I’m shocked I really didn’t learn about Slice & Cube (Free) till I noticed it pop up on our discussion board and Jared’s write up final month for our Sport of the Week characteristic. The dice-based roguelike dungeon crawler from developer Tann was initially in early entry on PC and Android for some time now, and it lastly launched on iOS alongside its huge 3.0 replace on all platforms. I’ve been taking part in it fairly a bit since then, and I’m going to save lots of you a while right here. Cease studying and go obtain Slice & Cube. It’s principally excellent, and delivers on nearly every thing I would like not solely from a top quality cell port, but in addition as a roguelike.
Once I first tried Slice & Cube, it felt polished and slowly began getting its hooks into me like Sq. Enix’s Dungeon Encounters, however I quickly began seeing how a lot depth it had. Even when Slice & Cube shipped with a single mode and no modifiers, I’d be happy with the asking value. It’s that good. Earlier than entering into the modes and modifiers, Slice & Cube is a dice-based roguelike dungeon crawler the place you’ve gotten cube that resolve your actions, restricted rerolls, and enemies which have their very own cube for actions. You may see enemy motion paths and the UI is great at how effectively it offers you all the data you want with out wanting too busy.
After every flip, you attempt to take out the enemies to maneuver ahead, improve heroes, equip gadgets, and work in direction of finishing a full run with 20 battles. As you progress by way of the sport run after run, you’ll unlock extra of what Slice & Cube has to supply. You have already got entry to a plethora of content material from the beginning, however the selection in builds and modes is loopy for a sport like this. I don’t wish to oversell Slice & Cube, but it surely actually is underpriced proper now, so long as the gameplay clicks for you after all. That’s why there being a free to strive model is sweet.
The hero upgrades and gadgets mixed with the variability in foes and modifiers makes this really feel too huge and sophisticated. Fortunately the tutorial is nice at introducing the fundamentals after which letting you begin studying by expertise. The animations and interactions are easy, however they completely match the gameplay and aesthetic. I do know Slice & Cube on iOS had the good thing about launching a number of years and plenty of updates later, but it surely actually seems like one of the vital polished and addictive roguelikes on cell ever.
Slice & Cube additionally has a number of helpful interactions that assist velocity issues up throughout gameplay. I already thought it was an effective way to kill a while with a spherical or two in a run, however I didn’t count on to get obsessive about it on my cellphone this a lot. Slice & Cube being playable in portrait on iPhone is harmful for productiveness. For those who’ve ever needed a roguelike that doesn’t waste your time, Slice & Cube is all you want.
Along with the basic mode you begin with and the difficulties accessible, you may unlock customized modes, the power to replay the demo12 fights, an immediate random battle with no runs/historical past, customized modifiers in a customized mode, and masses extra. I can see myself taking part in Slice & Cube for years to return at this price, and never even being remotely bored.
Slice & Cube helps each portrait and panorama gameplay throughout iPhone and iPad. On iPad, it has small black bars although. On iPhone and iPad, the UI adjusts whenever you change your gadget orientation on the fly. Given what number of contact targets and UI components there are in Slice & Cube, the group clearly put quite a lot of effort into this launch, and I’m glad to see it. Whereas it seems higher in panorama, Slice & Cube is the right sport to play in portrait mode in your iPhone.
Visually, Slice & Cube has a hanging aesthetic that’s easy but detailed in its artwork. The animations are easy, however Slice & Cube seems and feels nice throughout all units I attempted it on exterior of the small bars on the iPad model that isn’t fullscreen. The icons and pixel artwork for characters and enemies is all effectively finished. The soundtrack that includes six totally different artists can be customizable within the in-game jukebox with loop and music choice modes and the power to take away a tune you dislike.
Once I spent an hour with the free portion of Slice & Cube on iPhone, I purchased the complete sport on each iOS and Steam. I needed to play the PC model on Steam Deck, and I form of remorse the acquisition since Slice & Cube has no controller assist. It really works wonderful with contact controls on Steam Deck simulating a mouse, however I might’ve preferred full controller assist. On iOS, Slice & Cube performs completely with contact controls. Proper now, the iOS model is my favourite for positive, particularly on my iPhone.
Proper now, my solely actual criticism with Slice & Cube is the dearth of iCloud saves. I couldn’t get my progress syncing throughout my units in any respect. There’s no in-game choice or iCloud Drive talked about so I assume this hasn’t been carried out but. Hopefully it may be thought of for potential future updates. Except for that, I did get aggravated at a number of the enemies that summon extra enemies for a single battle. I by no means get pleasure from these mechanics in these video games.
Identical to Balatro on PC and consoles, Slice & Cube contains an choice to bypass unlocks. The distinction right here is that achievements usually are not affected, and you’ll nonetheless earn them. I prefer it when video games embrace these choices, however the best way Slice & Cube handles it is extremely good. The warning straight up tells you that the locked gadgets are extra advanced and less highly effective. You even see an alert that the sport will likely be extra advanced after doing this, and that you may undo it. After taking part in and slowly unlocking new modes and issue, I can see why this selection has an undo accessible. I discover these choices helpful for many who play on a number of units since progress doesn’t carry over.
Since Slice & Cube is a free to start out sport, I completely suggest downloading it and seeing how you discover it earlier than getting the complete unlock. You get entry to a superb pattern of the sport without cost earlier than you should resolve whether it is value shopping for, however the asking value is greater than justified given how a lot you get. The complete model of Slice & Cube prices $8.99 on Steam and the one time in app buy unlock on cell is priced the identical.
Slice & Cube isn’t simply considered one of my favourite video games of 2024, however considered one of my favourite roguelikes in a few years already. I’m wanting ahead to taking part in it every day on iPhone, and assume anybody with a distant curiosity in roguelikes ought to obtain the sport and take a look at it without cost instantly.
