Card City Nights

About

Card City Nights is a single player casual turn-based strategy game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Ludosity and was released on February 14, 2014. It received positive reviews from players.

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 783 reviews

gameplay83 positive mentions

grinding36 negative mentions

Charming art style and quirky characters that add humor to the gameplay.
Unique card mechanics that require strategic placement and linking of cards on a 3x3 grid.
Affordable price point, providing good value for hours of gameplay.

The AI can be overly simplistic, making early battles too easy and reducing challenge.
Final boss difficulty spike can feel unfair and frustrating compared to earlier opponents.
Lack of multiplayer options limits replayability and competitive play.

gameplay
275 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
68%
2%
The gameplay of "Card City Nights" is characterized by its unique card-linking mechanics, where players connect cards on a 3x3 grid to create combos for various effects. While many players appreciate the innovative and strategic depth of the mechanics, some find the gameplay repetitive or flawed, with balancing issues and a lack of engaging AI. Overall, the game offers a casual yet thought-provoking experience, appealing to fans of card games and puzzle mechanics alike.
- “The gameplay is a hybrid of match three and traditional card game fare set on a 3x3 board.”
- “The mechanics of this game design are well thought-out.”
- “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 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.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay mechanics don't seem to work out quite like you imagine the developers thought they would.”
music
164 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players praising its chill, jazzy, and hip-hop influences that enhance the overall atmosphere. While some noted that certain tracks can become repetitive, the soundtrack is often described as catchy, relaxing, and a significant highlight of the game, making it worth listening to even outside of gameplay. Overall, the music contributes greatly to the game's charm and enjoyment, with many recommending it as a standout feature.
- “I'll start with the strongest point of the title: the music is awesome!”
- “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.”
- “The soundtrack does get boring and the gameplay repetitive.”
- “Music is okay, nothing to scream about.”
story
161 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
66%
4%
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 appreciate the charming characters and humorous dialogue, likening it to a blend of Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh, though many note that the plot lacks depth and complexity. Overall, while the narrative may be basic, it effectively complements the gameplay and provides a fun, casual experience.
- “The characteres, the OST, the gameplay, the story, the art style... it's all very well put together.”
- “The story is fun, quirky, and well written.”
- “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 quite shallow and could have used some more substance and throughline.”
- “Dull story, dull setting, dull strategy.”
- “The storyline is rather silly (but are you really playing a card game for the story?) and humorous.”
graphics
125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
50%
4%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, simplistic, and colorful art style that many players find endearing, despite some noting that it may not be as polished as other titles in the genre. The hand-drawn aesthetic and whimsical character designs contribute to a fun and lighthearted atmosphere, making it visually appealing for casual gamers. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they effectively complement the game's playful 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, making the overall experience delightful.”
- “The graphics are colorful and the game doesn't take itself too seriously, featuring witty dialogue that enhances the fun.”
- “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.”
humor
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 dialogue and character interactions, contribute positively to the gameplay experience. The art style and whimsical characters further enhance the game's humorous appeal, making it enjoyable for fans of light-hearted 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!”
grinding
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
5%
88%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, particularly in the early and endgame stages. While some appreciate the strategic depth it offers, others criticize the necessity of repeatedly battling opponents to earn cards and boosters, leading to a frustrating experience. However, a few players noted that the grind can be enjoyable if approached with the right mindset, and the game is less grind-heavy compared to similar titles like Yu-Gi-Oh.
- “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 or something, 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.”
- “For me, the game started out strong with being able to grind for more cards but then became annoyingly tedious with NPCs that spam defense cards, made worse by multi-round matches.”
- “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, as other reviewers have pointed out.”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
58%
13%
The reviews on replayability are mixed, with some players noting significant replay value due to customizable card decks and various strategies, while others feel the game lacks depth and becomes trivial after completion. Many appreciate the enjoyable gameplay and cutesy art style, but several reviewers express that the overall replayability is limited, especially for those who excel quickly. Overall, the game offers a decent amount of replayability for completionists and those interested in experimenting with different decks, but it may not sustain long-term engagement for all players.
- “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.”
atmosphere
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
37%
16%
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 vibrant nightlife setting and charming 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.”
- “The music fits the atmosphere well but can get a little repetitive if you make a conscious effort to notice.”
monetization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The monetization model of Card City Nights is highly praised for its absence of microtransactions, offering a complete gaming experience for a one-time purchase. Players appreciate the lack of in-app purchases and the focus on a traditional collectible card game format, providing good value without the pitfalls of pay-to-win mechanics. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing alternative to other card games that rely heavily on monetization strategies.
- “It's a collectible card game, without any microtransactions.”
- “Especially since it has such a generous price and is such a complete game (no microtransactions or any other nonsense) with a lot of depth, I'm sure that if the gameplay resonates with you, this game is fantastic value.”
- “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 development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
The character development in the game is praised for its charming designs and engaging backstories, contributing to an enjoyable experience. Reviewers highlight the appealing art style and varied character interactions, noting that the writing adds depth without being overly prominent. Overall, the effort put into character design and dialogue enhances the game's appeal beyond its gameplay.
- “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.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
- “Game completion achievement might be buggy.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
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 and criticized aspects of gameplay, such as card mechanics and RNG.
- “Nice music, no bugs, runs smoothly on my age-old MacBook. The plot is fun and short, making it a really solid game for 7 hours of gameplay.”
- “It runs smoothly on anything.”
- “Aside from weird performance issues, the game suffers from boring card play and unrealistic RNG.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the emotional depth brought by the goddess of explosions' family dynamic, highlighting its wholesome and quirky nature. This familial interaction adds a layer of joy to the gameplay experience, enhancing the overall emotional engagement.
- “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.”