I have always liked the GemCraft series, since I first discovered it as free Flash Games on Armor Games.
All of the entries to the franchise are tower defense games, that successively paid more and more attention to building up content and refining game mechanics.

There is a story to the game, which frankly feels like it has been put there to just not have no story, but these kind of games really can do without a thrilling plot - even more so since the gameplay changes feel like a success to me. And that is kinda the important part: Even though I highly consider myself a person that doesn't like change, I was familiarizing really quick with the new elements and wouldn't want to go back. The new additions make the game more customizable as ever before, so you can play your own style of game and still succeed more than likely.

I already put above 30 hours into the game and it still doesn't look like I have come close anywhere near the end. Up until the point where I am, maps also don't seem repetitive to me and coming back for them, when you acquired new gear or skills can make them feel totally different again.

My only con to the game is the performance which sometimes (even on waves around 100) can go down, especially after casting certain spells. I feel like it's a limitation of the engine they used, I don't think it's my system :]

In conclusion: If you like crafty games, where you can choose your own methods and if you enjoyed any of the predecessors or similiar games from the tower/lane defense genres (like "Orcs Must Die!" or "Plants vs. Zombies"), then do yourself a favor and pick this gem up.

In the course of 2016's Steam Autumn sale I nominate this game for the "Just 5 More Minutes" Award, because of how addictive and long-lasting the challenge of this game is.

I have always liked the GemCraft series, since I first discovered it as free Flash Games on Armor Games. All of the entries to the franchise are tower defense games, that successively paid more and more attention to building up content and refining game mechanics. There is a story to the game, which frankly feels like it has been put there to just not have no story, but these kind of games really can do without a thrilling plot - even more so since the gameplay changes feel like a success to me. And that is kinda the important part: Even though I highly consider myself a person that doesn't like change, I was familiarizing really quick with the new elements and wouldn't want to go back. The new additions make the game more customizable as ever before, so you can play your own style of game and still succeed more than likely. I already put above 30 hours into the game and it still doesn't look like I have come close anywhere near the end. Up until the point where I am, maps also don't seem repetitive to me and coming back for them, when you acquired new gear or skills can make them feel totally different again. My only con to the game is the performance which sometimes (even on waves around 100) can go down, especially after casting certain spells. I feel like it's a limitation of the engine they used, I don't think it's my system :] In conclusion: If you like crafty games, where you can choose your own methods and if you enjoyed any of the predecessors or similiar games from the tower/lane defense genres (like "Orcs Must Die!" or "Plants vs. Zombies"), then do yourself a favor and pick this gem up. In the course of 2016's Steam Autumn sale I nominate this game for the "Just 5 More Minutes" Award, because of how addictive and long-lasting the challenge of this game is.