The Last Spell Reviews

Fully recommend. A wonderfully-cruel and deliciously-greedy mix of genres: - Tactical RPG (think Final Fantasy Tactics) - Long-play RPG (classes, talents, and item shops) - And a rogue-like (you will fail, that's ok, there's still progression) Pros: - Fantastic game pacing and learning loop. "I've got this, I've got this.... whoops... I don't got this." - RPG's point-spending Nirvana: Spend gold on your town, your items? - Audiovisual: Charming pixel graphics and 80's pseudo-metal soundtrack. - One More Turn: "But if I win this one more level, I get to spend 15 points across my five characters!" - Charming Minimalist Story: For a TTRPG, it drove me to learn more about the universe's story. Cons: - Some mechanics are forever left unexplained. Always bring your towel or search engine.

[h1] GENERAL OPINION [/h1] Ah the Last Spell, it's such a great mix of RPG, Rogue Lite, Tactical combined with Wave / Tower Defense (in a way), Town & Team Management and boss fight with incredible pixel arts. What I certainly love about the Game is that it offers players a wide variety of customisation. You can play in the difficulty setting you like by playing normal and chosing the oment (bonus to your town / heroes) or spicing things up by adding more difficulty when you get familiar with the game. It also very flexible in the playstyle and even more invite you to try out different combination of weapons and skills with your heroes. The game is quite challenging, especially after completing the 3 first town, the last remaining ones will need couple of retries and have a proper strategies to defeat the bosses. I love that each settlement have their own configuration, biome and bosses making each run diverse. [h1] PROS [/h1] + Versatility of Playstyle and customisation + RPG and Tactical Mechanics that offers a deep challenge + Unique Bosses and strategies to adopt + Lots of content to Unlock and Try out [h1] CONS [/h1] - Take 200+ hours to unlock all the content. Can feel a bit tidious on the long run - Story is scare and can only be watch when completing a village. Would be great to have more story content and be able to rewatch cut scene when the player wants. - Lack of Talent information when recruiting a hero. This can lead to frustration as players want to hire specific hero.

Didn't expect it to be this good, really fun gameplay. Much variety of weapons and skills. And banger ost

I've been playing this game since 2023, through rental platforms, and still have it on my wish list waiting for the day to buy it. Now that I can buy the game and review it, after experiencing more than 70 hours of play, I'm still fascinated by this world of defense, magic heroes and monsters from time to time. The developer should expand the game, show us how big a hit The Last Spell 2 is. This game is very little known, but it will still be one of my favorite games, and I will always recommend it to my friends, Good job Ishtar Games! From @HTKgame 5 outstanding advantages of The Last Spell. 1. Deep and diverse tactical gameplay ( 4.5 / 5* ) The Last Spell offers an extremely detailed turn-based tactical system, where players have to consider each action of the hero (from position, skills to action points). Each hero can be customized with a variety of weapons, skills, and traits, allowing for unique strategies, such as combining a ranged archer with an AOE mage or a melee warrior with a powerful hammer. This element makes each match tense and requires careful calculation, especially when facing hundreds of enemies in one night. 2.Roguelite elements create high replay value ( 5/5* ) The game integrates roguelite mechanics with randomly generated enemy waves, characters, weapons, and unlockable rewards, making each playthrough a new experience. The Omens system allows players to choose special rewards before each run, increasing the personalization of the strategy. Even if you fail, you can still unlock upgrades, making each playthrough more interesting as you gradually perfect your strategy. 3.A unique blend of strategy, management and tower defense ( 5/5* ) The Last Spell is not only a strategy game but also combines elements of city building and tower defense. During the day, you manage resources to build walls, traps, turrets and support structures such as forges and inns. At night, you use heroes and defense systems to fight against waves of monsters. The transition between the two phases creates a balanced and engaging gameplay loop that requires both management skills and combat tactics. 4. Beautiful pixel art graphics and impressive soundtrack ( 5/5* ) The game's pixel art graphics are exquisitely designed, with easily distinguishable characters, enemies and environments, creating a nostalgic yet modern feel. Composed by Rémi "The Algorithm" Gallégo, the soundtrack features over 25 powerful progressive metal tracks that add drama and excitement to intense battles. The sound and visuals work together perfectly, creating an atmosphere that is both dark and exhilarating. 5. Challenging but Fair Difficulty (4.5 / 5* ) The game is designed to be difficult, with permadeath mechanics (losing heroes permanently if you die) and Apocalypse levels that gradually increase in challenge. However, the difficulty never feels unfair, as players can learn from failure and adjust their strategies. Reviews on Steam and Metacritic highlight that the game encourages players to adapt to the randomness factor (RNG) and find ways to optimize resources, giving a great sense of accomplishment when overcoming a difficult night. P.s/ Some minor drawbacks, but for me they are part of the game: - Long playtime: A run can last 5-8 hours, even longer, making the game not suitable for those with little time. - High initial difficulty: New players may feel overwhelmed because the game requires an understanding of tactical mechanics and resource management from the beginning. I recommend to anyone who loves games: Pixel, Rougue lite, Tower Defense, RP monster hero world... Pay attention to this game!

Great mix of tower defense, turn-based combat and management! Unit progression and combat mechanics are awesome and quite unique, i really hope we get to see an other game with those two elements. The free weapon swaping adds a ton of options to character builds. Unlocks and a wide range of tactics/strategies make for great replayability.

