CardLife

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"CardLife is a massively multiplayer role-playing game set in a unique, hand-drawn cardboard world. Craft your own weapons, tools, and characters, and embark on adventures alone or with others. Explore community creations, defeat powerful creatures, and level up as you journey to the center of the island."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

64%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,271 reviews

gameplay28 positive mentions

stability70 negative mentions

The game offers a unique cardboard aesthetic and allows for extensive customization of tools, weapons, and structures.
The crafting and building mechanics are creative, providing players with the ability to design their own items.
The game can be enjoyable and relaxing, especially when played with friends.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including issues with falling through the map and enemies teleporting.
There is a lack of content and features, making the gameplay feel repetitive and shallow.
The game has been abandoned by the developers, leading to concerns about its future updates and support.

gameplay
75 mentions
37 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is described as a mix of fun and frustration, with innovative mechanics and graphics that capture a unique cardboard aesthetic. However, many players find the core gameplay elements to be buggy and unpolished, leading to a shallow experience marred by confusing menus, imbalanced mechanics, and repetitive tasks. While some appreciate the crafting and exploration aspects, the overall consensus is that the game feels incomplete and requires significant improvements to reach its potential.
- “Love the game, the graphics capture the cardboard world perfectly, and gameplay is pretty straightforward.”
- “The gameplay is fun, although the amount of content, gameplay quality, and number of minor bugs would be what you would expect from an early access game, early in its life and certainly not a true 1.0 version.”
- “The 'everything is cardboard' mechanic is a lot of fun, since you can use 'scissors' to customize everything... armor, tools, weapons, your house, your character.”
- “Core gameplay elements just don't work, like setting your respawn point with beds or enchanting (after you enchant something it just becomes bugged and not draggable in your inventory).”
- “The hunger mechanic is out of place as this game does not scream 'hardcore survival', and, also, the hunger meter goes down far too quick.”
- “At one point, this game may have had potential, but the lack of content and the poorly designed mine/dungeon system, horrible NPC AI, and repetitive gameplay ruined it.”
graphics
73 mentions
53 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising the unique cardboard aesthetic and vibrant art style that enhances the gameplay experience. However, some users have reported performance issues and bugs, particularly on lower-end PCs, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these concerns, the ability to customize graphics settings and the innovative design elements have been highlighted as strong points.
- “The graphics are great!”
- “I love the visuals and the way you build in this game.”
- “The graphics and lighting effects are also great (dynamic shadows for dropped items even!)”
- “The art direction is not mixed in theme for the most part, except for gems, which are not cardboard, and do absolutely clash with the overall aesthetic (which makes me wonder if that was an asset pack).”
- “Its as buggy as Ark with less content and worse graphics.”
- “Constant graphical issues (on a rig designed for gaming and 3D design/animation) and shoddy mechanics, a good game in concept, not so much in execution.”
stability
71 mentions
4 % positive mentions
-3 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players express frustration over the lack of updates and support from the developers, leading to a consensus that the game feels unfinished and abandoned. While some find enjoyment in the concept and gameplay, the overwhelming presence of technical issues makes it difficult to recommend.
- “The game runs smoothly without any major bugs, which is a refreshing change.”
- “I haven't encountered any stability issues; everything works as it should.”
- “The performance is solid, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
- “The game is a laggy, buggy mess with zero playability.”
- “This game is abandoned and utterly bug-ridden.”
- “Not worth your money to buy this buggy mess.”
story
33 mentions
15 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game's story and quest system are criticized for being underdeveloped, with many players noting a lack of engaging narrative and meaningful progression. While there are some quests available, they often feel too easy or unbalanced, leading to a sense of boredom and a lack of motivation to continue playing. Overall, players express a desire for more substantial storylines, NPC interactions, and a tiered quest system to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “From my 25 minutes on this game, I've seen a quest and crafting system, a basic survival game, and several drawing boards that allow you to shape whatever you are and make into whatever you want.”
- “The missions and their rewards give you help on the road if you're new.”
- “I played the game for 5.6 hours, I completed most stuff, got the cobalt armor, got all the journal quests, etc. For an early access game, it's quite decent and I only found 3 bugs so far, which isn't that much in my opinion.”
- “☑ no story”
- “You have nothing else to do... no other quests or anything to do so it really gets boring.”
- “No quests (just objectives like 'build a bow' or 'mine some ore').”
grinding
17 mentions
18 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
82 % negative mentions
Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the lack of farming mechanics and the excessive effort required to gather basic resources like wood. The crafting system is seen as convoluted, leading to prolonged periods of resource gathering that detract from the overall experience. Many reviewers express a desire for improvements, such as the addition of farming and more balanced recipes, to alleviate the grind.
- “In survival mode, gathering materials takes a long time as there is no farming, and in creative mode, you can't fly, meaning that it would take a really long time to build anything on a large scale.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Planting and farming would be nice, and mounts maybe.”
