Spiritfall: The Roguelike That Soars Above Hades with Platform Fighter Flair!

Since Hades was released in 2020, it sparked an influx of swift-moving action roguelikes. While numerous games that have come out since Hades haven’t quite reached Supergiant’s lofty standards, a select few have managed to match those high levels of quality. Notably, these select games frequently push the boundaries of the roguelike genre into uncharted territories, and Spiritfall, developed by Gentle Giant, is one such title that does exactly that.

Initially launched on PC in an early access format back in April 2023, Spiritfall was met with largely favorable reviews from its initial players. Fast-forward more than two years and now, the game has made its way to consoles (Nintendo Switch, PS4/5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S) in a complete version. Upon completing this swift action roguelike, it’s safe to argue that Spiritfall could be one of the top games in the genre since Hades. However, it does have a handful of minor flaws.

Spiritfall’s Story Is Propped Up By First-Class Presentation

In the game titled “Spiritfall,” players assume the character of an ‘Omenforged,’ an apparently immortal entity assigned by divine deities to eliminate a perplexing contagion that’s spreading through the land and affecting every creature residing within. Throughout each playthrough, players must move forward through five distinct areas, vanquish the bosses in each region, and ultimately uproot the Blight bit by bit from its source.

The narrative of Spiritfall follows a common pattern in fantasy stories, and its main character who is immortal, a tainted world, and higher powers known as Divine Gods will seem familiar to those who have played action roguelikes over the past few years. Despite the one-dimensional nature of Spiritfall‘s storyline during gameplay, its visuals make a significant contribution.

In simpler terms, the presentation of Spiritfall is top-notch all around. The game’s graphics are exceptionally sharp, with its uniquely designed settings bursting with vivid colors. The characters and enemies are diverse and distinct, while the visual effects for weapons and abilities are both heavy and graceful.

The user interface in Spiritfall is beautifully streamlined, offering players an ample amount of on-screen data without overwhelming them. Attacks from enemies are clearly signaled and highlighted, and the menus on screen are neatly organized. When a player hovers over a Divine Blessing power-up or Relic, they can easily understand the definition of crucial status effects and currencies.

As a gamer immersed in Spiritfall, I can’t help but be amazed by its top-notch sound design. Every region in this game has its unique musical tracks that match the vibe of the environment you’re exploring. The instruments used for these tunes are spot on, creating an immersive experience that fits perfectly with the world around me. Plus, the sounds for weapon attacks and abilities are satisfyingly punchy and powerful, adding to the excitement of every battle.

In addition to its larger features, Spiritfall boasts numerous subtle details that contribute to its overall high-quality feel. For example, Divine Blessings alter the look of weapon attacks and skills, while defeating the last enemy on a level triggers a pleasing display of slow-motion special effects.

Spiritfall Puts an Innovative and Captivating Spin on the Action Roguelike Genre

Spiritfall Is Packed With Roguelike Features

Without a doubt, what makes Spiritfall truly captivating is its immersive action gameplay within the roguelike genre. At first glance, the roguelike aspects of Spiritfall may not seem particularly innovative, but they deliver everything that fans have grown to love from top-tier games in this category.

In the game Spiritfall, the player navigates through various regions, progressively climbing up a mapped-out path. Along the way, they encounter a series of interconnected rooms, each offering distinct rewards that are clearly marked. The rewards vary from Divine Blessings, which bestow special abilities on the player, to Relics that enhance their stats, as well as boosts to maximum health and other benefits. The level design presents numerous strategic opportunities, requiring players to plan their path ahead and make thoughtful choices to create an optimal loadout.

In addition, the advancement mechanisms in the game “Spiritfall” offer considerable depth. Not only does it provide a massive collection of Divine Blessings and Relics to significantly alter a player’s character build from one playthrough to another, but it also offers an array of permanent unlockables that persist between games. Esoteric Scrolls serve to unveil new room types and enhance the rewards in existing rooms. Dormant Embers are employed to unlock a variety of genuinely beneficial permanent skills, and accumulating a specific number from each tree grants the player a fresh wearable mask, complete with its own distinct set of abilities.

Players can activate Combat Runes to gain access to the unique arsenal of Spiritfall’s weapons. Initially, there are five weapons available for unlocking, each with its own distinct fighting style. Notably, each weapon has a hidden form as well, featuring an entirely different attack pattern. Additionally, every weapon and its alternate form can be upgraded permanently.

Spiritfall’s Platform Fighter Mechanics Give it a Strong Sense of Identity

In the game Spiritfall, these roguelike components harmoniously match with its standout aspect – platform fighter mechanics. The fighting in Spiritfall is similar to Super Smash Bros., featuring distinctive input commands for each weapon, including standard and directional strikes as well as projectile launches.

As a gamer, I can tell you that in Spiritfall, the game’s stage design is tailored perfectly for its mechanics. I can hurl enemies against walls or bounce them off ceilings, using the platforms to my advantage by gaining height or striking from below. The enemy design in Spiritfall also aligns with this central concept, offering a wide array of movesets that demand quick platform navigation and full utilization of my abilities.

In contrast to the overall approach of Spiritfall’s bosses, they don’t fully leverage these mechanics as much. While certain bosses in Spiritfall successfully motivate players to utilize the entire stage area, others can feel somewhat limiting, essentially compelling players to maintain ground-based combat. This could pose a problem for players who have developed airborne abilities. Moreover, some of Spiritfall’s bosses employ a similar set of attacks, which is disappointing considering there are only five boss encounters in the game.

Spiritfall Might Be a Short But Sweet Adventure

To finish the game Spiritfall, players must conquer each of the five biomes along with their corresponding bosses a total of five times. A single playthrough of Spiritfall typically lasts about an hour, so experienced players can theoretically clear the entire game in as little as five to six hours. Although its overall duration might be shorter compared to certain roguelike counterparts, the game’s continuous progression and exhilarating moment-to-moment gameplay make every one of those five or six hours a blast filled with exciting and unforgettable moments.

As a devoted fan, I can’t wait to conquer a run in Spiritfall! This exhilarating experience not only grants me unique mutations to enhance my following playthroughs but also offers extra game modes such as the thrilling Boss Rush sequence. For those of us seeking even more value for our gaming investment, there’s a wealth of additional content waiting to be explored!

Spiritfall Feels Tailor-Made for the Switch

We enjoyed playing Spiritfall on a 2018 Nintendo Switch model, mostly in handheld mode, and it surpassed our expectations. The vivid graphics of Spiritfall were striking in handheld mode, the frame rate was steady and fluid, and the load times were remarkably swift. Additionally, Spiritfall didn’t consume much battery life on the Switch, which is impressive considering its fast-paced gameplay. Given that Spiritfall’s runs are quick and intense, it turns out to be an ideal game for a portable console like the Nintendo Switch.

As a gamer, I can confidently say that even though Spiritfall is relatively brief and its narrative might not be groundbreaking, the game’s captivating combat system and unrelenting feeling of progression make it a must-play for roguelike enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy platform fighters.

The game ‘Spiritfall’ can be played right now across various platforms including PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. For this review, we were given a Nintendo Switch code by Game Rant.

2025-05-15 03:04