Aeon's End

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 220 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • replayability
Aeon's End Game Cover
Starting at $9.97Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Apple Store

In "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.

Play Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 220 reviews
gameplay14 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Faithful adaptation of the physical board game with smooth gameplay.
  • Unique deck-building mechanics that allow for strategic planning without shuffling.
  • Challenging and engaging gameplay with a variety of mages and nemeses for replayability.
  • Outdated UI and visuals that feel cluttered and unpolished.
  • Lack of online multiplayer functionality, limiting cooperative play options.
  • The tutorial is inadequate, making it difficult for new players to learn the game effectively.
  • gameplay41 mentions

    Gameplay in this title is characterized by a mix of unique mechanics and familiar deckbuilding elements, offering a challenging yet engaging experience. While some players found the tutorial lacking and the random mechanics punishing, others appreciated the strategic depth and smooth flow of gameplay, particularly in cooperative settings. The digital adaptation effectively replicates the board game's mechanics, making it accessible for both newcomers and veterans, despite some criticisms regarding graphics and initial complexity.

    • “I love deckbuilders; I love shared shops and planning out mechanics.”
    • “Gameplay was really engaging with the difficulty pitched just right.”
    • “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 go 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.”
  • graphics16 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming 90's aesthetic and smooth artwork, while others find them underwhelming and reminiscent of outdated designs. Many users note that the visuals do not significantly enhance the gameplay experience and can even lead to confusion during play. Overall, the graphics are described as decent but lacking the polish needed to stand out in a competitive market.

    • “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.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to its variety of modes, including the highly praised expedition mode, which enhances the experience with new challenges and content. Players can enjoy numerous combinations of mages, bosses, and cards, ensuring a fresh experience with each playthrough. While some users noted lower replayability, the overall consensus highlights the game's capacity for diverse and engaging gameplay.

    • “The expedition mode gives a ton of extra replayability and is extremely enjoyable.”
    • “This card game is such a blast, challenging, infinitely replayable, and works great solo!”
    • “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.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players appreciate the streamlined grinding experience in this digital adaptation of a card game, which alleviates 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, as effective farming strategies are still necessary. Overall, the game is well-received for its efficiency in managing the more monotonous aspects of play.

    • “Don't just buy gems thinking you can focus on farming a ton of money.”
    • “If you already know the board game, then this is the perfect version of the game to play solo. The program takes care of all the tedious setup and shuffling and makes sure to enforce game rules, so you can focus on building your deck(s) and crushing the nameless!”
    • “Grinding in this game feels like a never-ending chore, making it hard to enjoy the actual gameplay.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it irritating and repetitive over time, detracting from the overall experience. While some appreciate the haunting tone it sets, others prefer to turn it off after a few sessions, favoring the game's sound effects instead.

    • “The haunting music sets the tone perfectly, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.”
    • “The game features a captivating soundtrack that complements the visuals and keeps you engaged throughout your play sessions.”
    • “The music is beautifully composed, adding depth to the game and making each moment feel more impactful.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game experiences stability issues, particularly with a scripting error in the tutorial that can cause it to freeze, necessitating a forced exit. However, players report no significant glitches or bugs beyond this issue. Overall, while the game is challenging, its stability is marred by the tutorial problem.

    • “No glitches or bugs that I've found, but the game is hard as hell 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.”
  • story2 mentions

    The story of the expedition is visually engaging and effectively captures the essence of the experience, making it familiar for fans of games like Dominion and Thunderstone Quest.

    • “The expedition story is told with stunning visuals and faithfully recreates the experience.”
    • “For those who have played Dominion and Thunderstone Quest, you will feel right at home with this one.”
  • optimization1 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.”
    • “The optimization of the game ensures a seamless experience, allowing players to focus on strategy rather than technical issues.”
    • “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the performance, making every session enjoyable without lag or glitches.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with players expressing a lack of connection to the characters and the storyline, resulting in indifference towards the fate of the mages and the city.

  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for being shallow and lacking depth, with users describing the design as a generic and casualized interpretation of fantasy tropes, resulting in a soulless experience.

    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with any of the characters.”
    • “I found the characters to be one-dimensional, with little to no growth throughout the game.”
    • “The story fails to provide meaningful character arcs, leaving the characters feeling static and uninteresting.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game is praised for its strong atmosphere, enhancing the experience of its intricate asymmetric co-op deckbuilding mechanics, and there is anticipation for future expansions that may further enrich this ambiance.

    • “An intricate little asymmetric co-op deckbuilder with a strong atmosphere and, with any luck, expansions on the way.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Aeon's End

Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
10-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games