Reviews

• gamedeal user

  Feb 4, 2022

  Better than slay the spire
• gamedeal user

  Aug 11, 2022

  This isn't your generic Slay the Spire clone

  Short version: You'll be very pleased with this gem. Long version: ↓ Die-Hard Roguelike / Deckbuilder fan here, beaten Knock on the Coffin Lid several times by now: Got pretty much every well known and some niche Roguelike / Deckbuilder games on Steam Over 1000 hours on Slay the Spire across various platforms, played it since its early stages <*>You'll get the most beautiful and visual appealing Roguelike/Deckbuilder on the market. <*>Plenty of VERY well written and designed encounters. <*>3 characters, with 4 different "specializations" (different starting deck, absolutely different character traits, resulting in a completely(!) different playstyle. So essentially, you have 12 characters to choose from. <*>Equip-able gear with various traits (which has its' own attack animation and is visually shown on the character) <*>Makes it feels more like a RPG <*>Lets you change your gear midway through a run for a completely different playstyle, should you get some special cards or trinkets which would have a superb Synergy with gear-set xyz, or work well with the unique item y But of course, the game isn't the holy grail, there are some flaws in its current EA build: <*>No Keyboard controls (Devs responded already, Keyboard controls are confirmed and will be available in the future) <*>Fast mode present, but not as fast as in StS (Speedhack compensates that, but denies proper Speedruns) <*>Don't come with the expectation of a bazillion items and gear, this game is still EA Last but not least: after beating the game once after 2 hours, I was zooming through the game with Speedhack on 6, insta-clicking cards, so feel free to multiple my remaining 8 hours with 6. This is actually the first game since StS that gave me the same itch and entertainment level as our pinnacle of Roguelike Deckbuilders used to. Knock on the Coffin Lid will certainly be no later than at its release on par with StS.
• gamedeal user

  Sep 26, 2022

  *Had to edit after hours of play - the difficulty spike is just plain unfair. The fact that you get one shot because enemies are doing 100+ dmg, even 3x a turn, is so demotivating. I can't unlock the final character because every time I get past the second boss I just get pummeled into the ground by normal mobs. It's not fun. Still recommend, but no armor set in the world makes a difference when an enemy has 800 hp, and does 50x3 dmg* This game hits all the "Slay the Spire" notes one could hope for. It has great build diversity, the actual equipment has sets, that can change your approach to a run. It also has, so far, a good story that feels like Hades. Where you learn something new each run. There are three characters with 4 classes per. With each classes playing wildly differently then the other. It makes the replay ability very high. Also love the art, animations and levels. There are subtle pieces they added to a fight in the background while you fight. It really shows the love and attention to detail the developers took. Only gripe, and it is small, is that having to start runs from the very beginning can get a little repetitive. Randomizing the start might make for more interesting and varied runs Overall, this game is fantastic. I have played non-stop the last week and still have yet to unlock the final character (with 4 more classes). Couldn't recommend this game more. If you like slay the spire, super light ARPG looting (think Diablo set piece bonuses) and an amazingly detailed and styled game, pick it up
• A Strange Loop

  Nov 7, 2022

  Incredibly unbalanced. As someone with over 500 hours in roguelite deckbuilds, I struggle to get through the first half of the second stage. Enemy strength gain and damage is wildly out of control. Not uncommon to meet an enemy that deals 30x2 damage, has 300 hp, and is accompanied by another enemy that gives them both 20 block each turn. Meanwhile, if I spend all of my energy blocking, I can block for maybe 40, leaving no rooms to deal damage. The devs say 'it is possible to beat these stages if you get the right items', but in my opinion, the ability to win a run should depend on player skill and choices in picking cards as well as during battles, not on RNG whether I get the perfect god run. (Also, some of the cards are just straight up copy pasted from Slay the Spire, i.e Constant Threat is just Anger). The art is interesting and I like the focus on story but the balancing is so out of line that I would not recommend picking this one up unless major updates are made.
• gamedeal user

  Nov 7, 2022

  Amazing Card battler!!! Very beautiful art style an progressive stories so deep you'll replay again and again. Very excited to see how this amazing game grows!!!
• gamedeal user

  Nov 15, 2022

  I wish there was a middle ground between recommend or not recommend. The game has enough issues that I can't recommend it but at the same time giving the thumbs down seems harsh because the game is not a bad game. The game is technically well executed, no bugs, great art, great story and lore. Clearly some competence and love have gone into it. But unfortunately the balance is awful, the meta progression feels unfair and unrewarding, and the runs themselves appear to boil down to getting set peices over anything else. Obviously RNG is an integral part of rogue likes/lites and card games. It's what makes them replayable and interesting. But RNG should present interesting challenges, not brick walls you can't overcome. There are runs in this game, particularly early on when you haven't done enough grinding on a particular perk to unlock the basic class cards (seriously?!), that you simply cannot win. The game is less about smart choices and more about did you get some lucky item/card options. The problem with this is that not only do your losses feel unfair, your wins feel cheap. I got an absolutely broken combo of set items and walked through the game. Yet when I really sit and contemplate all my decisions, you can lose on the second map when the difficulty spikes because you didn't get lucky. Not to mention enemies can sometimes just OTK you and there's nothing you can do. So for now, this game is not polished enough. I want to like it, I hope the devs can rethink some of their design and balance choices, because the core of the game is amazing and makes me want to play more. But it should revolve around deck building, not items. You should be able to clear a run without relying on items at all, it is a deck builder after all. All that said, I do like the game and am cheering for the devs to succeed. It is in early access so I'll continue to play on updates and change my review if the issues are fixed. As for now, you're better off putting your time into Slay The Spire.
• gamedeal user

