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Slay the Spire

Review · RPG · Xbox One · iOS · PC

Slay the Spire

Reviewed: 11 May 2026

Xbox One · iOS · PC · macOS · Linux · Nintendo Switch · PlayStation 4 · Android

Humble Bundle · 2019

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

45 /100

Automated review

Slay the Spire is a card-based roguelike that builds problem solving and strategic thinking through unique gameplay, but can lead to loss aversion.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 33 · R 28
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

33

Risk (RIS)

28

Daily limit

90min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.74
B2Social-emotional
0.10
B3Motor
0.35

Slay the Spire offers a highly engaging and intellectually stimulating experience through its unique blend of card games and roguelikes. Players will develop strategic thinking, critical analysis, and problem-solving skills as they craft unique decks, adapt to ever-changing challenges, and learn from each attempt to conquer the Spire. The dynamic deck-building and diverse encounters foster creativity and adaptive learning, making each play session a fresh and rewarding mental exercise.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.43
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

While Slay the Spire is a single-player experience with no direct social or monetization risks, its roguelike nature can lead to a moderate degree of loss aversion and escalating commitment as players invest time into runs that can end abruptly. The variable rewards and frequent drops, while engaging, contribute to a compulsion loop that can encourage extended play sessions. Some players might find the stylized combat moderately violent, though it is not graphic.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.67
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.00
R4.4Substance References
0.00
R4.5Fear / Horror
0.33

Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.

Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Assessed: meets criteria·ODDS — Assessed: meets criteria

  • DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.: Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
  • GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.: Estimated from review data. No privacy or child-targeting concerns found.
  • ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.

These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.

Avg playtime~12 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Slay the Spire safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Slay the Spire a rating of 45/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is Slay the Spire appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for Slay the Spire, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Slay the Spire?

Our session recommendation for Slay the Spire is up to 90 minutes per day. It is derived from the game's own structure (natural stopping points, compulsion-loop design, monetization pressure, and social dynamics), not from a universal screen-time dose.

Session recommendations are design-based heuristics. Evidence linking specific daily durations to child outcomes is limited, and context matters as much as time; treat this as a starting point for household rules, not a clinical threshold.

What are the main risks of Slay the Spire?

While Slay the Spire is a single-player experience with no direct social or monetization risks, its roguelike nature can lead to a moderate degree of loss aversion and escalating commitment as players invest time into runs that can end abruptly. The variable rewards and frequent drops, while engaging, contribute to a compulsion loop that can encourage extended play sessions. Some players might fin