Skip to main content

Card-en-Ciel

Card-en-Ciel is a fun dungeon-crawling deck-building roguelite that will provide hours of addictive gameplay that is easy to pick up and learn. While the system seems in-depth and daunting, its thoughtful design appeals to gamers or any skill level.
Card-en-Ciel Game Cover
86%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
replayability, grinding
94% User Score Based on 179 reviews
Critic Score 69%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
Card-en-Ciel Game Cover

About

Card-en-Ciel is a single player and multiplayer role playing shooter game. It was developed by INTI CREATES CO., LTD. and was released on October 23, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Card-en-Ciel" is a roguelite card-battling RPG where you play as Neon, the "Gaming Chair Detective," exploring virtual dungeons based on the full-dive VR game, "Rust Tactics." As Neon, you'll delve into over 10 different dungeons, each representing a different game world, solving a mystery with over 300 cards and 50 unique vocal songs. Meet and collect characters, encounter heroes and heroines, make friends, and save the gaming world in this immersive experience.

Skip User Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 179 reviews
gameplay29 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions

  • The game features a fun and engaging deck-building system with a variety of cards and mechanics that encourage strategic play.
  • The soundtrack is exceptional, with a wide range of catchy songs that enhance the overall experience.
  • The charming art style and character designs, along with humorous dialogue, create a vibrant and entertaining atmosphere.
  • The story and dialogue can be overly cliché and cringeworthy, which may detract from the experience for some players.
  • Dungeon layouts are repetitive and lack visual variety, making exploration feel tedious over time.
  • The scoring system can be frustrating, as it encourages players to rush through dungeons, often at the expense of fully engaging with the combat mechanics.
  • gameplay
    90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of this roguelike card game is highly praised for its engaging mechanics, innovative combos, and a fun progression system that encourages players to learn and adapt to new mechanics introduced in each dungeon. Players appreciate the variety of cards and the depth of strategy involved, with many noting the game's charm and entertaining character interactions, despite some minor criticisms regarding cluttered mechanics and a strict scoring system. Overall, it offers a rewarding experience for fans of the genre, blending deck-building with unique gameplay elements and a vibrant aesthetic.

    • “The gameplay loop is fun and engaging, the variety in music is amazing (50+ songs ostensibly) and some well voice-acted, mostly comedic story.”
    • “It takes the basics of deckbuilding — combos, timing, synergy — and gives them a really fresh twist through its color-based mechanics.”
    • “Card-en-ciel is a fun dungeon-crawling deck-building roguelite that will provide hours of addictive gameplay that is easy to pick up and learn.”
    • “Mechanics-wise, I do think that it gets really cluttered; there's a lot that can be going on, and some of the mechanics aren't particularly clear with how they work, and tooltips can get so long they go off screen.”
    • “If you don't like that style of gameplay, that's tough because those are your only options for that dungeon.”
    • “The gameplay feel of each dungeon ends up wildly different as a result: I personally liked most of them but absolutely hated about three of them.”
  • music
    55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its depth and variety, featuring over 50 tracks that include both new compositions and previously released songs from other Inti Creates titles. Players appreciate the integration of music with gameplay mechanics, such as the "muse" system that enhances both the soundtrack and player abilities. While the soundtrack is a standout feature, some users note that a significant portion of the music is not entirely new, which may affect perceptions of originality. Overall, the music is considered a major highlight, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The amount of bops in the soundtrack is insane; it's hard not to like all of them.”
    • “The gameplay loop is fun and engaging, the variety in music is amazing (50+ songs ostensibly) and some well voice-acted, mostly comedic story.”
    • “The music is the standout part of the game, and the 50 muse songs really go hard.”
    • “The music is the standout part of the game and the 50 muse songs really go hard, but sneakily about 30 of those songs were already finished and composed for previous Inti Creates titles across Gal*Gun, Azure Striker Gunvolt, etc. The new songs are great, but they aren't all new, so it's not really fair to boast that this game has '50 songs' implying that you've never heard 'Indigo Destiny' or 'Love Hearts' before.”
    • “I find it very weird that a game that has music as one of the important things (that they even promote on the game's page) doesn't have a soundtrack that you can get, but alright I suppose. That said, the music is cool.”
    • “Very fun and addicting, felt sick on release day so the game helped cheer me up. The only negative I have for the game is that you can't pick the muse song that plays when multiple are activated at once.”
  • story
    48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in this game is generally considered simplistic and cliché, often resembling a Saturday morning cartoon with a predictable plot involving dungeon exploration and a forced romance. While some players appreciate the humor and character interactions, many find the narrative shallow and lacking in depth, with unresolved plot points and a brief overall length. Despite its shortcomings, the story serves as a lighthearted backdrop to the engaging gameplay, making it enjoyable for those who prioritize mechanics over narrative complexity.

    • “This game is deceptively simple to play and has an amazing amount of depth whether it's gameplay, story, art, colors, and effects.”
    • “The storyline itself is fun, and mixes a bunch of genres and games, introducing a huge cast of characters from Inti's other titles.”
    • “The story is a nice plus that most deckbuilding roguelike dungeon crawlers lack and makes the gameplay itself somewhat more purposeful.”
    • “The story is not the focal point of this game.”
    • “It is basically a Saturday morning cartoon show of you and your partner jumping into dungeons to collect 'error fragments,' and you do this on repeat the entire story.”
    • “The story makes no sense, but the main character is cool and his video game girlfriend is cartoonishly supportive.”
  • graphics
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the unique anime-inspired aesthetic and pixel art direction, while others find the waifu moe style unappealing. Overall, the visuals are described as nice and fitting, complementing the game's fun mechanics and engaging music, though they may not be universally appealing. The art style, while solid, is noted to be less "noisy" and more subdued, which some players enjoy.

