Slay the Spire Isn’t a Great Roguelike, But is still Wildly Fun

I love Slay the Spire. By now, I’ve logged over one hundred and twenty hours playing it. It’s my go-to game while listening to a podcast. But no game is without flaws, and Slay the Spire certainly has them. For more short-session picks in this space, see our deeper take: 8 Single-Player Games With Honest 20-Minute Save Points. If you’re hunting for roguelikes that respect short gaming windows, our list of the best roguelikes for 30-minute sessions covers timed runs for busy adults. Slay the Spire’s biggest flaw is that it’s not really a great roguelike. There are very few elements of this game that make it a roguelike. Because of this, the Standard mode can often feel like frustrating, unrewarding tests of luck rather than skill. While Standard mode is plagued by its difficulty due to not taking more queues from the roguelike genre, Custom and Daily modes feel like the quintessential way to play. These modes keep the game fun and actually make it possible to win regularly. Don’t drop this game if you’re frustrated with Standard mode if you haven’t given the other modes a try! Slay the Spire Isn’t a Roguelike This is a pretty bold claim to make. Despite a bit of hyperbole, this is mostly true. The starting buff from Neow is the only…