 |
| Masters of Anima is 85% off on Steam until January 19. |
In the vast landscape of indie games, some titles sparkle with a unique charm that deserves a second look. Masters of Anima, a vibrant blend of action-RPG and real-time strategy, is one such game—and right now, it’s available on Steam for less than the price of a coffee. But does its magical premise hold up under the pressure of commanding a hundred magical beings at once? Let’s dive in.
A Fantasy Quest to Save a Loved One
The story of Masters of Anima is a classic, comfortable fantasy tale. You step into the shoes of Otto, a young Shaper apprentice in the colorful world of Spark. His peaceful studies are shattered when his fiancée, Ana, is kidnapped by the sinister golems of the dark Shaper, Zharr. While the narrative provides a clear and charming motivation, it largely serves as a stage-setter. Critics and players agree: don’t come for a deep, twisting plot. Come for the spectacle of magical warfare it enables.
The Heart of the Game: Strategic Summoning and Chaotic Combat
Where Masters of Anima truly shines is in its inventive gameplay. This isn’t just an action game where you occasionally summon help. It’s a full-fledged, real-time strategy experience with you, Otto, on the front lines.
As a Shaper, you command the power of Anima to conjure loyal guardians. You can have up to 100 of these units on the field simultaneously, from sturdy Protectors to nimble Sentinels with ranged attacks. The strategy comes from grouping, positioning, and directing your spectral army against hordes of stone enemies. Managing your pool of Anima energy is crucial—every summon and special ability draws from it, adding a layer of tactical resource management.
The game’s most intense and celebrated moments are its large-scale boss battles. These encounters are a true test of your multitasking skills, demanding you dodge area-of-effect attacks, reposition your troops, and launch counter-offensives all under relentless pressure. It’s chaotic, satisfying, and uniquely challenging.
Presentation and Structure: Colorful but Linear
Visually, the game employs a bright, comic-book style art direction that makes its world feel alive and its unit types easy to distinguish in the heat of battle. Animations are smooth, contributing to the satisfying feel of combat.
The levels, however, follow a mostly linear path. While there are optional nooks with collectibles and light puzzles to solve, the focus is squarely on pushing forward into the next combat arena. This design keeps the pace brisk but may disappoint players looking for expansive exploration.
What Do Critics and Players Say?
The critical reception has been solidly positive, with the game earning a Metascore of 74. The Swiss outlet Games.ch awarded it a 75/100, praising its "charming world and engaging gameplay" while noting the story and linearity as weaker points.
The player community on Steam seems to concur, granting the game a "Very Positive" rating of 79% from over 400 reviews. Fans love the core strategic loop and the visual style, while common criticisms echo the professional reviews: a forgettable story and occasionally clunky controls when the screen gets overwhelmingly busy.
A Deal That’s Hard to Ignore
Originally released in April 2018 by Passtech Games and published by Focus Entertainment, Masters of Anima typically retails for around $7. Currently, however, it’s part of a massive 85% discount on Steam, slashing the price to about $1. This sale lasts until January 19.
According to price-tracking data, this matches the game’s historical low, making it an incredibly low-risk opportunity for fans of strategy and action hybrids. A quick note for portable gamers: while the game is a perfect fit for on-the-go play, its Steam Deck compatibility is currently listed as "Unknown." For those looking to dive into handheld PC gaming, a device like the Steam Deck is a fantastic investment. You can check the latest model and pricing here.
Final Verdict
Masters of Anima is a concentrated dose of strategic action. It forgoes narrative ambition to focus on delivering a consistently engaging and visually pleasing combat system. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a battlemage orchestrating an entire army with waves of your hand, this game delivers that fantasy in spades.
For a single dollar, it represents outstanding value for anyone seeking a weekend challenge that’s both brainy and brash. Just be prepared to focus more on your tactical commands than the tale being told.
Ready to command your own guardian army? Grab Masters of Anima on Steam now before the sale ends on January 19. Find it on Steam here.