Words for Evil

About

"Words for Evil" is a fast-paced word game combined with fantasy RPG elements, available on PC and Mac. Battle monsters, unlock chests, defuse traps, and cheat death using word games while leveling up heroes, unlocking abilities, and purchasing equipment. With 16 heroes, nearly 100 monsters, and 6 stages, the game offers deep combat and classic word game mechanics.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 406 reviews

gameplay21 positive mentions

story5 negative mentions

The game combines word puzzles with RPG elements, creating a unique and engaging experience.
The pixel art style and music are charming, adding to the overall enjoyment of the game.
It's a fun and educational way to improve vocabulary while playing, making it suitable for word game enthusiasts.

The game launches in a tiny, unadjustable window, making it difficult to play on larger monitors.
Some words used in puzzles are obscure or archaic, which can be frustrating for players.
The gameplay can become repetitive, and the lack of a clear progression or story may deter some players.

gameplay
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
64%
12%
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet engaging word-connecting mechanic that combines elements of RPGs and rogue-like games, allowing players to spell words to attack enemies and level up. While the mechanics are easy to learn and the art style is charming, many players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth, with a focus on short words often overshadowing the potential for more complex word formation. Overall, the game offers a casual, fast-paced experience that can be enjoyable in short bursts, but may not satisfy those seeking a more strategic or educational challenge.
- “The gameplay is smooth and the game can be left open and walked away from between battles, which makes this game perfect for playing in short bursts.”
- “The RPG mechanics meld very well with the actual typing gameplay.”
- “After 3 hours of gameplay, I found myself typing slightly faster, increasing my vocabulary, and having fun blasting through waves of enemies.”
- “Gameplay is not educational or strategic; you are rewarded more for making 3-letter words than 5-letter words, which works against the general concept of word games.”
- “The RPG elements are minimal, and the gameplay quickly becomes tedious.”
- “Unfortunately, the actual gameplay is not very satisfying in my opinion, as the game is currently.”
graphics
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
45%
6%
The graphics of the game are described as charming and cute, featuring a cozy art style that enhances the overall atmosphere. While some players appreciate the vibrant and evocative visuals, others criticize the retro pixel graphics as simplistic or lacking polish. Overall, the graphics are generally well-received for their aesthetic appeal, though they may not significantly impact gameplay.
- “The graphics are delightful: the artwork for your characters, the monsters, the attacks, magical effects, and the worlds in which the characters adventure are vibrant, evocative, and completely immaterial to the gameplay.”
- “A charming little game with pleasing graphics and cute little sprites.”
- “The graphics are adorable and charming, as well as in some cases quite stunning.”
- “The graphics are more for an audience of people watching you play.”
- “It has terrible, ugly retro pixel graphics.”
- “Some sounds in game are too loud (even with sliding it to lowest), graphics aren't really interesting or beautiful, not like it really matters but you can feel that something is missing.”
story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
69%
19%
The game's story is generally considered minimal and lacks depth, with many players noting that it feels rushed and underdeveloped. While there are basic RPG elements and a fantasy setting, the narrative does not provide a compelling reason to engage with the world, leading to a more casual and repetitive experience. Overall, players recommend other titles, like Letter Quest, for a richer storytelling experience.
- “Between playing games full of deep lore and convoluted storylines, picking up Words for Evil will relax you and may even teach you something.”
- “I bought this game and took off on my quest, finding multiple heroes to aid me with rending the evil from this land, dragons, skeletons, hydras, undead, and trolls alike.”
- “On this noble quest of mine, I traveled many miles, finding new allies as I lost the old ones in combat; they fought valiantly and they will be missed.”
- “Lack of story and can't do fullscreen.”
- “Despite being set in a fantasy world (and a beautiful one, at that; the pixel art here is as gorgeous and colorful as it is simplistic), there is really no story to follow or 'reason' to traverse the world other than the relaxing joy of it.”
- “But this is a RPG-lite experience, so don't expect any kind of story, really.”
music
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
36%
12%
The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and soothing, enhancing the cozy atmosphere and complementing the gameplay well. While some users appreciate the calming soundtrack, others note that the sound design can be basic and occasionally grating. Overall, the music contributes positively to the experience, with options to play without it or listen to personal tracks.
- “The music is calm and fits the process.”
- “The graphics are adorable, the music is soothing, and the premise is fantastically simple.”
- “It has a very comfy atmosphere even though it has you racing against time to fight off monsters with words, and the artwork and soundtrack is amazing.”
- “The sound design is basic with royalty-free music that sounds like a stolen version of Planescape Torment's main theme as the main music, and the sound effects are basic but get grating.”
- “Currently (2/22/15) my game has a glitch where I will turn the music and effect volume all the way down (so I can listen to my own music while playing) and the sound effects will still be on.”
- “You can listen to your own music or play without music if you want.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The game boasts significant replayability, with players appreciating the ability to retain character progress and levels across multiple playthroughs. The inclusion of various characters, each with unique powers, enhances the experience and encourages repeated gameplay. Overall, users find it simple yet engaging, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a game with lasting appeal.
