I finally won my first game of Griftlands and it was a wild experience. I've seen plenty of CRPGs that have told good stories, but this is the first computer game in years in years that made me feel like I was actually roleplaying.

It's all based on a really good, well-balanced deck-builder engine, one that offers a lot of meaningful choices. You have two separate decks, one for combat and one for negotiation, and the rules for each one are completely different.

But what really sets this game apart is the quality of the procedurally generated storytelling. The writing is generally fine to good, but the game has the sense to make most of the story unfold through the mechanics.

There are a fixed number of NPCs, and virtually all your missions affect their opinions of you. And the politics of this world are fairly brutal, so it's far from impossible that you'll find yourself, say, ordered to kill someone you put a lot of effort into befriending. But I also did pretty well adopting a "Nice Gal" persona.

Oh, and the first protagonist is virtually fanfic of Scorpia from the new She-Ra. The game felt just very non-gender-tropey in general. And while sometimes battles are mandatory, there are lots of opportunities for non-violent conflict resolution and potentially serious consequences for violence. (It sure fucks up an Influence deck. >___< )

If you don't care for card games, this game probably isn't going to convert you. If you. But it's the smartest and most culturally mature deckbuilder I've ever seen--and Slay The Spire is *extremely smart*. There are just some genius bits in this game.

I think what really made it for me was the first replay where my best friend from the last run immediately developed a murderous hatred for me during the next one. I love this game as an exercise in perspective. There's clearly no interest in good guys and bad guys.

CW for the fact you can lose a pet frighteningly easy in this game. Do the smart thing: if you bond with them, get them back to Fssh as soon as possible and check them into your room! You CAN pet the terrifying crabpuppies though.

Oh, and CW for the fact that one of the two paths you can take is basically "cop." But it doesn't really feel like copaganda. The game is VERY cynical about the Authority; they're essentially treated as just another gang. The game will warn you that most people won't like you too much if you're seen working for them.