You know bowling, right? That game where you awkwardly shove your fingers into a heavy ball, roll it down a lane, and hope to knock over some pins? Now imagine that this innocent pastime turns into a chaotic nightmare. In SpareDevil, those harmless pins aren’t just waiting for you to knock them down—they’re out for revenge!
What’s SpareDevil All About?
In SpareDevil, you’re thrown into a circular arena with nothing but your trusty bowling ball. Sounds simple, right? Not for long. As the game begins, bowling pins start spawning all around you. But these aren’t your average pins—they’re bouncing and charging straight toward you! Your job? Throw your bowling ball, take them down, and survive as long as possible. But here’s the catch: as you knock down more pins, tougher versions start showing up, and before you know it, you're swamped in an ocean of deadly, vengeful pins. It’s like a true nightmare for anyone who’s ever loved—or hated—bowling.
There’s no intricate storyline here—it’s all about chaotic fun and getting the highest score possible. If you know someone obsessed with bowling, SpareDevil is basically their worst nightmare: an endless army of pins seeking revenge for all the strikes they’ve endured over the years. It’s like Valhalla for bowling fans—where glory comes from how long you can survive against this relentless onslaught!
Bowling for Survival: The Gameplay
You start in the middle of a round arena, and within seconds, the first wave of bowling pins spawns. They don’t just stand around—they hop towards you, pausing between jumps long enough for you to charge up a shot and take them down. If you manage to knock down the entire group in one throw, you score a Strike. And trust me, Strikes are valuable—they give you extra points and unlock a special "lightning shot," which lets you unleash a super-powered throw that can clear out a bunch of pins at once.
As the game progresses, more types of enemies appear, and it’s not just pins. Pretty soon, you’re dodging circus cannons, dynamite sticks, UFOs, and rocket-powered pins that chase you around the arena. The longer you last, the crazier it gets!
PC vs. Steam Deck: Which Is Better?
I played SpareDevil on both PC and Steam Deck, and the experience was slightly different on each. On PC, the controls felt smoother, and I was able to rack up higher scores faster because of the precision. On the Steam Deck, the controls were a bit tougher to get right at first, but after tweaking the sensitivity settings, it became pretty enjoyable.
What’s interesting is that the game adjusts its difficulty based on your score. On PC, because I was scoring higher faster, more challenging enemies started spawning earlier. On the Steam Deck, I lasted longer before things got really hectic, making the experience feel a little different. Still, both versions ran smoothly, and SpareDevil is perfect for quick, chaotic gaming sessions—especially on the go with the Steam Deck.
Mastering the Bowling Ball
Your primary weapon is, of course, your bowling ball. You can charge it up for a stronger throw, and if you’re moving while you throw, the ball curves. This is great for tricky shots, but if you want a perfectly straight throw, you’ll need to stop for a moment before releasing it. Knocking down a full set of pins in one shot gets you bonus points and, more importantly, that awesome laser shot.
On top of that, you can jump on enemies’ heads, Mario-style, to take them down. And if you’re feeling fancy, you can combine jumps with charged shots or laser blasts for even more devastating attacks. There’s even a rocket-jump mechanic—if you charge the ball and throw it beneath you while in mid-air, it launches you higher. These little tricks give the game more depth than you might expect from a bowling-inspired arcade game.
Visuals and Sound Design
SpareDevil embraces a retro 3D art style, with a simple but effective design. The arena is small and functional, keeping the focus on the fast-paced action rather than flashy graphics. It’s not the most visually stunning game out there, but it doesn’t need to be. The design serves the chaotic gameplay well, and the retro filter gives it a quirky arcade feel.
As for the music, it’s decent—background tunes match the on-screen chaos, but after a while, they fade into the background. They’re not super memorable, but they fit the action. If the soundtrack isn’t your cup of tea, you can turn it off without missing much.
Replayability and Challenge
SpareDevil is one of those games that’s perfect for short bursts of play. It’s easy to pick up but hard to master. I enjoyed unlocking different skins for my bowling ball, which you can earn by completing challenges, like defeating certain enemies or holding an S rank for over a minute (which was way harder to do on the Steam Deck, by the way).
That said, the game does start to feel a bit repetitive after a while. There are only two modes: standard and time attack (where you race against the clock). After a few rounds, I found myself wanting more variety—whether that’s new arenas, enemies, or additional game modes. Still, for what it is, SpareDevil offers a fun, quick-hit experience that’s perfect for chasing high scores.
Final Thoughts: Should You Play SpareDevil?
If the concept of SpareDevil intrigues you, it’s definitely worth a shot. It’s chaotic, fun, and perfectly suited for quick, adrenaline-fueled sessions. Whether you’re looking for a quirky arcade game or something to play on the go, SpareDevil delivers some entertaining moments—especially for those who enjoy chasing high scores.
If you’re interested, there’s a link to the game HERE. And if you want more videos on quirky indie games and cool projects, make sure to check my channel too HERE
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