Dog Witch is an Elite Showing of How Gameplay and Music Can Mix (Review)

I knew I was right about this one

Back in June, I wrote about Dog Witch’s demo (and also fired off my favorite article title ever). And I loved everything about it. Dog Witch is a roguelike deckbuilder that puts everyone’s favorite animal at the forefront. Your goal is to chase after an evil wizard and take him down. And even better, the dog rides a broom and is customizable.

A Boy and His Dog

You can name your dog, select the breed and even change their size. I was pleasantly surprised to see that what I had done in the demo carried over. So, the adventures of me and Bink don’t have to stop. I mean I could have just made another Bink identical to the demo version, but it somehow wouldn’t have felt the same.

Getting into the game, you roll dice to get five options for attack, defense and summoning. Your attack will come from your wand, bones provide a shield, and you can also get a little help from minions. You have limited space for them though so any additional rolls will increase the attack power and size of the current one.

You’ll also roll spell books and mana gems that offer either increased base attack power or a spell attack, respectively. After you defeat the enemies on each round, you’ll be offered upgrades that range from a new minion type to extra attacks at your turn’s end that only triggers if you don’t reroll.

Be-Dog Witch-ed

The creativity involved in this game is astounding. It’s exactly the things that make indie gaming great. Why not make a game where you play as a dog witch? Yes. You want to make your enemies a TV that shows wildlife programming? Go for it. Nesting dolls that keep that fire on them? Shoot for it.

There is nothing in this game that is too ridiculous. And it’s what makes it so endearing. But what brings it all together is the soundtrack. It is as perfect a video game soundtrack as you can get. The visuals, gameplay and overall vibe are significantly enhanced by the Lo-Fi tunes playing throughout. I dare you to fire this game up and get through the menu without just zoning out.

Dog Witch would be a great game even if the music wasn’t so good. I’ve played a number of great games where the music wasn’t all that interesting, but I just turn it off and enjoy it from there. Music doesn’t make a game good or bad, but it damn sure enhances the experience and provides a lift to what you’re hearing. The way it mixes with the game sound is perfection. Whenever the soundtrack is available, I’d highly recommend checking it out.

Conclusion

Dog Witch is one of those games that on the surface, seems incredibly simple. But it’s layered and strategic and really requires you to consider its systems and how everything works together. You can, to an extent, brute force your way through some of the encounters. But to get the most out of it, learn the ins and outs and pay attention to what the cards do and what you want out of your build.

It’s a game that will pull you into that classic “one more run” trap. And it’s the kind of experience that you can get other people into without them feeling like they’re trying to hop on one leg and bark like a dog. If I have one complaint, it’s that there are a couple of technical hiccups in between runs. But nothing game breaking that can’t be patched out. Dog Witch is elite hoops and something everyone should be playing.

Score: 9/10

Dog Witch is out now on Steam. Reviewed on PC.

-Anthony