Square Keeper is an ultra-simple yet endlessly challenging budget-friendly puzzle game that revolves around using cards to move and battle the way through dozens upon dozens of dungeon rooms. While the game might look basic and easy on the surface, after just a few stages, players quickly realize that making it through each stage will take some considerable thought and brain power.
Instead of offering up ample tutorials and intensive gameplay scenarios, Square Keeper opts to throw players right into the thick of the game, starting out right in a dungeon, hoping to survive by using the cards just right. The blend of dungeon diving, card-based movements and abilities, and strategic puzzle thinking will most certainly test your gaming mettle. Here are some things to consider when first hopping into Square Keeper.
5 Understanding Various Card Types
Square Keeper's gameplay is all about using specific cards which dictate things such as movement, attacks, abilities, and the like. Players can't freely move about in this game, however. The game has a set boundary for where players can actually move with moves based on cards and tiles. First and foremost, Square Keeper is a puzzle game, and knowing that right from the get-go will set players on the correct train of thought.
Every single action in this game requires the use of a card. Things start out simply enough with players only needing to move one or two spaces, attack an enemy, and avoid a trap or two. However, some cards, especially combat cards, have nuances to be aware of. For example, the basic sword attack card attacks an enemy but also moves you to the space where the enemy falls in battle.
4 Enemy Direction Is Of Utmost Importance
Something that isn't explicitly explained in Square Keeper is that players need to be fully aware of enemy placement and direction. One can't just move in front of many enemies without facing repercussions. For example, if one happens to step in front of a spider then it will quickly and efficiently help them to meet their demise. The only way around the spider is to close in on it with movement cards, or by using a spear to attack from a distance.
Things like this are important to keep in mind especially as the game throws different enemies in front of players such as slimes, goblins, and the like. Just know that it's important to keep in mind the direction enemies face. This will help to strategically use the cards to navigate around them or through them.
3 There's Generally Only One Path Through A Stage
While stages in this game look large and extensive, most of this area is just filler to flesh out the game's location and environments. In reality, players are really only able to move within a specific parameter, which, of course, is dictated by the cards. One of the biggest frustrations and roadblocks to progression in this game comes down to the fact that there is only one main path through each of the dungeon stages, generally speaking.
Figuring out which path is the correct one will involve a heavy dose of trial and error, something that could be a boon or a hindrance, depending on the type of player. Fortunately, the game lets players quickly restart at any point if they end up making a mistake. It's certainly frustrating to know that only one path exists and that this path is only conjured by the cards the game gives you at the start of each new dungeon stage.
2 Nope, There Are No Hints Or Accessibility Options To Make Things Easier
Square Keeper can be an incredibly frustrating and trying game, full stop. The game offers little room for error and unless you are a puzzle game genius, it's likely that players will die over and over again until they hopefully make a breakthrough with the right cards. Many similar puzzle games give players a hint system either right from the start or after spending too much time in one stage. Square Keeper is not one such game.
To alleviate this stress, try to think ahead before using each of the cards. The dungeon rooms are generally quite small but forethought is required to progress. As a good example, a room full of baddies right next to each other could look impenetrable. However, if one sees that the available card hand has movements, attacks, and a spear, players can quickly realize that the spear can be used to make an opening for further attacks.
1 Players Can Freely Replay Any Completed Stage For Practice
The only real way Square Keeper throws players a bone is the fact that players can replay any completed stage. While that may not sound all that helpful, it can often be to one's advantage to replay certain stages that were found tricky in order to learn patterns with enemies and the cards. The game has less than 50 stages so replaying any of them isn't a bad idea.
Square Keeper does a fairly good job at building upon what was learned from stage layouts and card hands from previous stages. For those who find themselves getting stuck, simply tread backwards to replay similar stages in hopes of finding out how the cards can be used at a later stage.