well for the game balance, and I find the number of British slang words hilarious!”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players highlight the importance of optimization in "Slay the Spire," noting that mastering various strategies and tricks can significantly enhance performance, particularly in speedrunning scenarios. This suggests that the game rewards players who invest time in understanding its mechanics for better outcomes.
- “I used to do speedruns of Slay the Spire, and I am very familiar with the optimizations and little tricks you can do in games like this that push a run from a fail to a win.”
- “The game feels unoptimized, with frequent frame drops and long loading times that disrupt the flow of gameplay.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs that hindered my progress, making it clear that the game could use significant optimization.”