Few games manage to make players spend **25+ hours** on a roguelike deck-builder while still feeling like a **haunting narrative experience**—and THE SPIRIT LIFT achieves just that, with 71 players averaging deep engagement. The tension between its addictive progression and unsettling atmosphere keeps discussions alive, even if the game isn’t without its rough edges.
What it's about: A retro horror deckbuilder roguelike set in a haunted hotel in the 1990s. Choose your teens, explore and fight! If you die rewind the night!
In-game
« Honestly, I love the game. It's an accessible deckbuilder, but it unlocks story and way more depth as you go. It looks cute (and honestly it is) but it also plays more like a survival horror game than the initial impression may give you. »👍 anonymous review · Feb 2026 · 119 h played« Solid rogue-lite with the expected build up over playthroughs. Easy to get continue to get sucked in for another run - if you're looking for easy gameplay to learn and a good game to jump in and out of, this is worth the pick up! »👍 anonymous review · Jan 2026 · 9 h played« A straightforward premise, an engaging game which has a solid grasp on the fundamentals of deckbuilder design, and some really surprisingly good music. »👍 anonymous review · Jan 2026 · 2 h played« I originally meant to just play a little to check it out but ended up playing over 2 hours! This was fun! »👍 anonymous review · Jan 2026 · 141 h played« I'm not great at it, but I'm having a good time! »👍 anonymous review · Jan 2026 · 14 h played« This is a easy to get into after a long day game. Just straight to the point. Enjoy the card builds and risk/reward aspect. »👍 anonymous review · Jan 2026 · 2 h played
« The design is so bad it makes me lose all desire to do anything more with it. <번역> 디자인을 그지같이 해놔서 뭘 더 하고싶지 않게 만든다 »👎 anonymous review · May 2026 · 1 h played« Not good enough. Very bland and slow animations. Easy as well. »👎 anonymous review · Sep 2026 · 0 h played« not bad for a starter, but: dialogues&evidences are rather unintriguing like ai generated mumbo jumbo; monotonous music, just single track looping; too little varieties of enemies, dulling the game »👎 anonymous review · Aug 2026 · 3 h played« its ok for what it is , but it just wastes to much time for transitions and such , it feels like it pads everything , plus its legability and such feels off »👎 anonymous review · Jun 2026 · 1 h played« Creative mechanics, fun enemies, and excellent player characters. Lots of variety for crafting new builds and discovering secrets. Highly recommend! »👍 anonymous review · Jan 2026 · 3 h played
In players' words
« Honestly, I love the game. It's an accessible deckbuilder, but it unlocks story and way more depth as you go. It looks cute (and honestly it is) but it also plays more like a survival horror game than the initial impression may give you. »👍 anonymous review · Feb 2026 · 119 h played« The design is so bad it makes me lose all desire to do anything more with it. <번역> 디자인을 그지같이 해놔서 뭘 더 하고싶지 않게 만든다 »👎 anonymous review · May 2026 · 1 h played« Solid rogue-lite with the expected build up over playthroughs. Easy to get continue to get sucked in for another run - if you're looking for easy gameplay to learn and a good game to jump in and out of, this is worth the pick up! »👍 anonymous review · Jan 2026 · 9 h played« Not good enough. Very bland and slow animations. Easy as well. »👎 anonymous review · Sep 2026 · 0 h played« A straightforward premise, an engaging game which has a solid grasp on the fundamentals of deckbuilder design, and some really surprisingly good music. »👍 anonymous review · Jan 2026 · 2 h played« not bad for a starter, but: dialogues&evidences are rather unintriguing like ai generated mumbo jumbo; monotonous music, just single track looping; too little varieties of enemies, dulling the game »👎 anonymous review · Aug 2026 · 3 h played« I originally meant to just play a little to check it out but ended up playing over 2 hours! This was fun! »👍 anonymous review · Jan 2026 · 141 h played« its ok for what it is , but it just wastes to much time for transitions and such , it feels like it pads everything , plus its legability and such feels off »👎 anonymous review · Jun 2026 · 1 h played« I'm not great at it, but I'm having a good time! »👍 anonymous review · Jan 2026 · 14 h played« Creative mechanics, fun enemies, and excellent player characters. Lots of variety for crafting new builds and discovering secrets. Highly recommend! »👍 anonymous review · Jan 2026 · 3 h played« This is a easy to get into after a long day game. Just straight to the point. Enjoy the card builds and risk/reward aspect. »👍 anonymous review · Jan 2026 · 2 h played
Anonymized excerpts from public Steam reviews — picked among those most voted "helpful" by the community.
