Aeon's End
- June 21, 2019
- Handelabra Games Inc.
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple StoreIn "Aeon's End," players become breach mages, last line of defense against the Nameless in the final city of Gravehold. With a unique deck-building system featuring no shuffling and randomized turn order, players cooperatively battle a nemesis using spells, relics, and abilities to protect Gravehold and prevent the Nameless from destroying the world. Each game presents a new challenge as the nemesis and breaches change, requiring strategic deck-building and teamwork for survival.
iPad
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Mac OS
PC
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Windows
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Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- Faithful adaptation of the physical board game with a lot of replay value.
- Unique deck-building mechanics that allow for strategic planning without shuffling.
- Smooth gameplay experience that saves time on setup and cleanup compared to the physical version.
- Outdated UI and lack of polish make the game feel less modern and can be confusing for new players.
- No built-in online multiplayer functionality, limiting cooperative play options.
- The tutorial is inadequate, often leaving players confused about game mechanics and strategies.
- gameplay82 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
Gameplay in this title is characterized by a mix of unique mechanics and strategic depth, drawing comparisons to popular deckbuilders like Dominion and Magic: The Gathering. While some players found the tutorial lacking and the mechanics occasionally punishing, many appreciated the engaging and challenging nature of the gameplay, particularly the innovative handling of card shuffling and market customization. Overall, the game successfully replicates the tabletop experience in a digital format, making it accessible for both newcomers and seasoned players.
“Gameplay was really engaging with the difficulty pitched just right.”
“Mechanically, hands down the best deckbuilding game I have played.”
“Aeon's End is a fantastic tabletop experience with strategic depth and unique mechanics.”
“I tried the 'tutorial', it just drops you straight into a punishing boss fight with millions of random mechanics going off, and no real explanation at all.”
“There are so many random punishing mechanics (shuffle your deck and remove the top 4 cards - there goes all the expensive cards I invested in, and I am back to a basic deck, thanks), the boss just keeps going mental with no real rhyme or reason - rage is bad, but we won't get to why, how to deal with it or what is going on.”
“The graphics are meh and the gameplay is meh.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players finding them underwhelming and reminiscent of outdated styles, such as those from the 80s. While some appreciate the cool artwork and smooth visuals, others note that the graphics lack vibrancy and clarity, leading to confusion during gameplay. Overall, the visuals are deemed decent but not impressive, with calls for a significant update to enhance the experience.
“Expedition story told with good visuals and faithfully recreates the experience.”
“Very smooth and nice artwork.”
“The video game has a charming 90's aesthetic and provides a quick way to play when you don't have time to set up all the pieces from the box.”
“Graphics: 6/10. Things just don't pop out, and sometimes I confuse different cards because of this.”
“The graphics are meh and the gameplay is meh.”
“I mean really... the graphics are like what you find in Atari back in the 80's.”
- replayability26 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its diverse mechanics, including multiple nemeses, mages, and card combinations, which allow for varied gameplay experiences. The addition of the expedition mode and expansions further enhances replay value, providing new challenges and content. While some users noted low replayability, the overall consensus highlights a robust system that encourages repeated playthroughs.
“The expedition mode gives a ton of extra replayability and is extremely enjoyable.”
“Combine all those bosses with all the different mages and cards to put in the market, and you have an absolutely silly amount of replay value.”
“The replayability is low.”
“Quick to set up, quick to play, and it has some replayability.”
“The replayability factor is enormous, as you can try different combinations of mages against different eldritch horrors, plus a variety of tricky achievements to unlock once you're really good at the game.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the streamlined grinding experience in this digital adaptation of the card game, as it minimizes tedious setup and rule enforcement, allowing them to focus on deck-building and gameplay. However, there is a caution against relying solely on purchasing gems for in-game currency, suggesting that effective grinding requires more strategic engagement. Overall, the game is well-received for its ability to enhance the solo play experience while reducing the grind associated with traditional card games.
“Don't just buy gems thinking you can focus on farming a ton of money.”
“The game requires an excessive amount of grinding, making it feel more like a chore than fun.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely negative feedback, with players finding it irritating and repetitive, detracting from the overall experience. While the haunting tones initially set an appropriate atmosphere, they quickly become grating, leading many to turn off the music entirely. In contrast, the game sounds themselves are noted as enjoyable.
“The haunting music sets the tone beautifully, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.”
“The game sounds are cool and add a unique layer to the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“Something feels lacking in this game... the tense music that keeps playing in the background starts to get quite irritating as I think about my next move.”
“Like 'Star Realms' and 'Slay the Spire', this is a lo-fi game highly playable on my Lenovo x230's 1366x768 screen with an i5 3rd gen Intel processor laptop with the HD3000 integrated graphics. The haunting music, though it sets the tone, becomes grating after a few games and ends up getting turned off, though the game sounds are cool.”
“Terrible music.”
- stability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game experiences a significant stability issue with a scripting error in the tutorial that can cause it to freeze, necessitating a forced exit. However, aside from this issue, users report no other glitches or bugs affecting gameplay.
“No glitches or bugs that I've found, but the game is hard as heck to win, just like the original board game!”
“This is the second Handelabra game to have some sort of scripting error in the tutorial that freezes the game, requiring an Alt + F4.”
“No glitches or bugs that I've found, but the game is hard as hell to win, just like the original board game.”
- story4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story of the game is well-presented with impressive visuals, effectively capturing the essence of the experience. Players familiar with titles like Dominion and Thunderstone Quest will find the narrative familiar and engaging.
“The expedition story is told with good visuals and faithfully recreates the experience.”
“For those who have played Dominion and Thunderstone Quest, you will feel right at home with this one.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its smooth performance and effective representation of rules, indicating strong optimization.
“The game runs smoothly and the rules are well represented.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a lack of emotional engagement, with players feeling disconnected from the characters and the stakes of the story, resulting in a diminished sense of investment in the game's narrative.
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that character development is perceived as lacking depth, with a generic and casualized approach that fails to engage players. The art and design choices contribute to a sense of soullessness, detracting from the overall experience.
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the game, leaving little room for player investment.”
“There is a noticeable absence of meaningful choices that impact character growth, resulting in a stagnant experience.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong atmosphere, enhancing the experience of its intricate asymmetric co-op deckbuilding mechanics. Players express hope for future expansions that could further enrich this immersive environment.
“An intricate little asymmetric co-op deckbuilder with a strong atmosphere and, with any luck, expansions on the way.”
