Culdcept BEGINS Review Summary

Rich card library and deckbuilding, a tutorial-led story, and a unique board-deckbuilder mix shine, with a comfortable UI and enjoyable new art direction, though the art style is unappealing.

New art direction enjoyable: Despite initial skepticism, the new art style has grown on many players and is seen as charming and well-executed.

UI improved and comfortable: The user interface is praised for being better than previous versions, with mouse controls and quality-of-life additions making play smoother.

Nostalgia and familiar cards: Long-time fans appreciate the presence of nostalgic cards and the feeling of a warm homecoming.

Unique board and deckbuilder mix: The combination of a board game format with deckbuilding is considered unique and a standout feature.

Faster pace and tempo: Matches are shortened with moderate length, good tempo, and options like 2x speed and light animations.

Unappealing art style: The shift from detailed oil-painting illustrations to a simplified cartoon style is widely criticized as ugly and a regression. Some card art looks particularly odd, such as the goblin or merfolk.

Missing local multiplayer: Many players are disappointed that the game lacks local co-op or hotseat modes, which were staples of previous entries. This is seen as a major issue, especially for those who want to play with friends in person.

Keyboard and UI issues: There are multiple complaints about keyboard controls and UI design: skip buttons are inconsistent, page turning keys cannot be changed, and keyboard-only play is not fully possible. Some options are in weird places and it's hard to tell your position.

High price, low value: Many feel the game is not worth its price, especially at over 5000 yen, due to the amount of content and need for rebalancing. The cost of entry is seen as high for a PC game.

Short, less strategic matches: Matches are criticized for being too short and speedy, reducing the grand strategy feel of previous titles. The game often devolves into racing NPCs by dice rather than strategic play.

Rich card library and deck building: The game features hundreds of cards and a deck-building system where players construct decks of 40 cards before matches. There is a large card pool with room for niche builds and card shops for acquiring new cards.

Story mode with tutorial: The game includes a story mode that serves as a tutorial, with missions, maps, and a campaign. Missions can be long, and some levels force preset decks, but players can retry scenarios.

Monopoly and card game hybrid: The game is consistently described as a mix of Monopoly and a trading card game like Magic: The Gathering or Pokemon. Players move around a board, acquire territory, and use cards for combat and strategy.

Territory acquisition and land mechanics: Players compete for territory by occupying empty lands with creatures and attacking opponent-held lands. Lands come in colors, can be leveled up, and controlling more of a color increases tolls.

Online multiplayer focus: The main content is online multiplayer, supporting 2-4 player competitive play and matches against overseas players. Online mode includes non-public rooms and team mode with PvE options.

Subquest crash bug: The game specifically crashes when performing a subquest, blocking progress on that content.

Fast boot times: Players note that the game is quick to boot, which is a positive experience.

Wait for a sale: Multiple reviewers advise waiting for a discount before purchasing, citing that the game is not worth full price. Suggested price points include around 3000 yen or a larger discount for newcomers.

Worth playing overall: Several players are happy with their purchase and find the game very worth playing, expecting to enjoy it for a long time. It is recommended as a great game if local play is not needed.

Recommended for Culdcept fans: Fans of the Culdcept series and board/card game enthusiasts find the game enjoyable and recommend it to like-minded players. The core gameplay resonates with those familiar with the genre.

Specific deck and spell tips: Players share effective deck builds like Loma + Colossus with Sword Dance and Broadsword, and key spells such as Aging, Anti-Magic, and Crush. Armor is considered largely unnecessary.

Try the demo first: Players on the fence are encouraged to try the demo before buying. It helps assess whether the art style and gameplay suit personal taste.

Community fair range: $29.99 - $39.99.

Session length: 0.3h.

Endgame: 3.0h.

Most reports describe players being absorbed right away by deck-building and turn play, and several say they are hooked early in the campaign. Some find that depth opens up after card and deck-building unlocks, while a minority reports that it never becomes fun.

Friction: Some early missions require building a new deck to have a good chance of winning.; Lack of local co-op/couch co-op is a major issue for group play.; Divisive art style has deterred some players and friends.; Card text is not in English for some players.; Eventually there is no more progression.; Multiplayer can be reduced to setting a map to auto-play..

Unlock drivers: New cards and deck-building unlocks expand nuance and strategy..

Returning Culdcept Veteran: Plays through story and custom matches, compares card art and systems to older entries, and values quality-of-life improvements and multiplayer. Motivation: To re-experience the Culdcept formula with modern quality-of-life changes and support a series they have played for years. Stance: buy.

Couch Co-op Social Player: Organizes local multiplayer nights and waits for the desired couch co-op mode instead of treating online-only play as a substitute. Motivation: To play couch co-op sessions with friends and family, as they did in earlier Culdcept games. Stance: no buy.

Online Deck-Building Multiplayer Fan: Grinds maps and card shop packs to construct decks, then moves to online private rooms, 2-4 player competition, team modes, and PVE. Motivation: To build optimized decks and test them in active online competitive, team, and PVE modes. Stance: buy.

PC availability and controls: The game is available on PC and supports mouse and keyboard, with reviewers noting improved UI and controls over the Switch version. Positive comparisons are made to the previous PC Culdcept game.

Compared to Monopoly and TCGs: Players frequently compare the game to a combination of Monopoly and trading card games, often citing Magic: The Gathering. One reviewer appreciates that it captures the fun of Monopoly without the downsides.

Franchise legacy and series fans: Many reviewers are long-time fans of the Culdcept series, having played all previous entries, and compare this game favorably to their expectations. Some have followed the series since its early days and still hope for ports of older titles.

Art style changes: The art style and composer have changed significantly from earlier Culdcept games, with a more stylized look by Satoshi Matsuura, which some reviewers compare unfavorably to the older oil-painting style.

Steam release of Culdcept: Reviewers highlight that this is a modern Culdcept game released on Steam, marking the series' return to PC. It is seen as a new entry after being ported from Switch.