Let me start by saying that I do not have a problem. I hold down two jobs while also helping around the house. That being said, I have spent almost 1200 hours playing Slay the Spire. Developed by Mega Crit Games, the game officially came out on PC on January 29. Last week, it made the jump to PS4 and the Switch. Why has this game become part of my daily ritual? Here are a few reasons.
If you are unfamiliar with the game, Slay the Spire is a card game with a fantasy setting. Select your characters and try to beat three levels as you climb the mysterious Spire. You can battle foes, enter rooms where a choice must be made and replenish your health at a campfire. Along the way, you pick up new cards to build your deck. Relics can be found or purchased which give your character special abilities. Be warned that not all are positive. With this quick introduction, here are some things that keep me coming back.
Daily Climb
You might be able to climb the Spire when you make decisions, but what if you had to do it with a specific set of rules? Daily climbs last for 24 hours and have three main conditions. You try and get the high score against other players. Sometimes, the journey is easy like when you get a set of cards that are all rare. Sometimes it is hard, like when you lose some of your max health every time you enter a room. It’s different every day and allows for maximum replayablity.
Mods
Mega Crit has embraced the creation of mods for Slay. The community has created different mods that allow you to explore the world as never before. Some are quality of life changes, while others change the game completely. How would a certain bug from Hallownest fare against the foes of the Spire? Would One-Punch-Man finally find a worthy challenge? The Mods section has hundreds of choices and you want to check them all out.
True Ending
You have finally reached the top and have beaten the finally boss. Strange, what was that cutscene all about? Slay tricks you into thinking that once you have beat the game, it is over. The truth is that a lot of work is required to even get a chance to reach the true ending. Once you have beaten the game with all three characters the real work begins. Start the journey again, and this time you have to find three new pieces in order to unlock a whole new area.
The Sentries
Seriously, I hate running into these guys. I gauge how good a run will be by if I run into them. Hate them with a passion.
Slay the Spire is one of those games that keep me coming back for more. With no set cards or relics coming your way, you have to adapt on the fly and try to build something that works with what you have. You can see your death approaching two turns before it happens. You can be hanging by a thread and need five specific cards to win and you pull them. It’s a good game. Play if you haven’t yet. I know I will. 1200 hours. And counting.
Available on PC, PS4 and Switch.