    • “Really fun and unique deckbuilder roguelike game, I really love the art style and the music is fantastic.”
    • “Coupled with Inti's usual stellar writing, humor, and art style, this is easily an indie game of the year contender.”
    • “The music, visuals, and gameplay are top notch.”
    • “But unfortunately, I hate the waifu moe art style.”
    • “Most of the graphics are fine but not stellar.”
    • “The aesthetic isn't for everyone.”
  • humor
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by witty dialogue and self-aware, tongue-in-cheek references, making it both cute and funny. While some elements may come off as cringe-worthy or tropey, the overall comedic tone resonates well with fans of weeb culture and indie games, contributing to its charm and appeal. Players appreciate the blend of humor with engaging writing and art, making it a standout contender in the indie game scene.

    • “The story is a very brief 10 hours, but the dialogue is surprisingly funny, with each card you collect triggering different interactions during and before an encounter.”
    • “Coupled with Inti's usual stellar writing, humor, and art style, this is easily an indie game of the year contender.”
    • “Some of the individual dialogue about each game's world is hilarious, with special mention to 'Love Above the Rooftops,' which is the fake game I most wish was real out of this entire experience.”
  • replayability
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game offers high replayability, particularly for fans of collectible card games, with engaging challenges and increasing difficulty levels that encourage repeated play. While some players find the dialogue and story elements somewhat clichéd, the core gameplay loop remains enjoyable, providing ample opportunities for players to revisit dungeons and aim for high scores. However, opinions vary, with some suggesting that replayability may not be as strong for everyone.

    • “Underneath a lot of anime trope-heavy, often cringe-inducing dialogue, there's a surprisingly good card battler with a good amount of replayability.”
    • “High replayability and so far it seems like it'll last you a long while if you're willing to do dungeons again on higher difficulties.”
    • “I highly recommend it, but I don't think the replayability is going to be too high.”
    • “Replay value is high if you like CCG-type games.”
    • “There's plenty of replay value in taking on challenges.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that while the game emphasizes strategic thinking over mindless grinding, players may find the experience repetitive and tedious, particularly if they are not invested in achieving future goals. The lack of variety in dungeon layouts and backgrounds contributes to the grind, making it less enjoyable for some players despite the overall fun of the deckbuilding mechanics.

    • “The experience is repetitive; so if you're not into the grinding niche and playing for the sake of achievements and future dungeons, this may not be for you.”
    • “If the dungeon layouts or backgrounds were more interesting, I’d be able to deal with the tediousness at points, since as a deckbuilder roguelike I really did have fun with the game.”
    • “Rules require strategic thinking rather than rushing or grinding.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is praised for its high-quality design, showcasing a departure from traditional anime influences while still retaining some recognizable elements. Overall, the character designs are considered exceptional and contribute positively to the game's aesthetic.

    • “Character design: top notch”
    • “You've largely left anime behind by now, although you can still spot signs of the infection in the character designs.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, leaving me disconnected from their journeys.”
    • “I expected more depth and growth from the characters, but they remain one-dimensional throughout the game.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices in character development makes the experience feel linear and unengaging.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent freezes and crashes that disrupt gameplay and force players to restart entire dungeons.

    • “The game is good, but it frequently freezes and crashes in the middle of play, forcing me to re-run the whole dungeon from the beginning.”
    • “I love the gameplay, but the constant crashes make it nearly unplayable.”
    • “Every time I get into a challenging part of the game, it crashes, which ruins the experience.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is characterized by heavy in-game advertising, particularly through character dialogues that reference other games and characters, which can feel intrusive. However, some players appreciate that these references are integrated into the game's universe rather than being overt advertisements, even if they find the repetitive dungeon design questionable.

    • “The game feels more like a big advertisement for in-game purchases than an actual gaming experience. Characters constantly reference other games and characters that don't even exist, making it feel disjointed and commercialized.”
    • “Monetization is heavily pushed throughout the game, with constant reminders to spend money on in-game items. It detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion.”
    • “The presence of ads and monetization elements is overwhelming, making it hard to focus on the gameplay itself. It feels like the developers prioritized profit over player experience.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a deliberately crafted narrative that emphasizes the heartwarming theme of love conquering all, blending silliness with genuine sentiment.

    • “Nonetheless, I suspect it is deliberate to lay this silly yet heartwarming narrative that love trumps all.”
Skip Critic Reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy Card-en-Ciel

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Card-en-Ciel

Games Like Card-en-Ciel

Alina of the Arena Image
SpellRogue Image
Fights in Tight Spaces Image
DICEOMANCER Image
Monster Train Image
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Card-en-Ciel is a role playing shooter game.

Card-en-Ciel is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

Card-en-Ciel was released on October 23, 2024.

Card-en-Ciel was developed by INTI CREATES CO., LTD..

Card-en-Ciel has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its replayability.

Card-en-Ciel is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Alina of the Arena, SpellRogue, Fights in Tight Spaces, DICEOMANCER, Monster Train and others.