Summary
- Ironhive from Wondernaut Studio promises a unique blend of deck-building roguelite and city-building for a fresh gaming experience.
- The game introduces a Stability mechanic akin to Darkest Dungeon's Stress meter, adding a layer of impending societal collapse.
- Balancing meta-progression with roguelike elements will be key for Ironhive's success, but the game certainly looks promising.
Left-field genre fusions have been the bread and butter of the indie game development scene for years now, and Wondernaut Studio's upcoming Ironhive looks to introduce something brand new into the increasingly crowded Deckbuilder space. Part deck-building roguelite and part city-builder, Ironhive's elements and mechanics borrow equally from classics like Slay the Spire and Darkest Dungeon while also introducing a novel twist on the tried-and-true city-building formula. Although Ironhive doesn't have a solid release date yet beyond a presumptive 2024 window and a vague "Coming Soon" on Steam, its recent demo shows that the title exudes a lot of promise.
Ironhive's developer Wondernaut Studio is the same team behind the visually striking puzzle-platformer Aspire: Ina's Tale, and both games share a distinctive art style that is brought to life through fluid animation and thematically or tonally appropriate color schemes. And while, at first, Ironhive might seem like it's a true 1:1 mash-up of city-building staples and a deck-building roguelite, the title's post-apocalyptic setting and sense of encroaching dread give way to a Lovecraftian narrative hiding beneath the surface, not unlike that of Darkest Dungeon. Though it replaces Slay the Spire and Darkest Dungeon's procedural dungeon-crawling and turn-based combat for city-building, Ironhive is a game that fans of either (or both) shouldn't miss.
What to Expect From Slay The Spire 2
With the surprise announcement of Slay the Spire 2, it's time to look at what's currently known about the upcoming sequel to one of 2019's best games.
Ironhive's Deckbuilding Mechanics Fit Nicely Within the Context of a City-Builder
Similar to Slay the Spire's unique take on the classic RPG through a mix of deckbuilding mechanics and roguelike progression, Ironhive puts a clever twist on the familiar city-building simulator through its procedural elements and signature cards. There are 4 resources players must manage in Ironhive – Devotion, Supply, Workforce, and Order – and each of the four resources has its own cards and buildings at play. The player's decision in exactly how they choose to prioritize those buildings (both number and type), as well as the luck of the draw in their worker and material cards, all contribute toward success or failure.
What remains to be seen is how Ironhive handles the all-important aspect of meta-progression in concert with its roguelike elements. Players can level up in Ironhive just like they can in Slay the Spire, but the bonuses that are awarded as a result of those gains seem to be specific to each individual run rather than permanent upgrades that carry over into each new attempt at building a last bastion of civilization. Part of what made Slay the Spire one of the most beloved roguelikes was its careful balance of challenge and satisfying meta-progression, and Ironhive will need to have similar success in its balancing act to stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Ironhive Supplants Darkest Dungeon's Stress Meter With Impending Societal Collapse
One of the more unexpected elements of Ironhive is its incorporation of the Stability mechanic, which operates similarly to Darkest Dungeon's Stress meter. During certain moments of a run in Ironhive, players will reach milestones that act as progress checks for their success in rebuilding and holding together civilization. If a player finds themselves lacking the resources to support their growing city and population, events occur that trigger a decline in the Ironhive's Stability. After three of these events, a Situation will arise that the player must resolve, lest they face dire repercussions for their inaction.
Combined with the incorporation of Lovecraftian elements and a general sense of impending doom in each run, Ironhive shares more with Darkest Dungeon than might initially be apparent. Accordingly, when players see their Stability plummet, it has the same kind of disastrous effect on gameplay that Stress has on characters in Darkest Dungeon, practically requiring a restart for more favorable outcomes. Ironhive combines aspects of two of the most celebrated roguelikes of the last few years, but its dystopian setting and Lovecraftian atmosphere help it stand out as much as its unique amalgamation of genres.
Slay the Spire
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 89 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
- Released
- January 23, 2019
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Tobacco Reference
- Developer(s)
- Mega Crit
- Publisher(s)
- Humble Bundle
- Engine
- libGDX
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
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 top
Whenever 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…
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Deckbuilding
- How Long To Beat
- 12 Hours
- File Size Xbox Series
- 575 MB (December 2023)
