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- The Spell Brigade
The Spell Brigade
A survivors-like where up to four wizards hold off monster hordes and can hurt each other with friendly fire.
Online co-op for up to 4 players, with crossplay.
- 4 online
- Crossplay
Where to buy
Playing together
- Online co-op4 players
- Local co-opNoOnline only
- YesPC, PlayStationFriends on different platforms, such as PC and PlayStation, can play together.
- Not confirmedA friend can join or leave while you are already playing, without starting over.
- Not confirmedFriends play free with a Friend's Pass or similar.
- Steam DeckVerifiedValve's own rating
About the game
You play a wizard in a small arena packed with monsters. You move around while your spells aim and fire on their own, and every level gives you a choice of upgrades. Mixing an element into a spell changes how it works, so builds differ from run to run.
Up to four players fight together online, and players on PC and PS5 can team up. You can also play alone. Optional missions pop up during a run, and finishing them earns extra upgrades. Friendly fire is on by default, so a big spell can hit the friend next to you. A modifier turns it off. Revive cores bring a fallen player back, but the supply is limited.
A run takes about half an hour, and the gold you earn buys permanent upgrades and new wizards. The controls are simple, which leaves room to talk and joke while the screen fills up.
How it feels
Kind of game
You play on the same side through shared levels, matches, missions or jobs. Progress comes from combining your actions toward the same objective.
- At its heart
- Now and then
- Working in sync
- Getting better
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- About
- Fantasy adventure, Monsters
Rated on our own feel scale. 4 sources back these ratings.
Screenshots
From the Steam store page. Open one to see it full size.
If you liked The Spell Brigade
You will probably enjoy these too. Each one says why.
Last Epoch
Why it scores 84%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Shared team objectives
- About
- Fantasy adventure and Monsters
- Notable in both
- Time to hang out, Tension and danger, Planning ahead
- Core to both
- Unlocks and progress, Fighting
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players
How Last Epoch differs
- Calmer and less chaotic than The Spell Brigade
- 4 online
Both give your team shared objectives to work through together. Both are about a fantasy adventure and monsters that hunt you. Both are easy to play while you chat.
But calmer and less chaotic than The Spell Brigade.
Dungeon Defenders II
Why it scores 83%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Shared team objectives
- About
- Fantasy adventure and Monsters
- Notable in both
- Time to hang out, Tension and danger, Planning ahead
- Core to both
- Unlocks and progress, Fighting
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players
How Dungeon Defenders II differs
- Calmer and less chaotic than The Spell Brigade
- More building than The Spell Brigade
- 4 online
- 2 split-screen
Both give your team shared objectives to work through together. Both have upgrades that carry over. Both are about a fantasy adventure and monsters that hunt you.
But calmer and less chaotic than The Spell Brigade.
Monster Hunter: World
Why it scores 82%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Shared team objectives
- About
- Fantasy adventure and Monsters
- Notable in both
- Laughter and chaos, Tension and danger, Planning ahead
- Core to both
- Unlocks and progress, Fighting
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players
How Monster Hunter: World differs
- More exploring than The Spell Brigade
- Harder to master than The Spell Brigade
- 4 online
Both give your team shared objectives to work through together. Both get loud and silly when plans go wrong. Both are about a fantasy adventure and monsters that hunt you.
But more exploring than The Spell Brigade.
All co-op facts
Last checked 28 October 2026. The small numbers link to the page that states each fact.
Co-op
- Fewest players online
- Not confirmed
- Most players on one screen
- Does not apply
- Split or shared screen
- Does not apply
- Separate-device co-op
- Not confirmed
- Most players on separate devices
- Not confirmed
- Free base co-op
- No
The checked Steam full base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op. Price $12.99. The free demo is a demo.
- 26
- Confirmed free setups
- Does not apply
- Friends can join mid-game
- Not confirmed
- Only one of you needs to buy it
- Not confirmed
- Voice chat by distance
- Not confirmed
Sources
10 pages
store.steampowered.comStore page, read 28 October 2026
Backs Online co-op, Most players online, Local co-op, Kind of game, About, Fighting, Unlocks and progress, Planning ahead, Laughter and chaos.
- Online co-op: Key features list Online Co-op, and the store text calls it an online co-op game for 1 to 4 players.
- Most players online: The store text sells 1 to 4 player co-op.
- Local co-op: The feature list has single-player, multiplayer, co-op and online co-op, with no shared or split screen co-op.
- Kind of game: The store text promises team-based objectives and spell synergies built together. User tags include Co-op and Online Co-Op.
- About: The text has wizards slaying hordes of dark creatures. Tags include Magic and Dark Fantasy.