What players say, by aspect
PositiveMixedNegative
Gameplay
85 % pos · n=129
Content / longevity
80 % pos · n=66
Story / writing
91 % pos · n=64
Graphics / art
92 % pos · n=48
Audio / music
84 % pos · n=38
Performance
21 % pos · n=14
Interface / UX
40 % pos · n=10
Multiplayer
40 % pos · n=10
Value for money
43 % pos · n=7
Stability / bugs
0 % pos · n=1
Detailed data (table)
Aspect
Mentions
Positive
Mixed
Negative
Gameplay
129
110
8
11
Content / longevity
66
53
1
12
Story / writing
64
58
4
2
Graphics / art
48
44
1
3
Audio / music
38
32
0
6
Performance
14
3
0
11
Interface / UX
10
4
0
6
Multiplayer
10
4
0
6
Value for money
7
3
1
3
Stability / bugs
1
0
0
1
Positive reviews by playtime
🎮 Players who like it have spent 16 h on median; those who dislike it: 2.2 h.
🪤 50 % of negative reviews come from players who left in under 2h — the game often disappoints right away.
<2h
65 % (n=31)
2-10h
85 % (n=54)
10-25h
100 % (n=33)
>25h
96 % (n=71)
Fixed or still broken? Sentiment over time
📉 Down since launch (-33 pts) — reception has worsened
% of positive reviews per month (months with ≥ 15 sample reviews).
100% completion difficulty ("platinum")
1,3 %Demanding
of players have unlocked the rarest achievement — the upper bound of those who "100%'d" it. 37 achievements in total; the median achievement is unlocked by 3,5 % of players.
The **horror ambiance** is the game’s defining strength, with **27 frequent mentions**—players consistently highlight how the atmosphere lingers long after sessions end, making it feel less like a traditional strategy game and more like an immersive experience.
**Deck-building progression** (26 mentions) is the engine of replayability, with **110 positive mentions out of 129** praising how satisfying the strategic depth becomes over time—especially among long-term players (100% positivity for 10-25h sessions).
The **story and lore integration** (58 positive mentions out of 64) stands out as a rare strength in the genre, with players appreciating how seamlessly narrative elements enhance gameplay rather than feel like an afterthought.
Visuals and audio (44/48 positive mentions for graphics, 32/38 for audio) reinforce the horror theme effectively, with animations (6 mentions) adding subtle but impactful details that contribute to immersion.
Weaknesses
**Performance issues** (11 negative mentions out of 14) are a recurring frustration, with some players noting lag or optimization problems—though this is rarely the primary complaint compared to other aspects.
**Repetitive grind mechanics** (6 mentions) and roguelike structure (6 mentions) frustrate players seeking variety, though the addictive loop keeps most engaged despite this drawback.
**UI and multiplayer** (6 negative mentions each) are underwhelming, with multiplayer’s limited scope (4 positive mentions) failing to justify its inclusion for most players.
Who is it for?
This game is ideal for **horror enthusiasts who enjoy strategic depth and narrative-driven experiences**, particularly those who appreciate deck-building mechanics and atmospheric immersion over polished multiplayer or streamlined UI.
Is THE SPIRIT LIFT worth it in 2026?
Yes — player reception is very positive: 88% of 189 Steam reviews are positive (player score 84/100). Most-praised strength: The **horror ambiance** is the game’s defining strength, with **27 frequent mentions**. Current price: 15,60€ (20% off).
Verdict
THE SPIRIT LIFT succeeds in blending horror, strategy, and deck-building into a cohesive, replayable experience—one that rewards deep engagement and atmospheric storytelling. While not without technical quirks or repetitive elements, its immersive world and satisfying progression make it a compelling choice for the right audience. With **88% positive reception**, it’s clear that players are divided less by flaws and more by their expectations of what the game should deliver.
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