- “In survival mode, gathering materials takes a long time as there is no farming, and in creative mode, you can't fly, meaning that it would take a really long time building anything on a large scale.”
- “There is a lot of grinding as well, but not in a smart way. For example, trees, which are vastly available, require a lot of work to gather just a few units, and you will need a ton of wood for most of the items.”
- “Recipes are not balanced; farming for resources is a pain, and losing them to mobs whose only purpose is to hunt you down, no matter how far you are, is incredibly frustrating.”
optimization
11 mentions
27 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
73 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes, long loading times, and significant performance issues even on high-end PCs, resulting in low frame rates and stuttering. While the game shows potential in graphics and gameplay, the poor optimization and numerous bugs detract significantly from the overall experience, leading many to recommend waiting for improvements before purchasing.
- “It has a lot of potential, but hasn't been optimized very well.”
- “The game is quite enjoyable but suffers from poor optimization.”
- “It needs optimization.”
- “It has a lot of potential, but hasn't been optimized very well and your hosted game will suddenly crash at random.”
- “Game is quite enjoyable but has terrible optimization.”
- “Currently, the game needs to be better optimized, and needs a crap ton of bug fixes; I recommend not buying yet.”
music
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players praise it for enhancing the overall atmosphere and enjoyment, others find it mediocre and forgettable. Despite the varied opinions, the art style and music together contribute positively to the gaming experience for many.
- “It feels good to play due to the amazing art style and the great music.”
- “My son said he likes the graphics and the music.”
- “Overall, the music is great; the overall atmosphere is fantastic... I really like the concept.”
- “All I can remember when it comes to music was mediocre; the same goes for sound effects.”
- “O mediocre music and sounds.”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its cute and quirky details, with players appreciating the funny elements like the "peener pickaxe" and the whimsical nature of the cardboard graphics. However, some users feel that despite the humor, the game's bugs detract from the overall experience, making it less appealing for purchase.
- “For me as a big fan of games like Minecraft, this is a cute new game with funny details.”
- “It's a funny spin on the survival style game.”
- “Cardboard is so crazy funny and cute.”
replayability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers good replay value, though some players feel that in-game progression and achievements may diminish the fun by providing items that reduce the challenge. However, many agree that the game remains enjoyable and can be refreshed with each playthrough.
- “Good replay value it seems, but I'll have to put in more time!”
- “Replayability for freshening every game.”
- “So nearly all games are playable on maximum pleasure.”
- “In-game progression doesn't provide much replay value, as the achievements grant items that, in my opinion, diminish some of the fun.”
- “Replayability is lacking; it feels like every game is played to its maximum potential without much incentive to revisit.”
- “The replayability aspect is minimal, making it hard to find new enjoyment in each playthrough.”
monetization
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is heavily criticized, with users labeling it a cash grab and expressing frustration over its poor quality and frequent crashes. Many reviewers advise against purchasing it, suggesting that the developers prioritize profit over delivering a quality experience. Overall, the sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with players feeling cheated by the game's monetization strategy.
- “Just used as a cash grab now.”
- “This game is crap do not buy it. It's a trash cash grab. I'm updating this review so people know the devs that made this game are trash. When this game came out, I tried to play it, but it crashed after crash, putting me right over 2 hours of gameplay, so no refund. I'm letting you people know if you bad talk their game in any way, they will ban you for it. You will build, crash, and fall through the map. This game is so trash; I would rate this as the worst game to ever hit Steam.”
- “I recommend this game so that Freejam can get more money from those who keep purchasing EA games that were cash grabs all along.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its great music and intriguing concept, but some users feel that certain elements detract from the overall experience, making it feel less polished and almost like a free game.
- “The music is fantastic, and the overall atmosphere is immersive and captivating. I really love the concept.”
- “The game's atmosphere draws you in, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
- “The combination of visuals and sound creates a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that stays with you long after playing.”
- “All of this really ruins the entire atmosphere and makes Cardlife feel cheap, almost as if it should be a free game.”
character development
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Users have expressed frustration with the character development feature, particularly noting the lack of an option to redo character design after accidentally exiting the customization menu. This limitation detracts from the overall experience of personalizing characters.
- “No option to redo character design.”
- “I accidentally pressed Esc during the character design phase.”
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users express that the emotional impact of the game evokes a sense of overwhelming responsibility and connection to the environment, as actions like crafting from stone can feel monumental and burdensome, akin to the weight of razing a mountain.
- “Creating anything out of stone made me feel as if I needed to raze an entire mountain.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters left me reflecting on my own life choices.”
- “The game's story resonated with me on a personal level, evoking feelings I didn't expect.”