Summary
The biggest PC storefront by a mile, Steam is home to both the biggest releases and more than its fair share of shovelware. But somewhere hidden between those two extremes is a wealth ofexciting Indie gamesthat deserve to be seen and played.Slay the Spirewas one such game.
Originally released on Steam Early Access back in 2017,Slay the Spirewas an incredibly promising roguelike deck-builder that saw players battle their way up the titular fantasy tower using special abilities presented in the form of collectible cards. At the time,Slay the Spire’s roguelike deck-building gameplay was very novel, and over the last few years, it’s become something of a trendsetter, earning success across a variety of different platforms and inspiring a range of similar Indie titles. Hopefully, the recently announcedDrop Duchywill be able to find a similar level of success, with its gameplay appearing to be a fusion ofSlay the SpireandTetris.
Drop Duchy Is Tetris Fused with Slay The Spire
Drop Duchy’s Roguelike Twist on Tetris Explained
Announced just a few days ago,Drop Duchyis the debut title from Indie studio Sleepy Mill, and it looks to be an incredibly ambitious first project. InDrop Duchy, players are tasked with creating a medieval village and defending it against attacking forces. To complete this objective, players need to harvest resources and recruit troops. This general loop will be very familiar to RTS fans, butDrop Duchy’s gameplayhas plenty of unique tricks up its sleeve.
The core moment-to-moment gameplay inDrop Duchysees players drop tiles into a grid, much likeTetris. But instead of colorful blocks,Drop Duchy’s tilesare pieces of land, fortifications, weapons, units, and other similarly themed structures. Rather than clear lines with the falling tiles,Drop Duchyrequires the player to carefully position each tile so that it maximizes the resources gained from each one. For instance, fitting together multiple forest tiles ensures the player will receive more wood when the round is complete. Once all tiles are placed and the player’s medieval town is fully built, players will occasionally be attacked by enemy forces, requiring them to build up their own army and overwhelm their enemies with greater numbers.
Drop Duchy’s Slay The Spire-Like Deckbuilding Mechanics Explained
But there’s much more strategy behindDrop Duchy’sTetris-like gameplay. MuchlikeSlay the Spire,Drop Duchywill see players unlock a range of different cards, each one representing some new structure or piece of land, and each one taking a unique shape. For instance, players will be able to unlock a 1-tile large Farm card that transforms any surrounding Plains tiles into Fields, or a 3-tile long Town card that adds 30% to their exploration bonus, which is gained when tiles have been placed on every space in a row. These cards appear at random intervals alongside other environmental tiles, requiring the player to think ahead and use their space efficiently.
Between rounds of gameplay,Drop Duchywill allow players to trade with markets and guilds for new cards and resources. These resources, along with any others gained during a round of gameplay such as the aforementioned wood resource, can then be used to upgrade the player’s deck, increasing a card’s stats. Players will be able to take control ofthree distinct factions, each of which offers unique quests and rewards.
Slay the Spire
WHERE TO PLAY
We fused card games and roguelikes together to make the best single player deckbuilder we could. Craft a unique deck, encounter bizarre creatures, discover relics of immense power, and Slay the Spire!Choose your cards wisely! Discover hundreds of cards to add to your deck with each attempt at climbing the Spire. Select cards that work together to efficiently dispatch foes and reach the topWhenever you embark on a journey up the Spire, the layout differs each time. Choose a risky or safe path, face different enemies, choose different cards, discover different relics, and even fight different bosses!Powerful items known as relics can be found throughout the Spire. The effects of these relics can greatly enhance your deck through powerful interactions. But beware, obtaining a relic may cost you more than just gold…
