Spellsided stands out as a turn-based indie RPG adventure where you take control of a magical die in a whimsical yet challenging world inspired by tabletop games. This PC title blends strategic customization with puzzle-like exploration, letting you build and refine your character's abilities as you navigate a realm filled with animated game pieces and divine intrigue.
Gameplay
In Spellsided, the core loop revolves around rolling a customizable magical die named Hex, where each face holds a unique spell that activates with every move. This dice-builder system encourages experimentation, as you discover and equip new spells and upgrades to create personalized builds that tackle obstacles and enemies. Turn-based mechanics mean every step counts, adding layers of strategy to navigation and combat encounters.
Exploration happens in a hand-crafted voxel world featuring stop-motion animations, where you manipulate the environment using your spells. Combat involves facing off against foes like the Dustmancer, a warrior turned to dust worship, requiring clever combinations of abilities to overcome. The game rewards mastery through trial and error, with no single correct path, allowing for diverse playstyles based on how you configure your die's faces.
Game Modes
The primary experience is single-player, focusing on a narrative-driven journey through the game's fantasy setting. You progress by awakening obelisks that unlock focused challenges, testing specific aspects of your build and strategy.
These challenges include competitive elements, where players aim for the lowest move counts and compare scores with others. A new challenge arrives every fortnight in the demo, fostering ongoing engagement and community competition to find efficient solutions.
World and Factions
The setting draws from tabletop themes, with locations like the fallen kingdom of dominoes and the stacked streets of Casina City. Factions consist of living game pieces, such as warring chess pieces and conniving cards, all existing under the unpredictable rule of the Gods of the Tabletop.
Encounters with friends and foes add depth, as you help lost pieces or battle enemies amid this chaotic hierarchy. The lore explores themes of purpose and rejection, with Hex seeking to reclaim what was discarded by these arbitrary deities.
Is It Worth Playing?
Spellsided appeals to fans of strategic RPGs that emphasize puzzle-solving and build customization, especially if you enjoy turn-based systems with a fresh twist. The demo provides 2-3 hours of content, letting you test the mechanics firsthand and participate in fortnightly challenges.
Ongoing development includes quality-of-life updates to UI and menus, showing active support from the team. Players have engaged with the demo by leaving feedback and competing in challenges, highlighting its intriguing blend of creativity and complexity. If tactical depth in a quirky world sounds engaging, trying the demo makes sense before the full release.
