- Charming theme with humorous references.
- Roguelike and blackjack mechanics blend well.
- Rewarding progression and engaging gameplay loop.
- Simple mechanics, easy to learn gameplay.
- Excessive RNG diminishes player agency.
- Poor deck-building, limited card synergies.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 75% · Negative 25%. Score: 25 / 100
Positives:
- The game's charm is enhanced by its unique theme, art style, and humor, with many reviewers appreciating the references and parodies incorporated into the card designs and gameplay. This combination of strategic depth and lightheartedness contributes to a positive and engaging player experience.
- Reviewers highlight the game's successful blend of roguelike elements with card game mechanics, particularly blackjack, creating a unique and engaging experience. The roguelike structure adds depth and replayability, while the card-based gameplay allows for strategic deck-building and varied playstyles.
- The game provides a rewarding sense of progression and accomplishment, motivating players to continue playing and improving their skills. The element of chance combined with strategic decision-making creates a compelling gameplay loop that keeps players engaged.
- The game is easy to learn and play, with simple mechanics that are accessible to new players. Despite its simplicity, the game offers strategic depth and engaging gameplay.
- The game's overall presentation is well-received, with reviewers praising the quality of the music, sound effects, and art style. These elements contribute to an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience.
Negatives:
- Reviewers criticize the game's deck-building mechanics, citing limited card removal options, a lack of card synergies, and an overabundance of useless or detrimental cards. This makes it difficult to create focused, effective decks, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences and a sense of being overwhelmed by the card pool.
- The game relies too heavily on RNG, diminishing player agency and strategic deck-building. Many reviewers expressed frustration with the unpredictable nature of card draws, enemy actions, and event outcomes, leading to runs that feel unfair and out of control. Some reviewers noted that the game's blackjack mechanics exacerbate the reliance on luck.
- The game's penalty for busting is too severe, leading to defensive play and limiting strategic options. Reviewers noted that the high risk associated with busting makes it difficult to play aggressively, while the lack of healing options makes it difficult to recover from mistakes.
- Many reviewers noted that opponents often have unfair advantages, such as optimized decks, the ability to consistently draw the cards they need, and mechanics that disrupt the player's strategy. This can lead to frustrating situations where the player feels powerless to overcome the odds, especially in later stages of the game.
- Many reviewers compared the game unfavorably to Balatro, citing a steeper learning curve, less strategic depth, and a lack of polish. Some reviewers felt that the game was simply a mediocre attempt at a Balatro-like experience, while others expressed disappointment that it wasn't a direct clone.
Gameplay:
- Players build decks to improve their odds and disrupt opponents. This involves collecting cards with various effects, managing hand draws, and strategically deciding when to hit or stand. Some cards go directly to the player's hand, offering more control, while others have on-play or on-discard effects.
- The core gameplay revolves around a modified version of Blackjack, where players aim to reach 21 or get closer than their opponents without exceeding it. Card suits often grant special effects, such as healing, damage boosts, shields, or currency. Basic Blackjack knowledge is helpful but not always essential, as the game introduces unique twists and mechanics.
- Enemies possess unique, pre-built decks with specific strategies and gimmicks. Players must adapt their deck-building and gameplay to counter these strategies, often by disrupting the opponent's deck or exploiting their weaknesses. Information on the enemy's deck, stand threshold, and discard pile is often available.
- The game incorporates roguelike elements, but the depth may be less than other titles in the genre. Experimentation with different deck builds is encouraged, but the game's difficulty can stem from randomness and punishing missteps. Some reviewers found that the optimal strategy involves prioritizing disruption cards.
- Players and opponents deal damage based on the difference between their hand values, with busting resulting in a score of zero. The goal is to reduce the opponent's health to zero while managing one's own, often prioritizing disruption over maximizing one's own score. Temporary protection can be acquired.
Performance:
- The game is generally well-optimized, runs smoothly, and is playable on the Steam Deck. Players have reported good performance and responsiveness on various devices, including the Steam Deck.
- Controller support is lacking, making menu navigation difficult and imprecise. Players suggest improvements such as limiting button functions to card selection to avoid accidentally selecting UI elements.
- The call card button sometimes gets stuck, which can disrupt gameplay. This issue can negatively impact the player's experience.
- Linux users may need to run the game with Proton to ensure proper window settings and achievement tracking. This workaround is necessary for a seamless experience on Linux.
Recommendations:
- Many reviewers mention balancing issues, RNG problems, and a lack of depth or strategic options. They suggest the game needs more polish, rebalancing, and content to be truly enjoyable and worth the purchase. Some reviewers find the game frustrating due to these issues.
- Many reviewers compare the game to Balatro, Slay the Spire, and Blackjack, recommending it to fans of these genres. Some find it similar and enjoyable, while others suggest sticking to the original games or waiting for updates to improve the experience. The game is often described as a roguelike deckbuilder with blackjack mechanics.
- Many reviewers suggest the game is worth buying on sale or at a discounted price, but not at full price. They cite balancing issues, lack of content, or other flaws that make the full price not worth it. The game is considered a good value for its entertainment at a lower price point.
- Many reviewers express overall enjoyment and recommend the game, with some giving it high scores. They find it fun, addictive, and engaging, with the potential for long-term play. Some reviewers suggest trying the demo to see if it fits your preferences.
- Reviewers suggest the game needs more content, quality of life improvements, and better UI/UX. They hope for future updates to address these issues and add more variety and depth to the gameplay. Some reviewers also suggest specific improvements, such as a quick restart option or more engaging encounters.
Miscellaneous:
- Many reviewers compare this game to Balatro, but some argue that the similarities are superficial or coincidental, as this game was in development before Balatro's release. Some reviewers use the comparison to highlight differences in quality, scope, intent, and pacing, with some finding this game less favorable.
- Some reviewers express excitement for future updates and content, including the addition of trading cards. The developers' responsiveness and adjustments to the game indicate a strong commitment to the game and its community.
- The game features a mix of slow-burn gameplay with chaotic elements, including lengthy fights and various card types. It incorporates simple storylines, cutscenes, events, and mini-games, similar to other deck-building games.
- The developers are aware of balancing issues and are planning an update to address them. This indicates an ongoing effort to improve the game's overall balance and fairness.
- The game is based on blackjack, but some reviewers feel that the player is at a disadvantage compared to the opponents. Blackjacks seem to happen rarely for the player, while opponents are favored.
