Spiral Knights is a massively multiplayer online game created by Three Rings Design and now owned by Grey Havens. The free-to-play, Java-based game was released in 2011 and is still updated occasionally with re-occurring events, but has not received significant content additions since 2019.
In the game, the player controls a knight of the Spiral order, which has crash-landed on the mysterious planet Cradle. Knights cooperatively battle monsters throughout the Clockworks, the dungeon that fills the planet's interior. They also battle each other in an optional player-versus-player mode.
Spiral Knights reached one million accounts in its first three months and three million accounts in its first thirteen months. The game won Best Online Game Design, and was nominated for three other awards, in the 2011 Game Developers Choice Online Awards.
Gameplay
The Spiral Knights are a spacefaring army from the planet Isora. Their ship, the Skylark, has crashed on the planet Cradle. The interior of the planet is filled with a mechanized, continually reconfiguring dungeon called the Clockworks. Operating out of the town of Haven on the planet's surface, the knights descend into the Clockworks, with the goal of understanding the mysterious energy source at the planet's core. They hope to exploit this energy source to resurrect and re-launch the Skylark.
In its gameplay, Spiral Knights is a top-down, third-person, real-time action-adventure game, comparable to The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures. The player controls a single knight, and may play solo or with other players. When exploring the Clockworks, knights cooperate to defeat crowds of enemies of various types, while dodging traps and solving simple puzzles. There are four main bosses, each with an alternate "Shadow Lair" variant, and numerous mini-bosses. In addition to this player-versus-enemy mode, there are two optional player-versus-player modes: one that is similar to Clockworks play, and a Bomberman-like mini-game that differs substantially from the rest of the game.
When they are not battling enemies or each other, knights train, shop, trade, and chat in Haven. Character progress comes not through the improvement of personal statistics, but rather through upgrades to equipment. Weapons include swords, handguns, and bombs offering various play styles and characteristics.
The game's visual style has been called "adorable" and "cutesy". The art work draws on many traditions and cultures beyond medieval European knights and outer space science fiction — for example, cowboys, wizards, ninjas, and chefs.
Spiral Knights is massively multiplayer, although each player interacts with a small subset of other online players at any given time. Clockworks parties are limited to four knights and player-versus-player contests are limited to six-versus-six. Instances (copies) of Haven typically have tens of knights present. Guilds are limited to 100 members by default, and friend lists are capped at 250.
The entire game is free-to-play. There is no in-game advertising. Players can spend real-world money to purchase an in-game commodity called energy. Energy can be exchanged for other commodities and currency, to accelerate a knight's development. Real money can also buy certain costumes and promotional items.
Weapons
There are many different types of weapons that players can use in Spiral Knights. Some weapons are better for close combat, while others are better for long-range combat. There are also different types of weapons and damage types that players can use depending on their combat needs. Each type of weapon has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. For example, bombs are great for dealing damage to large groups of enemies, but they have a limited range and can be difficult to aim. Swords are quick and deadly, but they require getting up close to enemies, which can be hazardous for your health. Guns are a preferred option depending on the enemies you are fighting since they can combine distance with balanced damage.
Damage Types
Each weapon has a type of damage. They include normal, elemental, piecing, and shadow damage types. A weapon can use a single damage type or a dual damage type. Choose your damage type based on the weakness of the enemies you are facing.