What happens when Slay the Spire goes anime? Check out this amazing deck-builder with cute waifus

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SHOULD I PLAY YOHANE THE PARHELION?

Definitely play this demo. Yohane the Parhelion - Numazu in the Mirage offers all the fun of a standard roguelike deck-builder like Slay the Spire or Wildfrost, but it adds its own twist with a well-made story about a fortune-telling witch trying to escape the mirror world. I’m already looking forward to playing the full version of this exceptional adventure once it launches on February 21, 2024.

TIME PLAYED

I played Yohane the Parhelion for one hour and completed the demo. I finished the demo on my first try in forty minutes and spent the rest of the time replaying the game. I’ve completed all five episodes of the first chapter and then beat the game again on my second try in twenty minutes.

WHAT’S AWESOME ABOUT YOHANE THE PARHELION?

• Yohane’s adventures. I wasn’t expecting a roguelike deck-builder to have such an entertaining story attached to its gameplay. Normally these games are solely built around strategic gameplay and complex tactics. But in Yohane the Parhelion, the narrative took front and center.

The story dives into the odd and wonderful life of Yohane, a fortune-telling witch living in a rural town. She gets transported to the mirror world and can only escape by taking down monsters and an evil clone of her friend. This charming story is backed by great voice acting and writing, and it’s worth checking this one out for the plot alone.

• Using spells and shield cards. Battling monsters with magic and summoned characters, and experimenting with different card combinations was really fun. Purchasable charms and new cards kept the adventure fresh. Other roguelike features like treasures chests and random encounters made things more surprising. Although it was quite easy to get through the demo, Yohane the Parhelion provided a pretty standard but enjoyable roguelike deck-building experience.

• An anime look. Yohane the Parhelion is an official spin-off of the popular anime and manga Love Live! Sunshine!!, so naturally all of the characters and visuals in the game feature the show’s unique and cute anime look. The card art looks incredible too.

WHAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT IN YOHANE THE PARHELION?

• It’s too easy. I’ve played a lot of roguelike deck-builders and Yohane the Parhelion might be the easiest one I’ve encountered so far. The enemies I faced were pretty weak and the cards I acquired were really strong, so I never found myself struggling at all. In fact, I finished the demo on my first try without even sweating. Since this is just a demo, it’s possibly supposed to be somewhat breezy, but this was just way too easy. Hopefully the later chapters that will be available in the full version get a lot more difficult, because I’d really love a good challenge.

• That name. I’m not a stranger to weird game names, but this has gotta be one of the oddest and longest titles I’ve seen this year. I mean, try saying Yohane the Parhelion - Numazu in the Mirage five times really fast. Bet you can’t!

PLATFORM TESTED

PC via Steam.