It's fun. The worst thing about it is the monotony between rounds in terms of using the same abilities on the same heroes round after round. but even that's still fun to me because the units you're fighting and the positioning is unique each round, and each level brings new enemies to fight. the progression is fun, there's a ton of meta progression to be had. you can functionally 'choose your own difficulty' through some of the systems they give you within the game. it's really a fun well designed horde survival game. Its ball busting difficult by default though, IMO. It took me at least 2 tries for pretty much every level. but as I got better and learned better economy curves and how to stretch my units to their max to maximize my eco you really get to see a lot of what the game has to offer.

I got 100+ hours of entertainment out of this. Worth achievement hunting in, I did 100%.

The Last Spell is a captivating blend of tactical roguelike and tower defense that thrusts players into a dark fantasy world on the brink of apocalypse. Developed by Ishtar Games, this title stands out for its innovative gameplay loop that combines turn-based strategic combat with the desperate defense of a besieged town, creating an intense and rewarding challenge for fans of both genres. Players take command of a band of heroes who must fend off relentless waves of monstrous enemies each night, using careful positioning, resource management, and a wide array of unique abilities to protect the last bastion of humanity. What makes The Last Spell particularly engaging is its balance between strategic depth and emergent gameplay—no two battles feel the same, as the game’s procedural elements and varied enemy types keep players constantly adapting their tactics. The core gameplay revolves around daytime preparation and nighttime combat. During the day, players explore the town to scavenge resources, recruit new heroes, and upgrade defenses, setting the stage for the harrowing night attacks. This cyclical rhythm creates a tense atmosphere, where every decision about who to bring on the mission and how to fortify the town carries significant weight. The tactical combat itself is deep and rewarding, with a rich mix of spells, melee attacks, traps, and buffs. Each hero class feels distinct, encouraging diverse team compositions and synergies. The grid-based battlefield emphasizes positioning and timing, where one wrong move can lead to devastating losses, making victories feel hard-earned and satisfying. Visually, The Last Spell adopts a pixel art style that perfectly matches its grim tone while allowing for clear readability during complex battles. The animations are fluid, and the dark, moody color palette enhances the oppressive sense of a world overwhelmed by darkness. The audio design complements this atmosphere with haunting melodies and impactful sound effects that heighten the tension during enemy onslaughts and triumphant moments alike. While the game’s learning curve is steep, it is well-pitched, rewarding players who invest time in mastering its systems with a sense of progression and mastery. The narrative is subtly woven into the gameplay, painting a bleak picture of a world devastated by magic gone awry and the desperate hope embodied by the “Last Spell” that can end the nightmare. While story elements are minimalistic compared to more narrative-driven RPGs, they provide enough context to deepen immersion without detracting from the gameplay focus. Additionally, the game’s roguelike elements—permadeath and procedural maps—offer high replayability, with each run presenting new challenges and strategic puzzles. Some players may find The Last Spell’s difficulty punishing, especially during the later waves, but this sense of challenge is integral to the game’s identity, fostering a rewarding cycle of learning, adaptation, and eventual success. The interface is mostly intuitive, though newcomers might initially struggle with the sheer number of options and strategies available. Cooperative multiplayer support adds another layer of enjoyment, allowing friends to strategize and share the thrill of holding the line against overwhelming odds. In conclusion, The Last Spell is a meticulously crafted fusion of tactical combat and survival defense that delivers a unique, darkly atmospheric experience. Its deep gameplay mechanics, compelling risk-reward cycle, and striking art style make it a must-play for strategy enthusiasts looking for a challenging and emotionally resonant adventure. It’s a game that demands patience and strategic thinking but rewards players with moments of intense satisfaction and a profound sense of heroism in the face of overwhelming darkness. Rating: 9/10

Just beat Gildenberg for the first time after 20 hrs. These 20 hours were not sessions played in close proximity. In fact, I only played this game once or twice a year since launch. I got this game shortly after it launched and was pumped for a roguelite defense game. But when I first opened the game, the game instantly blessed my ears with absolute synth bliss called 'Commanders Theme'. The game instantly created nostalgia without even loading my first run. Whoever was behind the OST for this game, I want to personally thank you people for creating such art. Genuinely one of my favorite tracks in any game hands down. Yes, even Ocarania of Time music doesn't beat the nostalgia I have from listening to 'Commanders Theme' for the first time. That's just the music side of things. I will never forget booting up this game for the first time at a friends house whom I've come to grow apart from. I write this as tears run down my face as I remember, and highly value, these times very fondly. It wasn't until I finally, 4 years after initial launch that I finally beat the first area in the game, I break down emotionally. I can't even explain it. It's just some indie game why do I have such strong emotions for an arcady roguelite game? It's because a game like this has TRUE value to it. The game had devs that really cared about what they were giving to the public. I wish I had spent more time on this game in the past, because it is a blast and a half, but maybe it was for the best. I say this because the game felt extremely fresh each time I came back. This game was worth every penny and hour put into it. Thank you devs for giving us this absolutely under rated gem. Cheers to more created cherishable moments from the A to AA studios doing gods work.

When twilight falls and hope is thin, The cursed dead come crashing in. One last spell, it must be cast, Against a rotting tide so vast. The pixel art is sharp and grim, With colours dark and lighting dim. The soundtrack roars, a siren's call, A professional gig, it will enthral. You build by day, defend by night, The choices, a puzzle to turn the fight. With skills to learn and gear to find, The deep game systems intertwined. So buy it now, embrace the thrill, But know this game will test your will. Endure the losses that are inevitable This unforgiving masterpiece is incredible This is a great game with lots of deep systems. But damn, its hard and unforgiving. A must buy for any tactics buff. Also, get the soundtrack. It's fantastic.