Hey friends! Here with a cozy drop-in review of Garden of Witches. This cute roguelike action game by Team Tapas released on May 23, 2025, and it’s already earning “Very Positive” reviews. I jumped in ready to whip up some magic—and maybe get chased by giant scissors-wielding baddies. Here’s what I found.
Overall Impressions
I love cozy games, but I also enjoy a dash of challenge. Garden of Witches strikes a nice balance. The charm of anime-style visuals and quirky witches warmed me from the start. Yet each run packs a punch of danger worthy of fans of Hades-style combat. It’s tougher than my usual laid-back puzzle games, but the quick retries and garden upgrades kept me smiling. Compared to other roguelites, this one feels shorter and sweeter. I never felt overwhelmed. Every attempt took about 15–20 minutes, perfect for those mini gaming sessions.
Gameplay Mechanics
Combat in Garden of Witches stays snappy and responsive. Sil’s scissor slashes feel weighty and satisfying. I love mixing spells and watching element synergies ignite on screen. Randomized maps kept me guessing and exploring new nooks each run. Between runs, I upgraded my health, mana, and garden structures. That slow progression gave fresh motivation to fight tougher bosses.
With responsive controls that let you dash, dodge, and slice with ease, this game delivers satisfying combat right from the start. Additionally, the spell synergy system encourages experimentation and rewards you with fun, powerful combos, while the garden rebuild feature provides a clear sense of progression as you watch your space flourish. However, a few hitbox quirks early on can lead to unexpected hits, interrupting the flow of battle. Moreover, some run adaptations start to feel repetitive after five or six attempts, which can dampen enthusiasm over time. Overall, the blend of precise controls and engaging mechanics makes for a compelling experience, but addressing hitbox consistency and adding variety to runs would elevate the gameplay even further.
A standout moment
I finally beat a fierce boss after ten tries. Watching Sil’s scissors glow with upgraded magic made that victory so rewarding.
Story and Characters
The story centers on Sil, a determined witch with giant scissors. She needs to round up her unruly fellow witches and revive the magical garden. The premise may not break new ground, but Team Tapas sprinkles in playful dialogue and cute personality moments. Each witch you rescue adds a charming quirk. I especially loved meeting Juno, the plant-obsessed witch who waters mushrooms like they’re babies. These small character touches add real heart to the action. I did wish for a bit more story depth, but the narrative serves its purpose: it’s fun, warms your heart, and nudges you back into combat.
Visuals and Graphics
Garden of Witches shines with expressive anime-style visuals. Backgrounds brim with pastel flowers, twisting vines, and glowing runes. Enemy designs range from cheeky pumpkin heads to grumpy fairy golems. Everything feels hand-drawn and polished. The color palette shifts from bright greens in the garden to deep purples in the corrupted zones. These shifts keep the mood fresh and draw you deeper into the world. I’ve seen Team Tapas nail visuals before in their story games, but this is on another level for an action roguelite.
Sound and Music
The soundtrack mixes light, whimsical tunes with tense battle tracks. During boss fights, drums pulse and strings soar, making every attack feel cinematic. Sound effects—like the satisfying “swish” of a scissor slash—add weight to your moves. I did notice the absence of voice acting, but charming spell incantations and victory jingles fill that gap nicely. If you want to fully immerse yourself, I recommend using headphones to catch every chime and roar.
Difficulty and Replayability
On default difficulty, early runs feel fair but tense. Once you flip to Hard mode, enemies remove i-frames and punish every mistake. My first Hard attempt ended in 30 seconds—yikes. But with each defeat, I learned new attack patterns and found clever synergies. If you enjoy tricky roguelites, this game will keep you hooked. The garden rebuild system lets you unlock new areas, buffs, and cute cosmetic options. That loop—fight, upgrade, unlock—makes me want just one more run. Steam players have noted a few rough edges in this early access stage. The devs reportedly plan to tune balance, fix hitbox oddities, and add more endgame content soon.
Trivia and Behind the Scenes
Garden of Witches represents Team Tapas’s bold entry into the action roguelite genre, building on their reputation for narrative-driven mobile experiences on the Tapas platform. Developed in Unity, the game showcases stunning hand-drawn 2D animations that evoke a warm, cozy anime aesthetic, setting it apart visually from other roguelites. Early playtests with the Tapas community were instrumental in refining core mechanics—feedback from these dedicated testers led directly to the inclusion of the garden rebuild system, ensuring players feel a strong sense of progression as they overcome challenging runs. By blending narrative pedigree, polished 2D art, and community-driven design, Garden of Witches stands out as a unique and engaging roguelite experience.
Final Thoughts
Garden of Witches blends sweet visuals, snappy combat, and a light-hearted story into a tight roguelite package. I appreciated the quick runs and rewarding growth system. Some small glitches and early-access quirks remain, but Team Tapas seems eager to polish them soon. If you’re looking for a cozy yet challenging pick-me-up, this one’s for you.
My Score: 4 out of 5 stars
I’m giving Garden of Witches 4 stars. It nails its cozy charm and delivers solid action. I can’t wait to see how it grows with future updates. Whether you’re a roguelite fan or a first-timer, this garden adventure deserves a spot in your library. Stay magical, friends!
