The Last Spell

“Last Spell probably won't satisfy those who need a small and quick dose of action, since restarting is frequent, and often after (many) hours in a run”

“The Last Spell is a fun and complicated tactical RPG. The gameplay alternates between building components and turn-based fighting, providing plenty to do here. It's a lot to take in, especially initially, but there's plenty of fun (and horror) to be had.”

“The Last Spell is an excellent title for long evenings. It's frustrating in places, but it's also fair and can be rewarding. The great rock music and the pixelated graphics help make this one of the best indie efforts of the year, at least for now.”

“The overall nature of the gameplay led The Last Spell to become one of my favorite games of the year. It’s such a great spin on the genre. It feels fast-paced but retains every ounce of tactical goodness you would come to expect. The freeform nature of progressing my heroes and controlling them in battle is fantastic, and the entire game just oozes a good time.”

“An interesting turn-based fantasy game with nice mechanics and a bit too-long sessions.”

“This is a highly niche title that expects a lot from the player but gives back in equal measure if you have the time and energy.”

“A roguelike tower defence game that doesn't throw any punches in relation to its story, pixelated graphics and killer soundtrack. I'm sure you'll have a blast on the pursuit to banish all magic with The Last Spell.”

“Overall, The Last Spell is an incredibly fresh and satisfying entry to the strategy RPG genre. Its learning curve may be brutal, but that’s part of its charm as you slowly chip away at its many progression systems and start catching glimpses of light at the end of the demon-infested tunnel. If you can learn to live with the clunky controls and don’t mind a slow grind that rewards the patient, you’ll uncover some of the best, most frantic combat to grace the genre in some time, and it’s a sandbox of satisfying systems and enemy density that will have you returning over and over again. If you’re looking for something a little different and don’t mind being repeatedly humbled, then The Last Spell is totally worth your time.”

“The Last Spell made me realize that a siege is the perfect video game scenario. It allows you to focus on a single area, and gives the player a chance to customize their base. It also lends itself to a small group of heroes standing bravely against a horde of faceless enemies. Combine that with other popular features such as roguelike development, and you have a pretty fun game. But spend some time with The Last Spell, and you will see how differently it plays.”

“There’s a fine balance struck in The Last Spell between Tactical RPG and roguelike. I think Ishtar Games did an excellent job adapting the genre to a roguelike. Initially hesitant at first, The Last Spell won me over with its fast paced battles, hero customization, and light town-management gameplay.”

“A hard and exhausting tactical tower defense roguelike, but one that will excite the hardcore players.”

“The Last Spell combines RPG, Tower Defense, and City Builder genres, with the extermination of numerous hordes as seen in They Are Billions, managing combat with the beloved turn-based system. The problem is precisly here: each run is a complex and slow chess match that can last a very long time, so those expecting quick sessions may be disappointed.”

“The Last Spell is a great package, integrating great core combat mechanics with both management and plenty of progression opportunities. Trying to take down mutant waves by using the minimum amount of resources, while pondering what upgrades can improve character performance never gets old.”

“The Last Spell caught my eye by ticking all boxes that could form a good game for me: Roguelite, RPG, Pixel Graphics, and Turn-Based Strategy.”

“An attractive and smart mix of tactical strategy and roguelike sensibilities make for a challenge, but those controls…”

“It is difficult to score The Last Spell, because it's a game that does so much so well, from the music to the game balance to charming writing. If you can wrap your head around the counter-intuitive controls - which an eventual patch will hopefully sort out - there is plenty for tactical RPG fans to sink their teeth into. We enjoyed our time with the game, but the hasty feel of the Switch port keeps the game from reaching its full potential, though.”