Slay the Spire the Board Game review: "A pitch-perfect tabletop adaptation"

GamesRadar+ VerdictSlay the Spire the Board Game is a pitch-perfect tabletop adaptation of one of gaming’s most addictive deckbuilders. Of course, that really won’t matter to players who have never so much as heard of the original video game. But thankfully, even the uninitiated will get an immense kick out of crafting card combos and slaying all those who lay in their path to Ascension.Pros+Superb component design and quality, particularly in the Collector’s Edition+Highly customizable and replayable roguelike gameplay experience+Scalable for shorter sessions or full three-act runsCons-Not having the game’s soundtrack on while you play is doing yourself a massive disservice-STS veterans will likely experience slight friction while adjusting to rebalances

GamesRadar+ Verdict

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Slay the Spire the Board Game is a pitch-perfect tabletop adaptation of one of gaming’s most addictive deckbuilders. Of course, that really won’t matter to players who have never so much as heard of the original video game. But thankfully, even the uninitiated will get an immense kick out of crafting card combos and slaying all those who lay in their path to Ascension.

Slay the Spire the Board Game is a pitch-perfect tabletop adaptation of one of gaming’s most addictive deckbuilders. Of course, that really won’t matter to players who have never so much as heard of the original video game. But thankfully, even the uninitiated will get an immense kick out of crafting card combos and slaying all those who lay in their path to Ascension.

Pros+Superb component design and quality, particularly in the Collector’s Edition+Highly customizable and replayable roguelike gameplay experience+Scalable for shorter sessions or full three-act runs

Superb component design and quality, particularly in the Collector’s Edition

Highly customizable and replayable roguelike gameplay experience

Scalable for shorter sessions or full three-act runs

Cons-Not having the game’s soundtrack on while you play is doing yourself a massive disservice-STS veterans will likely experience slight friction while adjusting to rebalances

Not having the game’s soundtrack on while you play is doing yourself a massive disservice

STS veterans will likely experience slight friction while adjusting to rebalances

Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy.

Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy.

Jump to:Features & DesignGameplayShould you buy?How we tested

Jump to:Features & DesignGameplayShould you buy?How we tested

There’s something very ‘art imitates life, life imitates art’ about the concept of Slay the Spire the Board Game. Which is essentially a pretentious way of saying that deckbuilders are already aiming to digitize the experience of playing a tabletop card game. So, STS’s transition to the physical realm feels like something it’s really well primed for.

Despite this fact, and despite how beloved and critically acclaimed Slay the Spire is in general, there’s still no guarantee that the board game adaptation will live up to the promises of its source material. I won’t be coy though. You’ve already seen my rating, so I’ll just come out and say it. Slay the Spire the Board Game is not only a superb translation of the original game’s aesthetics and mechanics, but makes for for a legitimatebest co-operative board gamescontender even without the IP attached to it.

If you have any experience with Slay the Spire, you’ll know what to expect from its board game counterpart. However, given you can pick up the OG on sale for as little as $6, its tabletop adaptation has to deliver something different to avoid feeling redundant and to rationalize its $115 asking price. Thankfully, Slay the Spire the Board Game manages to infuse enough unique new elements into the gameplay experience to justify adding it to your collection even if you’ve played STS to death already.

Slay the Spire the Board Game — Features & Design

(Image credit: Future)

Slay the Spire the board game manuals on a playmat background

Slay the Spire the Board Game is just a joy to see laid out on the table

Slay the Spire the Board Game is just a joy to see laid out on the table

Thanks to all of this prior planning, it’s rather simple to set up a new session or continue a previous one. Whether you’re diving into a full playthrough from Act One or just hoping to do a couple of pick-up-and-play encounters, it’s as easy as choosing the board with the required map and taking out the required cards. As a board game that stays true to STS’s roguelike origins, this makes it all the more tempting for players to start again when they die – and yes, trust me, you will die.

There’s no doubt that Slay the Spire the Board Game can be deadly in sections and its difficulty isn’t uniform, but that’s something that works in its favor. For example, Neow the Whale returns to dole out player’s starting blessings and these can really make or break a run. Meanwhile, to mimic the procedural generation of Slay the Spire’s maps, each Act’s board has large randomized sections, which players randomly fill in using tokens representing merchant visits, elite monster encounters, treasure chests, or unknown events. Having to restart a run eventually is something that is encoded into STS’s DNA, but thankfully its design accommodates that wonderfully.

Practicalities aside, Slay the Spire the Board Game is just a joy to see laid out on the table. From the charming token and card art to the colorful, detailed miniatures, Slay the Spire the Board Game brings the quirky world of the Spire to life in a way that feels immensely familiar. Yet, thanks to the new tactile elements, it manages to breathe a new lease of life into the whole experience.

