This Upcoming Indie Game is Tetris Meets Slay The Spire

This Upcoming Indie Game is Tetris Meets Slay The Spire

Highlights

  • Drop Duchy combines Tetris-like grid mechanics with deck-building strategy, inspired by the success of Slay the Spire.
  • Players must strategically place and combine various tiles to maximize resources and defend their medieval village.
  • The game allows for trading, deck upgrades, and offers three distinct factions with unique quests and rewards.

As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I’ve seen it all – from the biggest AAA titles to the most innovative Indie games. And let me tell you, the gaming landscape is always evolving, with new and exciting experiences popping up every day.


Steam, the largest PC gaming platform by far, hosts both major game releases and an oversupply of low-quality titles. Yet, between these two contrasting categories lies a treasure trove of captivating Indie games worth exploring. One such gem was “Slay the Spire.”

Initially launched on Steam Early Access in 2017, “Slay the Spire” was an intriguing roguelike deck-building game where players climbed the legendary tower by employing unique abilities represented through collectible cards. At that point, the innovative blend of roguelike and deck-building mechanics in “Slay the Spire” was quite rare, and since then, it has set a trend, achieving popularity on multiple platforms and inspiring numerous Indie imitators. Here’s hoping “Drop Duchy,” with its gameplay that seems like a mix of “Slay the Spire” and “Tetris,” will replicate similar success.

Drop Duchy Is Tetris Fused with Slay The Spire

Drop Duchy’s Roguelike Twist on Tetris Explained

Recently unveiled, “Drop Duchy” is the initial production by indie developer Sleepy Mill. Boasting an impressively grand scale for a debut project, this game invites players to establish a medieval village and safeguard it from invasions. Players must gather resources and amass an army to accomplish this mission. This cycle will resonate with strategy game enthusiasts, yet “Drop Duchy” boasts innovative twists in its gameplay mechanics.

In the engaging core gameplay of Drop Duchy, players drop various tiles into a grid, similar to Tetris. However, instead of colorful blocks, these tiles represent land, fortifications, weapons, units, and other medieval structures. Instead of aiming for clear lines, players must strategically place each tile to maximize the resources gained. For example, grouping together forest tiles increases the amount of wood collected at the end of the round. After all tiles have been placed and a complete medieval town has been built, players will encounter attacks from enemy forces. To defend against these threats, players must build up their own army and outnumber their adversaries.

Drop Duchy’s Slay The Spire-Like Deckbuilding Mechanics Explained

In Drop Duchy’s Tetris-style gameplay, there’s a deeper layer of strategy at play. Similar to Slay the Spire, players uncover various cards, each one representing new structures or land pieces with distinct shapes. For example, players can unlock a small Farm card (1 tile) that converts adjacent Plains tiles into Fields, or a Town card (3 tiles long) that increases exploration bonus by 30%. These cards appear at random along with other environmental tiles, necessitating players to strategize and make the most of their space.

During breaks between gaming sessions, the Drop Duchy platform provides an opportunity for players to engage in trading activities with markets and guilds. These transactions enable players to acquire new cards and resources. Subsequently, these resources, coupled with any obtained during gameplay like the mentioned wood resource, can be utilized to enhance a player’s deck by improving a card’s attributes. Players have the freedom to manage three separate factions, each offering exclusive quests and incentives.

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2024-07-15 15:55