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Do you love games like Dota, but find they take too long? Spellsworn [Steam, Official Site], a PvP arena game where the arena shrinks might be a good fit for you.

It's not nearly as polished as something like Dota 2, but it's free and fun in quick bursts and quite challenging too. Check out the trailer:

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Features:

  • Test your wits and reflexes in spell-filled multiplayer combat, either alone or in teams - supports up to 8 players.
  • Choose your loadout across 5 different disciplines - Offensive, Defensive, Area, Utility, and Travel.
  • Engage in battle across 3 unique arenas, each with their own dangers and demands.
  • Gain experience through battle, earning skins, weapons and more as you level up.

It does have a few issues, the first being that connecting to rooms people setup is a bit hit and miss. Once you get into a game though, it's really quite fun. It's pretty frantic, especially considering the arena is surrounded by hostile terrain of some sort that gradually eats away at the arena.

It's difficult too! Not because of a lack of instructions (since the gameplay is reasonably simple), but having to dodge all the spells people are throwing around, while finding time to aim your own makes it quite the challenging game overall. You will be bounced around, thrown into lava and it can be quite exhilarating.

It's based on rounds, each round you buy, upgrade and sell spells. Everyone has access to exactly the same spells, so it's quite fair. Once ready you can run around the arena testing your spells until everyone is ready, which is pretty handy for testing stuff out.

Weirdly, mine started with the master sound volume turned right down, but apart from that and the occasional connection issue it works nicely on Linux. Find it on Steam for free.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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9 comments

Xpander Mar 19, 2018
Its really good. Have over 6 hours in it. At first its a bit confusing because theres only written tutorial, but once you get to know the spells and stuff its damn addictive. skillshots, reflexes, combinations.
Linux port is pretty good also, runs great if you turn the effects down to high or medium. on Ultra effect quality it can drop below 60 in huge action for me. rest can be ultra and 2560x1440 for me, PC specs in my profile.

Made a video about it also:
View video on youtube.com
razing32 Mar 19, 2018
No last hits , no gold and no items.
Already a breath of fresh air. :)
Xpander Mar 19, 2018
Quoting: razing32No last hits , no gold and no items.
Already a breath of fresh air. :)

there are items. sadly lootboxes for skins and weapons (cosmetics only) which can be earned in game and not for real money atm as store is not implemented yet.

Hoever they said they will add purchasable lootboxes, which in my book is bad gambling :( But they also said that they will sell skins directly which is nice and ofc since they are pure cosmetics you don't have to buy them.
hardpenguin Mar 19, 2018
It's a great game that I am following closely since Early Access! If you like brawling, spellcasting gameplay known from games like Dota or League of Legends, it's really fun!
razing32 Mar 19, 2018
Quoting: Xpander
Quoting: razing32No last hits , no gold and no items.
Already a breath of fresh air. :)

there are items. sadly lootboxes for skins and weapons (cosmetics only) which can be earned in game and not for real money atm as store is not implemented yet.

Hoever they said they will add purchasable lootboxes, which in my book is bad gambling :( But they also said that they will sell skins directly which is nice and ofc since they are pure cosmetics you don't have to buy them.

Hmm. Will have to try it then and see.
I hope they keep lootboxes only cosmetic otherwise i am out.
cprn Mar 19, 2018
When watched characters seem unresponsive and slow. Enough for me not to try it. But I'm skeptic so probably not a target audience.
Xpander Mar 19, 2018
Quoting: cprnWhen watched characters seem unresponsive and slow. Enough for me not to try it. But I'm skeptic so probably not a target audience.

actually its one of the most responsive game i have played. Slow moving, yes, thats what was my first thought as well, but once you play a bit you will understand why its not any faster than this..its really hard to master even with that speed :)
game has some issues when pings go too high though, then the movement will crap out, so if you go into server with high pings its not enjoyable
Liam Dawe Mar 19, 2018
Quoting: Xpander
Quoting: cprnWhen watched characters seem unresponsive and slow. Enough for me not to try it. But I'm skeptic so probably not a target audience.

actually its one of the most responsive game i have played. Slow moving, yes, thats what was my first thought as well, but once you play a bit you will understand why its not any faster than this..its really hard to master even with that speed :)
game has some issues when pings go too high though, then the movement will crap out, so if you go into server with high pings its not enjoyable
I second this about the movement, initially it seemed slow, but any faster and it would be insane honestly. It's challenging enough :D
LungDrago Mar 22, 2018
This game seems fun, but as of now they poorly handle multiple-monitor setups. Even when playing fullscreen (although on the wrong monitor) I can and keep clicking away into the desktop :(
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