Card City Nights

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 772 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • story
Card City Nights Game Cover
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"Card City Nights" is a single-player adventure game centered around a unique card battle system. The game features 8+ hours of gameplay, 180 unique cards, and a blend of jazz and hip-hop music. Connect cards to form combos and meet zany characters in this city filled with card-nuts and lunatics. No IAPs, collect booster packs by playing the adventure from start to finish.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 772 reviews
gameplay84 positive mentions
grinding35 negative mentions
  • Unique gameplay mechanics that combine card placement with strategic combos.
  • Charming art style and humorous characters that enhance the overall experience.
  • No microtransactions; all cards can be earned through gameplay.
  • The AI can be too easy, making the game feel less challenging.
  • The final boss presents a significant difficulty spike that can be frustrating.
  • Limited replayability once the main story is completed.
  • gameplay276 mentions

    The gameplay of "Card City Nights" is characterized by its unique card-linking mechanic on a 3x3 grid, which combines elements of traditional card games with puzzle-like strategy. While many players appreciate the innovative mechanics and the depth of deck-building, some criticize the gameplay for being repetitive or lacking balance, particularly in later stages. Overall, the game offers a casual yet engaging experience, appealing to both card game enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

    • “The gameplay is unique and the art is somewhat charming, but I just didn't enjoy playing it.”
    • “The gameplay flows, the sound design is neat, the music is beyond words, the effects let you deduce what's happening easily.”
    • “The gameplay is simple but it's not bad!”
    • “The gameplay is horribly repetitive.”
    • “The art is okay, the music is dope, but the gameplay itself is... sort of boring, especially when the easiest strategy is simply to wait out your opponent's deck.”
    • “While the connect three mechanic helps make up for this overall, it does prevent the game from being more enjoyable.”
  • music165 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and relaxing blend of jazz and hip-hop, creating a chill atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. Many players find the soundtrack enjoyable enough to listen to outside of the game, although some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “Creator: ah, the soundtrack is a harmonious blend of jazz and hip-hop that'll have you grooving as you navigate the madness of Card City Nights.”
    • “The soundtrack is a great assemblage of lo-fi beats which make the proceedings incredibly laidback and chill.”
    • “The music is surprisingly catchy.”
    • “The music, though, leaves something to be desired; it's basically the same tune for each area that you're in, which means it keeps looping and looping and looping.”
    • “That being said, the soundtrack does get boring and the gameplay repetitive.”
    • “The soundtrack is just simple lo-fi bops.”
  • story161 mentions

    The game's story is generally described as simple and light-hearted, serving primarily as a backdrop for the card battles rather than a focal point. Players embark on a quest to collect eight legendary cards and face the card king, encountering quirky characters and humorous dialogue along the way. While some find the narrative charming and enjoyable, others consider it shallow and predictable, with the gameplay taking precedence over a deep storyline.

    • “The storyline and artwork are phenomenal, with lots of backstory and character development.”
    • “The consistently charming dialogue, endearing art style, and the low-stakes nature of the plot will bring a smile to your face.”
    • “The story is fun, quirky, and well written.”
    • “The story is quite shallow, and could have used some more substance and throughline.”
    • “Dull story, dull setting, dull strategy.”
    • “The main plot is rather slight and silly: the card king has put out a challenge for someone to collect 8 legendary cards, and to defeat him in battle in order to win a prize of 1,000,000 coins!”
  • graphics125 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, colorful, and simplistic art style that many players find endearing, reminiscent of comic book aesthetics. While some reviews note that the visuals may not be as polished as those in more mainstream titles, the unique and whimsical design, along with humorous character illustrations, contribute positively to the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a delightful complement to the game's lighthearted tone and engaging gameplay.

    • “The presentation is strong, with Ludosity’s signature art style working brilliantly in the context of a card game adventure.”
    • “The art style is charming, and the characters are funny, creating a delightful atmosphere throughout the game.”
    • “The graphics are colorful and the game doesn't take itself too seriously, featuring witty dialogue that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “The graphics are simplistic, but hey, at least they're really colorful.”
    • “Poor graphics, but that is to be expected.”
    • “The story is rather lame, and the art style is not up to par.”
  • humor81 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its quirky, light-hearted, and charming nature. While some find the writing and jokes to be hit or miss, the overall comedic elements, including amusing character interactions and clever card descriptions, contribute positively to the gameplay experience. The art style and soundtrack also enhance the humorous atmosphere, making it a delightful choice for fans of fun, casual card games.

    • “Short and sweet execution on a great concept, fantastically humorous and charming.”
    • “The delightful humor prevents the game from getting dull, and this is a must-play for card genre fanatics or older children.”
    • “It's cute, has a goofy and self-aware sense of humor, and under it all lies a fairly deep and fun card battle game!”
  • grinding40 mentions

    The reviews indicate that grinding for cards is a significant aspect of the game, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, especially in the early and endgame phases. While some appreciate the challenge and see it as a necessary part of the genre, others criticize the low drop rates for rare cards and the repetitive nature of matches required to earn boosters. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some players enjoying the grind while others find it frustrating and excessive.

