Malys

Malys is an early access roguelite deckbuilding game that has garnered overwhelmingly positive feedback from players, who praise its unique gameplay mechanics, striking art style, and atmospheric audio. The core mechanic of sacrificing cards to generate energy for playing others introduces fresh strategic depth, setting it apart from similar games like Slay the Spire. Players appreciate the game's moody, gothic aesthetic combined with a narrative that unfolds through rich dialogue and lore, drawing comparisons to titles like Hades and Constantine. The combat system, featuring multi-stage demon battles and diverse card synergies, is engaging and rewarding, encouraging experimentation.

However, as an early access title, Malys exhibits some rough edges. UI issues such as unreadable tooltips, text clipping, and small fonts affect readability. Some players find the narrative delivery heavy with lengthy text blocks lacking voice acting, which can hamper immersion. Occasional bugs and performance hiccups have been reported, along with desires for better clarity on enemy intentions and more varied build options. Despite these, the game’s strong foundation and developer responsiveness inspire confidence for future improvements and content expansions.

Highlights

Players particularly praise Malys’ innovative card sacrifice mechanic that adds tactical complexity to deckbuilding. The art style and atmosphere receive high acclaim for their gothic, noir-inspired visuals and fitting soundtrack, enhancing the immersive experience. The multi-stage demon fights offer unique challenges that keep combat fresh. Additionally, the story and writing are appreciated for their depth and mood-setting, with evolving encounters and character interactions that enrich the world-building. The game’s audio design and voice acting (where present) also contribute positively to the overall vibe, making Malys stand out among roguelite deckbuilders.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the user interface problems, including tooltips that go offscreen, small or clipped text, and lack of UI customization options. Some players find the narrative presentation cumbersome due to large blocks of unvoiced text, which can disrupt pacing and accessibility. The opacity of enemy intentions during combat is frustrating for some, as damage and targeting details are unclear. There are reports of bugs and performance issues such as delayed card actions and clipping text. Additionally, game balance and build variety need refinement, with some strategies feeling dominant and the game currently too easy or repetitive in areas. Players also desire more content variety and polish before full release.