- Fighting: The text says you fight thousands of monsters together. Tags include Bullet Heaven and Top-Down Shooter.
- Unlocks and progress: The text promises new upgrades to unlock.
- Planning ahead: The text talks about creating spell synergies.
- Laughter and chaos: The text sells wild multiplayer mess and friendly fire between players.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 28 October 2026
Backs Steam app ID, Release status, Release date, Platforms, Genres, Free base co-op.
- Steam app ID: App identity is 2904000.
- Release status: Steam lists the game as available, with no Early Access flag.
- Release date: Steam shows Apr 29, 2026 for the full release. Early access began on 2024-09-16, and this entry uses the full release date.
- Platforms: Backs windows only. Steam lists no Mac or Linux build. The developer FAQ mentions Linux through Proton, which is not a native build.
- Genres: Steam lists Action, Casual and Indie. Wikidata backs action roguelike.
- Free base co-op: The checked Steam full base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op. Price $12.99. The free demo is a demo.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 28 October 2026
Backs Steam Deck.
- Steam Deck: Valve rates the game Verified on Steam Deck.
gamespress.comOfficial news, read 28 October 2026
Backs Crossplay, Crossplay between, Platforms, Release date, Online co-op, Most players online.
- Crossplay: The developer's launch release of 2026-04-29 says there is crossplay on PS5 and Steam.
- Crossplay between: Says players can match across PC, Steam Deck and PlayStation. Steam Deck runs the Steam PC build, so the pool is Windows and PS5.
- Platforms: Says the game is now also out on PlayStation 5, besides Steam.
- Release date: The release says the developer launches the full game on 2026-04-29 after early access.
- Online co-op: Calls the game a survivors-like with online co-op for 1 to 4 players.
- Most players online: Calls it a 4-player co-op game.
steamcommunity.comOfficial support page, read 28 October 2026
Backs Most players online.
- Most players online: The developer's pinned FAQ says the game supports up to 4 players and can also be played solo.
store.playstation.comStore page, read 28 October 2026
Backs Platforms, Most players online, Local co-op, Free base co-op.
- Platforms: Sold for PS5. Online play needs PS Plus.
- Most players online: Lists support for up to 4 online players with PS Plus.
- Local co-op: Lists one player for offline play, separately from the online support.
- Free base co-op: The checked PlayStation full base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
wikidata.orgWikidata, read 28 October 2026
Backs Wikidata item, Genres, Release date.
- Wikidata item: The item carries Steam app 2904000.
- Genres: P136 is action roguelike.
- Release date: P577 lists 2024-09-16 as early access and 2026-04-29 as the full release.
rogueliker.comPress, read 28 October 2026
Backs Kind of game, Laughter and chaos, Working in sync, Crossplay.
- Kind of game: Review of 2026-04-29 says the game adds many mini objectives and is at its best with a buddy.
- Laughter and chaos: Compares the friendly fire to Magicka, where a strong spell can be a double-edged sword with friends.
- Working in sync: Says more magic is not always easier to manage in co-op.
- Crossplay: The reviewer played on PS5 with PC friends and says crossplay worked very well.
playstationcountry.comPress, read 28 October 2026
Backs Sessions, Unlocks and progress, Working in sync, Time to hang out, Tension and danger.
- Sessions: Review of 2026-04-30 says runs take 25 to 30 minutes, with gold spent on permanent upgrades between them.
- Unlocks and progress: Calls the permanent upgrades a slow grind.
- Working in sync: Says players are mostly encouraged to stay apart to avoid friendly fire, except during challenge events.
- Time to hang out: Says the wizard aims and shoots on its own, so the game can almost be played with one thumb.
- Tension and danger: Says the three bosses vary, and one of them is a real spike.
gamegrin.comPress, read 28 October 2026
Backs Planning ahead, Tension and danger, Laughter and chaos, Working in sync, Time to hang out, Getting better, Unlocks and progress.
- Planning ahead: Review of 2026-04-29 says elemental infusions and fusing them encourage experimentation.
- Tension and danger: Says a run can turn from bullet heaven into bullet hell, and small walled maps can trap you.
- Laughter and chaos: Says friendly fire is on by default and a death can be a hilarious explosion. The reviewer played alone.
- Working in sync: Says the optional missions are easier with teammates, and revive cores are limited.
- Time to hang out: Says spells aim and fire automatically, which frees you to collect mana and level up.
- Getting better: Says there is no big learning curve for anyone who has played Vampire Survivors, though unlocking everything takes dedication.
- Unlocks and progress: Says achievements unlock new characters, outfits, spells and modifiers.