- “Seriously though, an excellent puzzle RPG that has massive replayability.”
- “Lots of replayability for sure, as you keep your characters' progress when you create a new game.”
- “The basic game is simple and fun, and the addition of multiple characters, each with powers and levels, increases replayability immensely.”
- “Replay value is decent, and you get to keep the characters to start with them next time you play, and they keep their levels.”
- “I picked it up on sale for $2.09, but it is definitely replayable many times.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some users report minor bugs like audio glitches and issues with word registration, others find it generally functional with no significant problems. However, a few players have experienced more severe bugs that impact gameplay, suggesting that stability may vary based on individual experiences.
- “It's not buggy or anything; it works fine.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
- “I haven't experienced any glitches, which is impressive.”
- “A few annoying bugs, such as audio glitches when sound effects are turned to minimum, and no fullscreen option.”
- “Terribly buggy; I do not enjoy the game when it keeps clicking itself while I'm trying to spell.”
- “A few glitches, some words that do not register, and the insane difficulty of the last stand anagrams only slightly detract from the experience.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a clever and devious sense of humor that players find enjoyable, with elements like using swear words for damage adding to its comedic appeal. While the humor is accessible, some players note that a familiarity with archaic English words can enhance the experience, making it both funny and slightly challenging. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect that contributes to the game's charm.
- “There's a devious sense of humor behind this game that I appreciate.”
- “It's a funny game, easy to play but maybe a little hard if you don't know enough English words.”
- “Some of the words that it seems to expect you to know are humorously archaic.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its cohesive integration with the theme of each world, enhanced by old-school graphics that contribute to a charming and comfortable environment. Despite the urgency of racing against time and battling monsters, the artwork and soundtrack elevate the overall experience, creating a captivating ambiance.
- “It fits well with the atmosphere of the game and the theme of each world.”
- “The old-school graphics actually create a great atmosphere for the game.”
- “It has a very comfy atmosphere, even though it has you racing against time to fight off monsters with words; the artwork and soundtrack are amazing.”
- “The atmosphere feels disjointed and fails to immerse you in the game world.”
- “Despite the potential, the atmosphere lacks depth and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
- “The game’s atmosphere is bland and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unfulfilling, as it lacks meaningful rewards for longer word formations and relies heavily on repetitive battles that encourage short, simple words. The minimal RPG elements further contribute to a sense of monotony, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- “This could have been another Bookworm Adventures, but sadly it's tedious and frustrating as you're not even rewarded for making longer words on the board.”
- “The RPG elements are minimal and the gameplay quickly becomes tedious.”
- “For the majority of the game, you're fighting monsters through a word search, and it gets a bit tedious because the battles seem to encourage you to find the smallest words like 'dog', 'tack', 'bag', etc., containing the letters you need.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be impactful, with some expressing feelings of inadequacy or frustration, particularly when faced with challenging puzzles. The game's design encourages a deeper connection, though some users feel they haven't fully engaged with its emotional depth yet.
- “This game has made me feel a deep emotional connection to the characters and their stories.”
- “The narrative is so powerful that it evokes a range of emotions, from joy to sadness.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the experiences and choices presented in the game.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization of "Words for Evil" is criticized as a cheap and lazy cash grab, particularly due to its poor execution as a mobile app released on Steam.
- “Words for Evil is a mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as a cheap, lazy cash grab.”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy basic features.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many paywalls in a game that could have been enjoyable without constant upselling.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Reviewers note that character development is enhanced through the acquisition of new skills and powers, allowing players to experience a sense of growth and progression. This aspect contributes to a more engaging gameplay experience, as players can customize their characters and adapt their abilities to different challenges. Overall, the emphasis on skill and power development is seen as a positive feature that enriches the game's narrative and mechanics.
- “The character development in this game is phenomenal, allowing players to unlock a wide range of skills and powers that truly enhance the gameplay experience.”
- “I love how the character development system is designed; it gives you the freedom to customize your abilities and grow your character in unique ways.”
- “The depth of character development keeps me engaged, as I can continually evolve my character's skills and powers throughout the game.”
- “The character development feels shallow, with limited skills and powers that don't evolve throughout the game.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful character growth; it felt like my character remained static despite the time invested.”
- “The skills and powers available for character development are too few, making the progression feel uninspired and repetitive.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is noted for its smooth performance, indicating effective optimization that enhances the overall gameplay experience.
- “The game runs smoothly, providing a seamless experience.”
- “I appreciate how well-optimized the gameplay is; it never lags.”
- “The optimization is impressive, allowing for a fluid and enjoyable experience.”