Slay the Spire the Board Game — Gameplay

(Image credit: Future)

Slime boss encounter in Slay the Spire the board game

Then there’s the second important question: just how enjoyable – and replayable – is Slay the Spire the Board Game? Afterall, a premium game that you can see yourself playing over and over again winds up costing less per play than a cheaper title that simply gathers dust on your shelf. If you’re an established fan of Slay the Spire, the answer is simple – the board game version is just as moreish as the original.The core gameplay system remains unchanged: you choose a character with their own unique deck of power, skill, and attack cards and spend energy to play those cards and defeat opponents. As you ascend further up the Spire, you’ll have opportunities to find new cards for your deck, as well potions and relics that can be used to buff you throughout your run. You’ll also come across gold, which can be cashed in at the Merchant to pick up everything you need to improve your chances of survival (just don’t try to buy his mat, that is 100% not for sale).

One main difference between Slay the Spire and its board game is the latter’s introduction of multiplayer and cooperative play. I’m fairly sure I’ve accumulated hundreds of hours of playtime on Slay the Spire across Switch, PC, and Mobile. So, with all that time sunk into the game, am I actually even that good at it? Uhh … next question. The tragic gap between my enthusiasm and skill level means that I’m more than happy to join up with my fellow spire-slayers to devise the best strategy possible. But even if this isn’t your bag, Slay the Spire the Board Game makes for an equally satisfying single player experience and is really easy to balance in accordance with your player count thanks to the detailed yet simple-to-understand setup instructions.

(Image credit: Future)

Neow’s blessing card from Slay the Spire the board game

While I certainly got a taste of all four dungeon delvers during my testing period of Slay the Spire the Board Game, my character choices tended to be very much true to form for me. That’s to say I spent a whole lot of time playing as The Silent. Some benefits to this spooky huntress being my slayer of choice (other than the cool shiv tokens I get to add to my board) is that her character is one of the few that deviates the least from the original game.

Nothing about characters’ core archetype is disrupted and you can still run all of your established STS builds, but in the interest of refining the board game’s balance, some of the values on their cards are changed slightly. This is no biggie for a new player, but if you’ve played Slay the Spire so much that you can calculate your damage and defense without even reading card descriptions, you’ll probably have a bit of brain fart while adjusting to these subtle differences. In the meantime, my advice would be to not rely on your game knowledge and instead embrace the old adage of “reading the card explains the card.”

Should you buy Slay the Spire the Board Game?

(Image credit: Future)

image of the act one map in Slay the Spire the board game

Do you have tens of hours of playtime on Slay the Spire? Do you have room in your heart and on your bookshelf for a new co-op board game? Do you have $115 you can afford to spend on said board game? If you’ve answered yes to all three of these questions, add Slay the Spire the Board Game to your basket immediately. I’m serious, put it in. It belongs there. You won’t regret it.

As for everyone else, the answer is just a tad more complicated. Intuitively, there’s a little less of a draw for STS newbies, but I have no doubt they would have plenty of fun playing Slay the Spire the Board Game. The manual provides a gentle ramp for players to become deckbuilding experts and thankfully, Slay the Spire isn’t particularly lore-heavy so you can enjoy all the bizarre monsters and NPCs at face value.

Regardless of your experience with the source material, if you enjoy deckbuilders, strategy games, the luck-of-the-draw, and that intoxicating “one more round” feeling, Slay the Spire the Board Game is for you.

Buy if…

✅ You want a game with heaps of replay valueNo run is the same with Slay the Spire, and you’ll quickly become sucked into strategizing with your friends and perfecting builds to maximize the success of your ascent.

✅ You want a game with heaps of replay valueNo run is the same with Slay the Spire, and you’ll quickly become sucked into strategizing with your friends and perfecting builds to maximize the success of your ascent.

✅ You want a game with heaps of replay valueNo run is the same with Slay the Spire, and you’ll quickly become sucked into strategizing with your friends and perfecting builds to maximize the success of your ascent.

✅ You want a game with heaps of replay valueNo run is the same with Slay the Spire, and you’ll quickly become sucked into strategizing with your friends and perfecting builds to maximize the success of your ascent.

✅ You want a game with heaps of replay valueNo run is the same with Slay the Spire, and you’ll quickly become sucked into strategizing with your friends and perfecting builds to maximize the success of your ascent.

✅ You want a game with heaps of replay valueNo run is the same with Slay the Spire, and you’ll quickly become sucked into strategizing with your friends and perfecting builds to maximize the success of your ascent.

✅ You love Slay the SpireWhat’s better than Slay the Spire? More Slay the Spire! There’s very little you could miss while playing the board game adaptation (other than the soundtrack, there are some bangers on there) but there’s plenty of new elements to enjoy. Besides, maybe this can tide you over while you wait for Slay the Spire 2.

