Over the years, card-based games have evolved. While there are tons of options to choose from, Steam is the best possible source to hunt for the best ones. You simply need to have an account on Steam and a stable internet connection and you’re good to go. The genres of these card games are myriad. Some include traditional mechanics that you are already familiar with, while others include roguelike and simulation elements that add a fresh twist.
If you are a gamer who’d love to indulge in some strategic deck-building games, we’ve got interesting choices for you. These card games are excellent specimens of how creativity and technology have come together to create a product that is innovative, fun, and exciting.
1) Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel
Konami’s popular card game Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel needs no introduction. It has been around for a long time and has earned its reputation as one of the most fun trading card games. The-free-to-play game is inspired by the well-loved anime Yu-Gi-Oh, leaving fans of both – the game and the manga series – excited.
The gameplay is traditional. Players need to assemble their deck of cards with the best tactical planning they can come up with. It requires strategic thinking and will constantly put the players’ analytical skills to test. Make the best use of the cards you’ve got, challenge other players by turning on the multiplayer mode, and aim to quickly foresee what the opponent’s next move is likely to be.
The runtime of the game can be as short or as lengthy as you want it to be. There can be multiple combinations of cards, so you can play one round in a jiffy or continue playing for hours at length.
2) Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars
Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is made by Square Enix. The company is known for having made some of the best JRPG (Japanese role-playing game) titles of all time. Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is a JRPG that takes place in a world of swords and sorcery. The visuals are high-quality and the plot is complex enough to keep the players hooked throughout.
The entire game unfolds in front of the player through their cards. A voice called the ‘Gamemaster’ guides you and instructs when you should play the next move. This storytelling feature gives the game an atmosphere and feel like no other title in the card-based genre.
Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is an innovative piece of art that is very carefully crafted. The game’s story begins on a high note, which keeps the players intrigued as to what will happen next. The look is medieval and the soundtrack is beautiful. Do not worry about your opponent’s overpowered deck and enjoy the offbeat story. There is no multiplayer mode.
3) Fights in Tight Spaces
Fights in Tight Spaces is a single-player deck-building game with the most unusual gameplay. While Steam’s collection of card-based games is quite expansive, this one is a hidden gem. The game is critically acclaimed and the reviews left by fans will compel you into giving it a shot. Players must defend themselves by making the best use of the space around them and playing the correct cards at the correct time to win.
The thrilling game is a good mix of turn-based combat and deck-building. The visual style is unique and the animation is distinct. There are more than 200 cards to choose from, so you can make your own customised deck. Pick the most-suited cards to express yourself and defeat the opponents in style!
4) Slay the Spire
Slay the Spire is a fun combination of multiple game genres. The deck-building game includes turn-based combat and is a rouge-like dungeon crawler that will keep you engaged and intrigued. In order to battle your way out and win the round, you have to build your deck from scratch, collect extra points along your way, and beat the enemies by taking away their cards once you defeat them. Remember, the more opponents you win against, the more cards you’ll have.
Every round is different from the previous one and the bot randomly generates a set of new cards for the players to add in their arsenal. Apart from this, Slay the Spire has three entirely different characters, each with unique abilities and card lists to enhance replayability. Also, once you’ve aced the base rounds, you can explore the game further. The modding community on Steam has created fresh characters with completely new cards, so you can enjoy Slay the Spire in another new way.
5) The Elder Scrolls: Legends
If you would like to play a card-based game that follows the traditional route when it comes to gameplay, you must try The Elder Scrolls: Legends. The single-player mode is engrossing with long rounds and the PvP battles are enjoyable as well. You can first choose to play on your own, learn the nitty-gritty of the game, earn as many cards as possible, create your own deck and then take up challenges against fellow players.
The Elder Scrolls: Legends has an online mode as well. You can try indulging in the online version if you are a fan of the collective-card-game method. It enables you to make your own pack and put it to test while playing matches with the top-ranked opponents. All the cards are well-balanced. Therefore, there is no best pack. You can win with each set that you create.
6) The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game
If you are well-versed with J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of The Rings books and movies, you’ll be happy to know that this game is based on the same. It is an adventure card game where the players fight epic clashes by overcoming their adversaries and emerging as the ultimate heroes. The cooperative card game enables you to choose your character from the multiple options available and create your own avatar. Once the character is dressed up, it looks no less than a creature belonging to the medieval fantasy world.
You can also play online, stop the opponents from dominating over your territory, and more often than not you’d find yourself in the middle of a land mentioned in Tolkien’s books. You have to carve your path through Middle Earth to fight Sauron and its allies to save Middle Earth. The game offers numerous decks and expansions. Each time you play, there’ll be something new added. The gameplay is not very complex, so both new entrants and gaming veterans would enjoy it. You will also find art inspired from The Lord Of The Rings.
7) Eternal Card Game
If you are familiar with well-loved games like Legends of Runeterra and Hearthstone, you will find similarities in this one. Eternal Card Game makes you fight PvP battles in a traditional deck-building setup. All the characters are fully voiced and the aesthetics are stunning. The regular releases of new cards ensures that the gameplay is exciting each time you sign up for playing.
The gameplay is fast-paced and easy to learn. So, if you are a beginner in the genre, Eternal Card Game is an ideal choice for you. The controls you get as a player are incredible and the arbitrary change of the visuals if the middle of a scene keeps the fun quotient high. Come up with viable strategies, create your own walkway, match with the synergies of the fellow players and form a team. Remember to not spend too much time in one round and keep moving ahead as quickly as possible.
~ Hope you enjoyed the list!