First Impressions: Slay the Spire

Genre: Turn-Based Strategy; Deck-Building
Platforms Tested: Switch and PC
Cost: $24.99 on Steam for PC
Other Details: Single-player

It is no secret that one of my favorite genres of games is turn-based strategy. Honestly, gaming is my “alone” time. I prefer to game solo most of the time. That is why turn-based strategy games hold a special place in my heart.

That being said, I am NOT a fan of deck-builders. I have never been into Magic: The Gathering, or Yu-Gi-Oh, or even Pokemon. My attention span and the amount of brain storage I am willing to sacrifice to play deck-builders is lacking. Often, deck-builders require you to have intimate knowledge of what cards exist and there is this never-ending quest to build the best deck. That is just not my cup of tea.

Rugjen originally picked up Slay the Spire on the Switch. When I decided to give it a try, I originally began my quest on the Switch. Once I decided it was something I wanted to record for my YouTube series, Overlord After Dark, I purchased my own copy from Steam on PC.

What kind of game is Slay the Spire?

Slay the Spire is a game in which you climb The Spire, traversing three acts with many unique enemies, bosses, and encounters. While climbing your way up to the Heart of the Spire, you will encounter many challenges, which you will have to overcome to reach the boss, the final enemy of the act. The levels are procedurally-generated, so each game will be a different experience.

Slay the Spire is a game primarily about survival, collecting cards, and building a powerful deck to wipe out your foes. Good luck and happy deckbuilding!
https://slay-the-spire.fandom.com/wiki/Slay_the_Spire_Wiki

PC or Console?
I recommend PC over console. Game play is much smoother on PC. Using a controller on the Switch versus a mouse slowed the game play quite a bit.

Game Play
This game has me completely hooked. It is not a difficult game to learn at all. The tutorial is very well written and gets you up and running pretty fast. As the Slay the Spire Wiki described, each game is unique. I have invested many hours into this game, and not once was the game similar to a previous game.

Without going too much into detail, you have to begin with the Ironclad class. The more you play, you unlock better cards and two other classes.

There are three “spires” with a boss at the top of each tower. You build your deck as you move up the spire. There are multiple routes up the spire with places to rest, regular and elite monsters to battle, vendors, and random encounters that can either help you, or curse you. There are also “relics” which grant special skills or bonuses that you can purchase from a vendor, receive from a chest or random encounter, or from elite and boss mobs. Need an extra boost? There are also potions you can throw or drink with various effects. You basically pick a path and battle your way up to the top of the spire.

What I love about this game is once you die, you start completely over. That means all those OP cards you received in your trek up the spire disappear. In games like Hearthstone, there is quite a bit of inequality. Even among evenly matched players. Slay the Spire is the exact opposite of that. Granted, a large part of that is due to the fact that you are playing against the game.

The combination of relics, cards, potions, and encounters give you unique game play each time. Most of all, it is really, really fun.