Words for Evil

About

Words for Evil is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by Chromosphere Games and was released on December 11, 2014. It received positive reviews from players.

"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

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 413 reviews

gameplay21 positive mentions

story5 negative mentions

Engaging and fun gameplay that combines word puzzles with RPG elements.
Cute pixel art and charming presentation enhance the overall experience.
Offers a variety of characters and challenges, providing good replay value.

Lacks a fullscreen option, making it difficult to play on larger monitors.
Some words used in puzzles are obscure or archaic, which can be frustrating.
Gameplay can become repetitive over time, with little variation in combat mechanics.

gameplay
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
63%
13%
The gameplay of "Words for Evil" is a blend of word puzzle mechanics and RPG elements, offering a simple yet engaging experience that can become repetitive over time. While the real-time combat adds a layer of challenge, many players feel that the mechanics lack depth and strategic complexity, often rewarding shorter words over longer ones. Overall, the game is enjoyable for casual play, but it may not satisfy those seeking a more intricate or educational gameplay experience.
- “The art style is cozy and beautiful, the music is relaxing, and the gameplay holds my focus well.”
- “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 gameplay is fairly fast-paced and while I wouldn't say it is addictive, it's still fun and you will find yourself coming back for just one more playthrough more times than you will probably like to admit.”
- “The gameplay is very repetitive, but if you fall into the game loop, be prepared to lose hours of your life that no one is giving you back.”
- “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.”
- “Unfortunately, the actual gameplay is not very satisfying in my opinion, as the game is currently.”
graphics
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
42%
6%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the cute and charming art style, vibrant visuals, and retro pixel aesthetic that evoke a cozy atmosphere. However, some users note limitations such as the lack of a full-screen mode, which can make the graphics appear small, and a few criticize the visuals as being simplistic or not particularly impressive. Overall, while the graphics are generally seen as pleasant and fitting for the game's casual RPG theme, they may not stand out significantly during gameplay.
- “The art style is cozy and beautiful, the music is relaxing, and the gameplay holds my focus well.”
- “Graphics are delightful: the artwork for your characters, the monsters, the attacks, magical effects, and the worlds in which the characters adventure are vibrant and evocative.”
- “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 the 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
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
70%
19%
The game's story is minimal and lacks depth, often described as a basic framework for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. Players engage in battles and quests, but many feel the experience is more akin to a casual puzzle game without a significant storyline, leading to comparisons with other titles like Letter Quest, which is favored for its richer narrative. Overall, while the game offers some light RPG elements, it does not deliver an epic quest or engaging plot, leaving players wanting more in terms of story.
- “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 in 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, contributing to a cozy atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. While some users appreciate the calming soundtrack and its fit with the game's aesthetic, others note that the sound design can be basic and occasionally grating. Overall, the music is seen as a positive aspect, with options for players to listen to their own music if desired.
- “The music and sounds are also pretty nice and relaxing.”
- “The art style is cute and the soundtrack is nice; the mechanics are simple, but execute well.”
- “The graphics are adorable, the music is soothing, and the premise is fantastically simple.”
- “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 highlighting its simple yet engaging mechanics and the ability to retain character progress across playthroughs. The inclusion of multiple characters, each with unique powers and levels, further enhances the replay value, making it a worthwhile experience for players. Overall, it is praised for its entertaining gameplay and the potential for countless replay sessions.
- “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.”
- “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.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a blend of understated and devious humor, highlighted by quirky mechanics like Santa Claus's "naughty or nice" attack and the use of swear words for damage. Players appreciate the comedic elements woven into gameplay, though some may find the reliance on archaic vocabulary a humorous challenge. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the experience, making it enjoyable and engaging.
- “Santa Claus being a character was funny enough, but one of his attacks essentially being a coin flip to judge your opponent as either naughty or nice (with 'naughty' dealing damage to them, and 'nice' healing them) is something I get a kick out of every time I come across him.”
- “There's also a devious sense of humor behind this game that I appreciate.”
- “Some of the words that it seems to expect you to know (or have a decent chance of knowing, i.e., treasure chests) are humorously archaic.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting minor bugs like audio glitches and issues with fullscreen mode, while others experience more significant problems such as unresponsive controls and unregistered words. Overall, while there are some glitches, many players find the game generally functional and enjoyable.
- “It's not buggy at all; everything works smoothly.”
- “The game runs flawlessly without any crashes.”
- “I haven't experienced any stability issues; it performs consistently well.”
- “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.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the game evokes a range of emotions, from frustration to self-doubt, particularly when faced with challenging puzzles. The emotional impact is heightened by the game's requirement for careful letter matching, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy for some users. Overall, the emotional experience is mixed, combining moments of challenge with a sense of personal reflection.
- “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 found myself genuinely caring about the outcomes of the characters, which is rare in games.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of "Words for Evil" is criticized as a cheap and lazy cash grab, particularly due to its release on Steam as a mobile app, suggesting a lack of effort and value for players.
- “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 prompts to spend.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviewers highlight that character development is primarily focused on enhancing skills and powers, allowing players to experience significant growth and customization throughout the game. This progression system adds depth to gameplay, making characters feel more dynamic and engaging as they evolve.
- “The character development in this game is incredible, allowing players to unlock more skills and powers as they progress.”
- “I love how the character development system offers a variety of skills and abilities, making each playthrough feel unique.”
- “The depth of character development keeps me engaged, as I can continuously enhance my character's skills and powers.”
- “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 choices didn't matter.”
- “The progression system is underwhelming, offering few new abilities and making the characters feel stagnant.”
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 with words, the artwork and soundtrack elevate the overall experience, creating an engaging and immersive 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 you are racing against time to fight off monsters with words; the artwork and soundtrack are amazing.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere is often dull and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
- “The game struggles to create a cohesive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the experience.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unfulfilling, as it lacks meaningful rewards for skillful play, such as forming longer words. The minimal RPG elements contribute to a repetitive experience, with battles often encouraging the use of shorter, simpler words rather than engaging gameplay. Overall, the grinding feels monotonous and detracts from the potential enjoyment of the game.
- “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.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 high performance even on lower-end systems.”