The best games from Spiders Studios

It's always sad when studios close, no matter the circumstances. WITH Spider Studiosthe writing was on the wall, but there was hope that they would somehow survive in some shape or form. Unfortunately, no miracle happened, the studio recently announced its closure.

We still have games from the developer to remember them by, all wonderfully funny and strangely charming. The identity of spiders was in RPGs, but it always wanted to carve out an identity within the genre, be it turn-based or soul-based. Here we remember the most representative games of the studio, all with a warm recommendation.

Faery: Legends of Avalon

Play as a fully customizable Pixie

Elevator pitch for Faery: Legends of Avalon it's hard to pass on: European folklore, choice-driven RPGs, and the player character is a little fairy. That last part alone should make it an instant classic, but it wasn't the lack of polish or the ubiquitous 'jank' that set this title back, it was the lack of a finished story.

This makes it a difficult title to recommend, but one that demonstrates Spiders' interest in player-driven narrative and moral choice systems. If you're interested in the earliest hints of the studio's unique vision, this game is a great place to start.

Mars: War Logs

Moving towards space

Mars: War Logs

Released

April 26, 2013

ESRB

M // Violence, blood, sexual themes, strong language, drug use

Publishers

Focus on the fun

WITH Mars: War LogsThe Spiders moved in a darker and more ambitious direction. Set on a colonized Mars plagued by political conflict and a lack of resources, the game mixed cyberpunk themes with traditional RPG systems.

Players controlled Roy Temperance, a character traversing a fractured society where water is the most valuable commodity. The game introduced faction-based storytelling, branching quests, and a morality system that affected how the world reacted to player decisions. Fight with melee combos, ranged attacks, and “technomancy,” a form of electrical magic associated with the environment.

Mars: War Logs represented a significant step forward in scope and narrative ambition. It also established a recurring Spiders hallmark: building complex worlds on a shoestring budget. While technical issues and uneven polish held it back, the game not only had a finished story, but a direct sequel.

Bound by flame

Back to fantasy, but bold

Bound by flame

Released

May 6, 2014

ESRB

Older 17+ // Blood, coarse language, obscene themes, violence

Engine

PhyreEngine

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Bound by flame he continued the pace of spiders and leaned more towards traditional dark fantasy. The game centered around a demon-possessed mercenary who forced players to choose between embracing a destructive force or resisting it.

This central mechanism shaped both gameplay and narrative, offering different paths that affected abilities, appearance, and story outcomes. Social relationships, including romance and rivalry, added another layer of player agency.

But the game continued a clear trend: technical flaws, mistakes and a lack of balance in the late game. Gamers who aren't into the story will argue that this is one of the worst Spiders titles, but those who enjoy world building will overlook these flaws. Like almost every game from the studio, it is not without its flaws, but also with a lot of passion.

Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.

Easy (5)Medium (7)heavy (10)

Start

Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.

Easy (5) Medium (7) Hard (10)Start

Technomancer

Mars, Expanded

Technomancer

Released

June 27, 2016

ESRB

M For Adults 17+ // Blood, Drug Reference, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence

Publishers

Focus on the fun

A direct extension of the ideas introduced in Mars: War Logs, Technomancer offered a more refined take on the studio's sci-fi universe. Set once again on Mars, the game followed Zachariah, a technomancer navigating political intrigue and personal identity in a rigid society.

Technomancer expanded on almost every aspect of its predecessor. The world was bigger, quests were more interconnected, and companions played a more significant role in both combat and narrative. The game also introduced several fighting stances, allowing players to dynamically switch between styles. Although poorly reviewed, it still had great gameplay.

Perhaps most importantly, it showed a growing confidence in world building. Spiders have created environments with distinct factions, histories, and social tensions, cementing their reputation for creating immersive, if imperfect, RPG worlds.

GreedFall

Spiders at their best

GreedFall

Released

September 10, 2019

ESRB

M For adults 17+ due to blood, language, partial nudity, obscene themes, violence

GreedFall is widely regarded as the studio's breakthrough achievement. Set in a colonial-era fantasy world inspired by 17th-century exploration, the game put the player in the role of a diplomat conducting political intrigue on a newly discovered island.

The game emphasized player choice more than any previous Spiders title. Decisions affected faction relationships, quest results, and even the fate of entire regions. The game also featured a more polished presentation with improved animations, voice acting, and environment design.

Fight with a combination of melee, magic, and even firearms that offer flexible play styles. More importantly, the narrative dealt with themes of colonialism, diplomacy, and cultural conflict, giving the game a distinct identity within the RPG genre.

For fans of games with different parties like Dragon Age: Origins, GreedFall it felt like a homecoming. It wasn't perfect, but it perfectly encapsulated the idea of ​​exploring a new world and fighting your prejudices.

Steelrising

Soulslike One

Steelrising

Systems

Released

September 8, 2022

ESRB

M For adults 17+ due to blood, violence

WITH SteelrisingSpiders took a bold step into the Soulslike subgenre. Set in an alternate version of the French Revolution, the game featured a mechanical protagonist battling armies of automatons unleashed by a tyrannical king.

Steelrising kept the studio's RPG roots while embracing more challenging and action-oriented combat. Players collect resources to upgrade abilities and weapons using control systems reminiscent of Soulslike design.

The game's setting stood out as one of Spider's most creative, combining historical characters with a steampunk aesthetic. It also showcased the studio's technical growth with more detailed environments and improved combat responsiveness without taking up too much of the player's time.

The Soulslike subgenre is a highly competitive subgenre where players expect tight and polished gameplay, areas not known to be Spiders' area of ​​expertise. Nevertheless, the game managed to gain an audience and became another success in the eyes of fans.

GreedFall: The Dying World

Their latest title

Most recent degree, GreedFall: The Dying Worldserves as a prequel to GreedFallexploring the events before the original game. It builds upon the established world of Teer Fradee while introducing new gameplay systems and narrative perspectives.

The game moves towards a more tactical approach to combat and offers several modes to suit different play styles. It also expands character customization and deepens faction-based storytelling, taking inspiration from classic RPG design.

Unfortunately, this title did not take off. Unlike previous evolution in established universes (e.g Technomancer), GreedFall: The Dying World it almost felt like a step backwards, and not just because it's a prequel. But it was still a decent game that showed the studio's commitment to experimenting with different things and expanding on their original ideas.