  Dec 24, 2022

  I'm going to get this refunded, but once it leaves Early Access, I plan to check back and see if the many, many balance problems have been addressed. There's a lot to like here, but the warts are definitely at a dealbreaking size. For roguelike card-battlers, some degree of influence from Slay the Spire is to be expected; it's the establishing titan of the genre. But I expect at least *some* effort put into exploring the design space. 3 energy, attack/skill/power card types, barely-renamed copies of the exact same cards and status effects (Vulnerable is back, renamed Exposed; Strength and Agility didn't even get the courtesy of a rename) -- not enough work put into the design, here, and the problem is that what *has* been done with design changes means we have the same *cards* as StS but not the exquisitely tuned *balance* of StS. Same node-to-node map, but no branches, which makes me wonder why they even bothered. The only path choice to make is at the starting node, then it's on rails all the way. The bit that broke my spirit was losing a run to a monster that reduced all damage for a given attack to 1 as a permanent ability with no workaround, *and* it did no damage but puts the player on a 12-turn countdown. At 60 life, that means if your deck can't play *more than* 5 different attacks per turn (or apply 3-5 bleed a turn), it's an unwinnable fight. At 3 energy per turn, that's not something even a good deck can accomplish. Zero-recourse kills that sidestep all the usual mitigation mechanics are just bad, bad design, especially when they're not signposted at all, just a random encounter. The good things here are the art, lore, and polish; it's a very good looking (and sounding) game. Equipment system adds a fairly interesting layer, from what I've seen. I'd really like to see more of what's here once the game balance isn't terrible.
• CharterOak

  Dec 29, 2022

  UPDATE: Two of the main reasons I really enjoy this game, so far, more than other Roguelike Deckbuilders. Both reasons have the same effect. They make the game feel fresh and new each time. First, the events. In most games like this the events are an after thought. Not here. They are constantly making new events and these events can be interesting or even change some things in interesting ways. They do not always tell you what will happen if you choose a certain course of action, which I was not use to. In most games of this type you always know what will happen when you push the button and commit to an action. Not here. You are not always certain what your choice of action will cause.(Though you may think you have a good idea.) I thought I would not like this. But I have learned to appreciate it. It lends a certain story like quality where yes, it's a game. But it's also a story and journey that just unfolds as you travel. Less predictable and thus less stale and prepackaged. Note: Most of the important deckbuilding events are clearly marked, so it's not complete chaos. Mostly it's the story elements you are not always sure of. Two, the way the classes are built. Each class has different mechanics and each variation of the class also has it's own mechanics. 12 variants so far. Now every game will tell you that each class plays differently. But this one goes about it differently. Not only do you get to choose your direction from within a set of class cards, every game like this does that. But this goes one step farther and encourages you to then play your deck a certain way. A different way for each class. One class might give you real advantages for never playing two attacks or actions or any two cards of the same type in a row. The next class may have you playing two cards at once, if you are willing to burn them. But then gives you bonuses if you can return burned cards to your hand. Again, this leads to the game constantly feeling fresh as you actually play the hand you are dealt differently. Enemies can also have similar specific mechanics that can modify how you want to approach them and play your hand. To wrap this up, this game will not hold your hand. Learning the decks and figuring out how to play them takes some time and each player or run may play differently. You don't always know what will happen in the story. But all this is not done in the interests of making it harder per say(the difficulty is mostly about right), but it's in the interests of keeping things fresh and interesting. I really do recommend this game. The more I play it the more I appreciate it, which is rare. ORIGINAL REVIEW: So far I am very much enjoying this... The one thing I'd say is that if you mistake this for Slay the Spire you may be frustrated at first. Slay the Spire you need to think about how to compose your deck and what things will synergize well with that concept. Here you do need to do that... but you often need to think just as much in fight. You have to learn to adapt and use what you have even when things are not going the way you imagined they would. You can't simply go in and mindlessly play the deck and think you'll win, even if you put some good thought and effort into your deck. One other thing... learn to check all the different icons and buffs on your opponent. Because sometimes they are not as straight forward as you might be use to in other games.
• DoubleAgent

  Jan 30, 2023

  Fun descendant of Slay the Spire. There's similarity in the initial character, the map, and the base mechanics. Where I think this game makes something new is with the two other characters and the various alternate aspects of all the heroes. Additionally, the RPG elements (armor and sets) is a fun element to play with. There are run-ending bugs still. Most noticeably with the last boss in the story mode.
• Ominous Orphan

  Jun 12, 2023

  I am utterly amazed by this game. I went in expecting it to be more of the same of the genre, being perfectly happy with this as I love the genre itself but Coffin Lid blew me out of the water. This is an early access game which is amazing and unique in every single way. The cut-scenes, the voice acting, the intriguing story line, all of has me playing for hours in a row. My short playtime is literally 2 sessions so far. There are games that have been in early access for years without this much content and the "just one more run" feeling. As a veteran of the genre, I went in playing hardcore immediately and enjoyed the ride. Again upon unlocking a new character I was expecting the standard of you're not a warrior you're a mage thing and wow, it is absolutely not the case. The next character is entirely unique, own story and personal goals, a fundamental mechanic change from top to bottom. I have not been this pleased by a deckbuilder in a long time. I wholeheartedly recommend this game, even now while it is still in development. Devs you have absolutely outdone yourself. There are some minor bugs and kinks, but this is expected in an early access game. Please keep doing what you do!