Slay the Spire

I try so hard and get so far, but in the end it doesn't even matter...

完美诠释了什么是猴子敲出来的莎士比亚，但是是莎士比亚。

'Trial by fire' game design with no meta progression is an exercise in frustration. Better pray to the RNG gods.

Fun idea and very addicting gameplay. But 100% RNG. Read dozens of different guides and deck lists. Tried to follow them. Never got the necessary cards dropped to properly build those decks in several runs. This game is unfortunately more luck than skill.

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These kinds of game are the equivalent to a certain generation of gamer's slots machine. Once you come to understand the mechanics, success/failure comes down to pulling the lever a certain number of times for the game to say "jackpot". The game tricks you into thinking there's deeper gameplay when you don't understand the game, however once you do understand it, you realize it's mostly RNG. Many faults in the mechanics: not being able to hold onto cards so that you can build a strategy to exploit the synergy of the cards you have in your deck, not being able to compound energy so you can take actions, many many other faults, all have ways to fix them, but it's random whether or not you will come across them in any particular run. Even even if you do, it's random whether or not it will be at a point where it will even matter.

"Just one more run." That is the lie you will tell yourself at 2:00 AM. Slay the Spire is the absolute gold standard of deck-building roguelikes. It is incredibly easy to pick up, but the depth is staggering. Every single card choice, relic pickup, and path decision matters. Just when you think you've drafted an unstoppable, broken combo, the Spire humbles you—and you’ll immediately hit "New Run" anyway. Pros: 👍🏻- Masterclass in game balance and design. 👍🏻- Endless replayability with 4 distinct characters and ascending difficulty levels. 👍🏻- Runs can be a quick 30 minutes or a deep, analytical hour. Cons: 👎🏻- Severe risk to your sleep schedule. 👎🏻- You will develop a deep, personal hatred for a giant bird that yells "CAW CAW!" If you have even a passing interest in card games, strategy, or roguelikes, stop reading reviews and just buy it.

[h3][b]Some games do not need a great story when their real strength lies in every decision[/b][/h3] Slay the Spire hooked me with the way it blends cards, strategy, and progression into runs that always push me to think a little differently. What I like most is that it never feels like a game of pure luck, but rather a game of learning, where every card, relic, and fight helps me understand the system better. The core idea is simple to explain, but very hard to exhaust, and that is exactly why it becomes so addictive. On top of that, switching characters truly changes the way I play and keeps everything from feeling the same. I enjoyed it a lot because it always left me wanting one more run, even after losing. I like that it punishes mistakes, but most of the time it leaves me with a useful lesson instead of pure frustration. My warning is that it can become absorbing very quickly, and if someone does not enjoy thinking through every turn or building decks patiently, they may not connect with it in the same way. Even so, I strongly recommend it to anyone looking for strategy, replayability, and a really solid gameplay loop.

I know this is one of the most well-regarded roguelikes, and while it is pretty fun, I don't think the ascension loop or drive to beat it with other characters is present for me here. After having cleared the game once with my preferred character, I don't feel much desire to do it again.