I just spent some time messing around with The Spell Brigade. It is this online co-op game that mixes survivor elements with a magick-shooter vibe. The folks at indie studio Bolt Blaster Games put it together. Thing is, the whole setup stays pretty straightforward at heart. You round up your wizard buddies, jump into crowds of strange monsters, fire off spells nonstop, and pick up upgrades along the way. Pretty much chaotic fun all around. It really captures the feel it aims for. Still, the game shows its limits right up front.
What works.
The co-op side feels solid overall. You can team up with one to four players. Everyone joins in to blast through enemy waves. Friendly fire stays on the whole time. That one thing brings a good bit of unpredictability. Your teammates end up not safe from your spells at all. It sparks real chaos and plenty of laughs sometimes. The spell upgrade setup stands out too. You discover spells, unlock them, and tweak with elemental stuff, relics, and enchantments. All that opens up ways to build combos. You get to test out goofy synergies. That part keeps things enjoyable.
The art style catches the eye, and so does the presentation. For a small studio project like this, it pulls off a decent visual and sound setup. It makes dropping in for a quick session easy. Especially if you want just a short burst of fun with friends.
What does not work.
I had a good time playing it overall. Repetition hits fast though. Enemy types stay limited. After just a few runs, you spot the same monsters over and over. Objectives repeat too. Map layouts do not change much. That shortage in map and opponent options hurts how long it holds up. The music loop wears thin quick. The same track runs through big chunks of play without switching up. It kind of dims the whole vibe after a while.
Verdict.
If you hunt for a light co-op game to fill thirty to sixty minutes with pals, or something to play on Steam Deck or other portables, The Spell Brigade slots in well. It will not swap out big AAA co-op titles. It does not shake up the genre either. But it hands over what it promises. Magic mixes with mayhem and friendly fire chaos. I give it a 76/100. It comes across good and fun. The price feels right on target. Still, it could use more content and variety. That would help keep players hooked for the long haul.