Today, I decided to take a longer lunch break which means I have to stay back after work to make up for it. Luckily, I spent my extra time playing the demo for Witching Stone, a game that combines shape-matching with magic. Set to release on 16th September, this pixelart game is a charming mix of puzzle, roguelite, and deckbuilding genres.
Watch the game trailer on YouTube
In Witching Stone, you play as an anime sorceress exploring a dungeon map with various nodes. Some nodes contain treasure chests, campsites, and shops, while others trigger turn-based battles. Instead of selecting spells from a menu, you must combine shapes on a grid to cast spells during battles.
Each spell requires a different combination of shapes, and you can cast multiple spells at once but are limited to drawing a line through a certain number of squares per turn. Casting a spell removes the shapes from the grid, causing new ones to fall from above. This adds a strategic element as you aim to clear unwanted shapes and set up combos for your next turn.
If you’ve played Puzzle Quest or Puzzle Fighter, you’ll find the gameplay intuitive. Witching Stone also offers a progression system where you can expand your spellbook and customize your spells with mods. For example, the Giant Slayer mod boosts your lightning bolt’s damage but always targets the strongest enemy. The game promises a variety of spell combinations, making for exciting gameplay.
I thoroughly enjoyed playing the demo and recommend checking it out on Steam. I appreciate games that involve assembling spells rather than just using weapons. If grid puzzles aren’t your thing and you prefer real-time action, I suggest trying out Magicka.
