Sproggiwood Review

Developer: Freehold Games, LLC
Price: $9.99
Version Reviewed: 1.2.8
App Reviewed on: iPhone 5

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It’s the price tag for Sproggiwood that’s going to make you understandably a little uncertain. While that’s a great price for any PC game (which is where Sproggiwood started out), $9.99 can go much further on the App Store. However, try to look past that. This is a game worth your money and a sharp reminder that premium purchases can be worth making.

Sproggiwood is a roguelike and a particularly well made one at that. Inspired by Finnish mythology, it certainly offers plenty of charm. You play a simple farmer as they find themselves lured away by a talking sheep and ending up a prisoner of Sproggi, a strange forest spirit. It’s as bizarre as it sounds, but it actually all seems quite cute. You work your way through various dungeons, improving upon your level and equipment, as well as developing a village of your own.

It’s easy to play Sproggiwood too. A virtual d-pad enables you to move around with each tap representing one turn. Rather importantly, you can also wait a turn which is great for enticing enemies your way before taking advantage of them being a move behind you. On the left hand side of the screen are special moves, accrued through levelling up. They’re easily activated by a quick tap on the screen and can make all the difference in battle.

Sproggiwood isn’t an easy game but it’s reasonably fair. When you die within a dungeon, you keep the items and money you’ve collected, although not the experience. Each session is different too, ensuring that few things feel repetitive. In all, you can unlock six different classes too, as well as cultivate that town of your own with new buildings, or more decorative elements.

Sproggiwood isn’t entirely ideal for a mobile audience - for instance, you can’t save partway through a dungeon - but it’s still a fairly easy recommendation to make. It’s simple to learn yet you’re soon enticed into playing more. Being devoid any in-app purchases also means that price tag doesn’t seem so pricey after all.