Cabals: Magic & Battle Cards

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Cabals: Magic & Battle Cards is a single player and multiplayer turn-based strategy game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by Kyy Games and was released on November 21, 2011. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Cabals combines the strategic deck building of card games and tactics of a chess like board game. The classic collectible card game is now designed from the ground up for PC. Choose your side, build your perfect deck and battle in the War of Cabals to decide the fate of humankind!

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61%

Audience ScoreBased on 38 reviews

graphics5 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Cabals: Magic & Battle Cards features a unique blend of collectible card game mechanics and strategic board game elements, providing deep and engaging gameplay.
The game's visual design is impressive, with detailed artwork and a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
Players can enjoy a fair progression system with daily quests that reward in-game currency, allowing them to acquire new cards without heavy reliance on microtransactions.

The game suffers from a lack of active players, making it difficult to find matches, which severely impacts the multiplayer experience.
There are significant issues with the game's tutorial and user interface, including a lack of explanations for key mechanics and poor deck-building tools.
Many players have reported a pay-to-win environment, where those who spend money have a distinct advantage, leading to frustration among free-to-play users.

gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The gameplay is a blend of board game and trading card game mechanics, featuring strategic tile movement and monster placement that requires players to navigate enemy defenses. While the art and overall design are praised, some players criticize the clarity of certain mechanics and the presence of pay-to-win elements, which can create an uneven playing field. Overall, the gameplay offers depth and complexity, though it may have some balance issues with specific mechanics and card interactions.
- “Beautiful art deco/Lovecraft/fantasy artwork, and the gameplay is a good mix of board game and TCG.”
- “The gameplay is interesting, adding the depth of navigating, conquering, and controlling a board with the complexities of a mana-based CCG.”
- “Gameplay was dependent on monster placement and tile movement; you had to pass through enemy lines of defense to reach their side of the map and attack directly.”
- “I criticized many things about the gameplay and the reward system.”
- “To sum it up, you are able to purchase a statistical advantage over your opponent with real-life currency, meaning it is a pay-to-win mechanic.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their stunning art deco and Lovecraftian influences, creating a unique aesthetic that blends supernatural and noir themes. Reviewers highlight the incredible artwork and the distinct visual identity of each cabal, contributing significantly to the overall experience and enjoyment of the game.
- “The post-WWI cult setting is very cool and the artwork is incredible.”
- “Beautiful art deco, Lovecraftian, and fantasy artwork, and the gameplay is a good mix of board game and TCG.”
- “Art style-wise, it brings something unique to the table with its supernatural meets noir themes.”
- “The graphics are underwhelming and fail to impress, lacking the detail and polish expected in modern games.”
- “While the art style brings a unique supernatural meets noir theme, the overall execution of the graphics leaves much to be desired.”
- “The graphics and art style are the only redeeming qualities, but they still don't elevate the overall experience.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's story aspect is not a primary focus, as players primarily engage with daily quests and leaderboard challenges rather than a narrative. While the daily quests offer some rewards, including a free card, the lack of transparency regarding the card received and issues with leaderboard-related quests detract from the overall experience. Players express frustration with the quest mechanics, which can hinder progress and enjoyment.
- “The game is not really generous, but daily quests are more generous than Hearthstone or maybe Duelyst.”
- “Unlike most free-to-play games, in this game you don't necessarily need to spend loads of money to buy packs, because by doing the daily quests you gain in-game credits which allow you to buy a new booster pack every day.”
- “Also, there is a daily quest that provides a free card - but it doesn't tell you what card you receive!”
- “The quests related to leaderboard standings still don't work, which is even more irritating now that I've been moved to a higher leaderboard. Unless I tank my rating, I won't be able to claim the rewards for the lower quests.”
- “Also, there is a daily quest that provides a free card, but it doesn't tell you what card you receive!”
- “- Daily quests cannot be re-rolled and include the dreaded 'win x matches as y'.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for its reliance on microtransactions in a free-to-play model, leading to disappointment among users when the game was abruptly shut down and removed from storefronts without any prior notice.
- “A 'F2P' game that launches in early access with microtransactions, then is quietly shut down and removed from the storefront without so much as a peep.”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy basic features.”
- “It's frustrating to see a game that could be great, but is instead bogged down by aggressive monetization tactics.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The music in "Cabals: Magic & Battle Cards" is praised for its haunting quality, effectively enhancing the game's Lovecraftian atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate how the soundtrack complements the strategic gameplay and overall aesthetic, contributing significantly to the immersive experience.
- “Cabals: Magic & Battle Cards is an extremely strategic game, with nice art and music that perfectly supports the Lovecraftian feel of the game.”
- “The main musical theme is haunting and awesome.”
- “9/10 (from a guy who doesn't play card games) - all because of the graphics and art style, and somewhat the music.”
- “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the soundtrack to be uninspired and forgettable, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
- “The audio quality of the music is subpar, and it feels like an afterthought in the game's design.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is frequently compared to that of BioShock, with users expressing a strong appreciation for its immersive and visually captivating environment.
- “This game's visuals and atmosphere feel like BioShock, and I love it!”
- “The immersive atmosphere draws you in and makes you feel like you're part of the world.”
- “Every sound and visual detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it feels unnecessary and unfulfilling, especially given the game's limited lifespan. Many feel that investing time in grinding is not worthwhile, as the game is expected to shut down soon.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This game isn't going to last very long, and it's not worth wasting your time grinding for crap in a game that is going to get shut down in a few months.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find humor in the irony of accusations surrounding the game's balance, particularly the perception that certain factions are "pay to win" while also having access to powerful cards like the "gnome hero" in the free starter deck. This juxtaposition adds a lighthearted element to the competitive environment.
- “I've played extensively on the phone with the starter 'Danann Faeriefolk' deck, and it's funny to me when people accuse cabals of being both 'pay to win' and having the most OP card ('Gnome Hero') available in the free starter deck.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Cabals: Magic & Battle Cards is a turn-based strategy game with fantasy and historical themes.

Cabals: Magic & Battle Cards is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, iPad and others.

Cabals: Magic & Battle Cards was released on November 21, 2011.

Cabals: Magic & Battle Cards was developed by Kyy Games.

Cabals: Magic & Battle Cards has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its gameplay.

Cabals: Magic & Battle Cards is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Faeria, Shardbound: Forge Your Path, Master Your Strategy, Duelyst, War of Omens, GWENT: The Witcher Card Game and others.

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