Lost For Swords

I’ll echo a few reviews I read before giving this game a try - you’ll know pretty quickly if you want to support the developer by purchasing the full game, or continue on with your life without it. The core mechanic of the deck works really well - I was a bit skeptical at first, but after a few runs it clicked and I totally see the genius behind the random assortment of weapons/armor you could have in a given room. It allows for fine-tuning the number of cards you have available in a room, which adds a layer of difficulty if you want it. “Do I take the “easy” room, where I have access to 10 of my cards and 4 enemies? Or do I try to get through a room where I only have 8 cards for 5 enemies - to get an extra copy of small key? (Which increases the number of remove/upgrades to your deck?)” Fantastic stuff, and great design! Thanks for making it! (I bought the full game after a few sessions)

I am a big fan rogue-lites. So I’m picky when it comes games like this, especially deck building because that’s my favorite type. Initially, I was hesitant. The moving around the map felt awkward because the mechanic seems too simple. I like complex. Well I stuck it out and…I got complex. I am locked into this game. I love the challenge. I am making challenges for myself as I go to make it more grueling and difficult and I love every second. My only gripe is that I wish there was more. I want more playable characters, more towers, more mechanics to play with because once I’m done with my own imaginary challenges I give myself, i won’t have anything else to push for. Please developers. Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s a solid game and I want more.

I only found this game because it was featured in the App Store and fit a very specific niche I had been looking for: a roguelike deck builder on mobile that is high quality, turn based, can be put down at any time, and plays vertically on a phone. Lost for Swords not only fit that niche, it’s also one of the most delightful roguelikes I’ve ever played. The best description of the gameplay I have is Slay the Spire but on a small board/grid similar to Fire Emblem heroes. The gameplay is a mix of deck optimization, board positioning, and turn management that hits the sweet spot of having a lot of depth of mechanics and available strategies, but never giving you too much to manage that you feel like you have to look up a video guide before you can play efficiently. Plus the crazy amount of play-style variety across the three classes I’ve played so far (I thought I had a decent handle on everything this game could throw at me, then I played the Wizard class and it broke my brain in the best way.) One more shoutout for this game supporting being available vertically on a phone. This genre is perfect for adapting to that very underrated convenience, but few other games in the genre have put forth the effort to redesign their UI when being adapted for mobile that I think could really benefit from it (looking at you Balatro.) Lost for Swords is fantastic and has earned its place on my home-screen amongst the other greats like Balatro, Slay the Spire, and Monster Train. If you like any of those games, you’ll be happy you downloaded this one.