✅ You love Slay the SpireWhat’s better than Slay the Spire? More Slay the Spire! There’s very little you could miss while playing the board game adaptation (other than the soundtrack, there are some bangers on there) but there’s plenty of new elements to enjoy. Besides, maybe this can tide you over while you wait for Slay the Spire 2.

✅ You love Slay the SpireWhat’s better than Slay the Spire? More Slay the Spire! There’s very little you could miss while playing the board game adaptation (other than the soundtrack, there are some bangers on there) but there’s plenty of new elements to enjoy. Besides, maybe this can tide you over while you wait for Slay the Spire 2.

✅ You love Slay the SpireWhat’s better than Slay the Spire? More Slay the Spire! There’s very little you could miss while playing the board game adaptation (other than the soundtrack, there are some bangers on there) but there’s plenty of new elements to enjoy. Besides, maybe this can tide you over while you wait for Slay the Spire 2.

✅ You love Slay the SpireWhat’s better than Slay the Spire? More Slay the Spire! There’s very little you could miss while playing the board game adaptation (other than the soundtrack, there are some bangers on there) but there’s plenty of new elements to enjoy. Besides, maybe this can tide you over while you wait for Slay the Spire 2.

✅ You love Slay the SpireWhat’s better than Slay the Spire? More Slay the Spire! There’s very little you could miss while playing the board game adaptation (other than the soundtrack, there are some bangers on there) but there’s plenty of new elements to enjoy. Besides, maybe this can tide you over while you wait for Slay the Spire 2.

Don’t buy if…

❌ Roguelikes frustrate youIf a ‘game over’ screen has you flipping tables instead of raring for another run, the cycle of dying, learning, and succeeding likely won’t appeal to you.

❌ Roguelikes frustrate youIf a ‘game over’ screen has you flipping tables instead of raring for another run, the cycle of dying, learning, and succeeding likely won’t appeal to you.

❌ Roguelikes frustrate youIf a ‘game over’ screen has you flipping tables instead of raring for another run, the cycle of dying, learning, and succeeding likely won’t appeal to you.

❌ Roguelikes frustrate youIf a ‘game over’ screen has you flipping tables instead of raring for another run, the cycle of dying, learning, and succeeding likely won’t appeal to you.

❌ Roguelikes frustrate youIf a ‘game over’ screen has you flipping tables instead of raring for another run, the cycle of dying, learning, and succeeding likely won’t appeal to you.

❌ Roguelikes frustrate youIf a ‘game over’ screen has you flipping tables instead of raring for another run, the cycle of dying, learning, and succeeding likely won’t appeal to you.

❌ You don’t have the money for pricey board gameWhile I’d argue that Slay the Spire the Board Game is worth its hefty price tag, there are cheaper (albeit less stylish and polished) deckbuilder games like Dominion or Clank: A Deckbuilding Adventure that you can pick up for around $50.

❌ You don’t have the money for pricey board gameWhile I’d argue that Slay the Spire the Board Game is worth its hefty price tag, there are cheaper (albeit less stylish and polished) deckbuilder games like Dominion or Clank: A Deckbuilding Adventure that you can pick up for around $50.

❌ You don’t have the money for pricey board gameWhile I’d argue that Slay the Spire the Board Game is worth its hefty price tag, there are cheaper (albeit less stylish and polished) deckbuilder games like Dominion or Clank: A Deckbuilding Adventure that you can pick up for around $50.

❌ You don’t have the money for pricey board gameWhile I’d argue that Slay the Spire the Board Game is worth its hefty price tag, there are cheaper (albeit less stylish and polished) deckbuilder games like Dominion or Clank: A Deckbuilding Adventure that you can pick up for around $50.

❌ You don’t have the money for pricey board gameWhile I’d argue that Slay the Spire the Board Game is worth its hefty price tag, there are cheaper (albeit less stylish and polished) deckbuilder games like Dominion or Clank: A Deckbuilding Adventure that you can pick up for around $50.

❌ You don’t have the money for pricey board gameWhile I’d argue that Slay the Spire the Board Game is worth its hefty price tag, there are cheaper (albeit less stylish and polished) deckbuilder games like Dominion or Clank: A Deckbuilding Adventure that you can pick up for around $50.

How we tested Slay the Spire the Board Game

Our reviewer played multiple sessions of Slay the Spire the Board Game to get the most comprehensive impression of how the game functions. They worked to replicate, as far as possible, the average player’s experience and in doing so they played with those who were familiar with the source material and those who were not. As well as this, they made sure to trial both the single player and multiplayer versions of the game.

If you’re preparing for a get-together, don’t miss our guide to the very bestparty board games. Want something a little more old school? Have a browse through theseclassic board games.

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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

1

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

2

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

3

Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

4

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

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Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

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Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

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The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Nicola Coughlan as Joy in Doctor Who Christmas special Joy to the World

1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

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Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

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Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

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Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

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Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

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Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

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