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Spellbook Demonslayers is a wicked, witchy take on Vampire SurvivorsMake broom for this in your library
Make broom for this in your library
Vampire Survivor-likes are a thing now, all trying to emulate the success of Poncle’s indie hit that became ourbest game of 2022. As I’ve saidbefore, a lot of them can’t quite match the OG for all manner of reasons, butSpellbook Demonslayersis different. Despite only being in early access, it’s already got a solid foundation to work from. No, there isn’t an Old Testament that whirls around your person like a holy sawblade, but there is a revolving shield with a pistol glued onto it. Yeah, I thought that would convince you.
Spellbook Demonslayers is as you’d expect from aVampire Survivors-like. An arena quickly fills with rotten hounds and fetid fungi, and you must steer a witch out of their way while periodic auto-attacks help keep the demonic massies to a manageable amount. What’s neat about Spellbook Demonslayers is the way it iterates on Vampire Survivors' formula, borrowing the good bits from it but still managing to bundle it all up in a convincing witchy way.
Spellbook Demonslayers Trailer - Early Access 2nd, Nov, 2022!Watch on YouTube
Spellbook Demonslayers Trailer - Early Access 2nd, Nov, 2022!
If there’s one box that Spellbook doesn’t so much tick as smash a hole through it using a combination of a dusty tome and a mean pitch, it’s the game’s catalogue of spells and upgrades. Hoover up gems from fallen demons to level up, and you’ll get a choice of spell to imbibe your book with. Early access means it’s not quite the equivalent of the Yellow Pages yet, but there’s still plenty on offer to ensure you hit-fulfil a power fantasy sharpish. You might opt for sigils that highlight enemies and call forth deadly lightning bolts, or you’ll invest in a rotating acid spray that makes demons explode on death. It’s very hard to go wrong.
And it’s the way the game’s spells all have interesting upgrade paths, transforming them sometimes once, sometimestwiceinto uber powerful versions of themselves. Ice traps become towering obelisks that shatter on impact. Fizzing orbs become the equivalent of beetles that’ll scurry about and leech health. My favourite is a purple shield that I slapped two pistols onto, for a lovely guns-akimbo wall of defense. Again, Vampire Survivors features upgradeable powerups - and the option to weld them together - but many of the Survivor-likes I’ve tried don’t! So, it’s refreshing that Spellbook rewards one’s investments with similarly fun evolutions.
Enemy and arena variety isn’t all that high at the moment. Each new stage I’ve tried is fairly similar and rather small, with the same slew of demons too. I’m certain some extra time in the cauldron will mean plenty more of both bubbling up to the surface.
One of Spellbook’s greatest triumphs is in the clarity of its presentation. Not only are its sprites colourful and bouncy, but they also manage to keep the chaos of a lengthy run under control. I’ve found the art style of other Survivors-likes aren’t great at feeding you the minutiae of information you need between the explosions and fireworks. But Spellbook’s aesthetics – for the most part – allow you to see the crucial damaging orbs whizzing between the tangle of goblin limbs and floating eye balls.
If you’re after a Vampire Survivors-like that’s already got a solid, magical platform and is only going to get better from here on out, this is it, pal - get on it. Did I mention that it’s only £4? That’s about the price of a meal deal, except this one’s a game that’ll feed your appetite - for demonic slaughter - time and time again. Can’t argue with that.