    • “If you play well, no grinding will be required, but it does take a lot of grinding to complete your card collection.”
    • “It's not grindy at all, you can easily play from start to end without sitting around and grinding certain cards, though you can if you want to as well.”
    • “Similar to Yu-Gi-Oh handhelds, but with a lot less blockading your progression than in those games and no grinding a fight 10-20 times to unlock a pack.”
    • “The main problem the game has (and is fairly common to TCGs) is grinding for cards, especially since there are several cards you get early on that are clearly worse than others you can get later.”
    • “You're not guaranteed a rare per pack, and each pack only drops a few cards, so just building a starting deck is a tedious grind, and then there's another tedious grind every so often when you find a booster that has cards you want.”
    • “Compounding this is the 'best out of' system that means grinding is even more of a chore than it always is--and grinding, at least in the early game, seems somewhat mandatory in the abstract.”
  • replayability24 mentions

    The reviews on replayability are mixed, with some players praising the game for its various card deck-building options and the potential for collecting cards, suggesting a decent level of replay value. However, others feel that once the game is completed, it lacks significant replayability, with some describing it as trivial after finishing. Overall, while there are elements that encourage replay, such as different strategies and customization, many players believe the game may not sustain long-term engagement.

    • “A cutesy art style combined with an innovative and original board game that has lots of replayability and will keep completionists at it for hours!”
    • “Replayability is high: new opponents emerge and existing opponents improve after you finish the story; you can continue to earn cards and fine-tune your decks; and the story was always secondary anyway.”
    • “Sure, it's not that long but I see it having great replayability and you will probably keep going even after you beat the game to get more cards and have some fun with different types of decks.”
    • “I don't feel like there is any replay value here.”
    • “It does not have much replayability and as a standalone it does not develop or change, but playing through it was rather enjoyable.”
    • “The only negative about this game is it has very little replay value.”
  • atmosphere19 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its chill, relaxing vibe, complemented by a catchy jazz soundtrack and quirky humor. Players appreciate the engaging art style and the warm, inviting environment that enhances the overall experience, despite some criticism regarding gameplay difficulty and repetitiveness in the music. Overall, the combination of a cozy nightlife setting and entertaining characters creates a memorable and enjoyable atmosphere that keeps players returning.

    • “The chill atmosphere and banger music with the comedic writing that makes Ludosity so memorable, all combined with an easy to learn, self-aware card game keeps me coming back.”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing, as it has that genuine nightlife vibe.”
    • “From my past experiences, trading card video games tend to go way over the top with their music and animations, but Card City Nights really nails the whole chill atmosphere.”
    • “The artwork is cute, the interface, humor, and atmosphere all work in its favor and I'd honestly like to see more games set in this world, but the sudden spike in difficulty just ruined it for me and I hate to give it a thumbs down.”
    • “Relaxing, nightly atmosphere, a jazz soundtrack, a whole town of card playing, silly yet cool characters, basic storyline, excellent combat system that is simple to learn, hard to master, difficulty itself gets harder with the time till you rage at the last few enemies and all in all an insane price tag for such a good game.”
  • monetization11 mentions

    The monetization model of Card City Nights is highly praised for its absence of microtransactions and in-app purchases, offering players a complete experience for a one-time purchase. Reviewers appreciate the game's generous pricing and the ability to collect over 180 unique cards without the pressure of additional payments, making it a refreshing alternative to typical collectible card games that often rely on monetization strategies.

    • “Collect over 180 unique cards featuring characters from the Ludosity universe, and best of all, no pesky in-app purchases!”
    • “It's a collectible card game without any microtransactions.”
    • “Yeah, this game is one that you buy and that's it; nothing in the game is locked behind microtransactions or any of the other shady practices that other card games employ.”
    • “It does not have any in-app purchases, which means you are not troubled by any future payments for additional content in the game.”
    • “I think the experience of a particularly 'boxed' product, of collecting within a controlled space rather than the majority of card games - which exalt microtransactions like an ancient deity - was refreshing in its own right.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Reviewers praise the character development in the game for its charming designs, engaging backstories, and witty dialogue, which contribute to an enjoyable experience. The art style and varied character designs are highlighted as visually appealing, enhancing the overall narrative and interactions. Overall, the effort put into character development is recognized as a standout feature of the game.

    • “The storyline and artwork are phenomenal, with lots of backstory and character development.”
    • “Overall, I find this game to be incredibly enjoyable, not for the gameplay, which is fine, but for the heart and effort that went into character design and dialogue.”
    • “I found the character design and interactions to be rather charming and definitely a more laid-back experience than Magic or Hearthstone.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting frequent bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, such as difficulties in movement and starting new games. Players have noted the need for repeated clicks to access map areas, indicating a lack of reliability in the game engine. Additionally, achievements may not function correctly, further contributing to the overall instability.

    • “Buggy as all hell; can't move around, can't start a new game, and have to click repeatedly hoping to open map areas.”
    • “Just be aware of the limitations of the game engine, including fussiness and glitches.”
    • “The game completion achievement might be buggy.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, the game is well-optimized, running smoothly even on older hardware like a MacBook, with no significant bugs reported. However, some users have noted occasional performance issues, which may detract from the experience.

    • “Nice music, no bugs, runs smoothly on my age-old MacBook. The plot is fun and short, making it a really solid game for around 7 hours of gameplay.”
    • “It runs smoothly on anything.”
    • “Aside from weird performance issues, the game suffers from boring card play and unrealistic RNG.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players appreciate the emotional depth brought by the goddess of explosions' family dynamic, highlighting its wholesome and quirky nature. This familial interaction adds a delightful layer to the overall experience, enhancing the game's emotional resonance.

    • “Plus, getting more dialogue from the goddess of explosions’ family is always a delight; their off-kilter, wholesome family dynamic is a joy to see.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

11hMedian play time
27hAverage play time
10-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

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