Item: SpellTower
Rating: 85
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

85/100

Little Orpheus is a delightful romp that proves that side-scrollers can be just as cinematic as big-budget 3D titles. Developed by The Chinese Room, the studio known for Dear Esther, this game takes a much lighter approach. It’s a love letter to Ray Harryhausen films and classic pulp adventures. The production values are through the roof; the music is sweeping, the voice acting is hilarious, and the colors practically pop off the screen.

While the platforming isn't particularly challenging, it’s clearly not meant to be. This is a game about momentum and storytelling. You’re playing through Ivan’s increasingly absurd lies as he tries to explain to a skeptical general why he lost a nuclear-powered drill. It’s charming, witty, and perfectly paced for mobile play. It’s the kind of game that puts a smile on your face and keeps it there for the duration of its journey.

Reviewed on: Sun Apr 12 2026

Dinsun Review

Dinsun here. I’ve never been a big fan of the flashier 'Wordscapes' clones that dominate the store. SpellTower has always been different—it’s a game of foresight. It’s not just about finding the longest word; it’s about making sure that word doesn't leave you with a jagged, unmanageable mess of Zs and Qs at the bottom of the screen. The '+' edition doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it cleans the spokes.

The new 'Search' mode is a clever addition that rewards finding the most efficient word rather than just the first one you see. Zach Gage has a knack for making simple systems feel deep, and this is no exception. My only gripe is that it can still be incredibly punishing if the random letter generation decides to hand you a wall of consonants. It’s a refined, quiet game for people who actually like to use their brains. It’s not exciting, but it’s exceptionally well-designed.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Perfect blend of word-finding and spatial strategy
Clean, elegant UI and presentation
Varied game modes for different play styles

RNG letter generation can be frustrating
Very little visual variety
The difficulty curve is more of a cliff in later stages

Technical Report

Performance: Perfectly stable. No issues reported on any modern iOS version.

Accessibility:

Colorblind Mode
Text Scaling

Audience Fit

Buy if: You enjoy word games that require planning and strategy over just vocabulary.

Skip if: You find minimalist aesthetics boring or want fast-paced action.

Similar Games:

Wordle
TypeShift
Boggle

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, 40-year-old conservative gamer
Hardware: iPhone 15
Playtime: 30 hours
Status: Reached Top 10% in Daily Challenge

The year is 1962 and NASA are trying to put a man on the moon. In a remote corner of Siberia, a Soviet cosmonaut is heading the other way. Comrade Ivan Ivanovich is dropped into an extinct volcano in his exploration capsule, Little Orpheus, to explore the center of the earth. He promptly vanishes. Three years later he emerges claiming to have saved the world. This is his story.