Dance of Cards

About

"Dance of Cards" is a rhythm-based game where you match cards to the beat of popular songs. Use various characters with unique abilities to clear stages and climb the leaderboards. With a variety of songs and difficulties, it offers a fun and challenging experience for players of all skill levels.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 43 reviews

story13 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Dance of Cards features a unique blend of poker mechanics and RPG elements, providing a fresh and engaging gameplay experience.
The pixel art and animations are well-crafted, reminiscent of classic games, and the soundtrack is excellent, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
The game is filled with passion and attention to detail, making it a charming and enjoyable experience for players who appreciate indie games.

The story suffers from tonal inconsistencies and a lack of character development, leading to a confusing narrative that doesn't fully engage players.
Poker mechanics can feel overshadowed by the use of abilities and luck-based elements, making it less appealing for traditional poker enthusiasts.
The game has frustrating design choices, such as save file deletion and linear gameplay, which can detract from the overall experience.

story
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
64%
7%
The story of the game is a mixed bag, featuring intriguing ideas that often suffer from inconsistent execution and tonal shifts, leaving players unsure whether to take certain plot points seriously or not. While some players appreciate the engaging characters and the unique blend of poker mechanics with narrative elements, others criticize the lack of depth in character development and the abrupt introduction of key plot points. Overall, the narrative is seen as entertaining and ambitious, but it struggles with coherence and pacing, leading to a varied reception among players.
- “It's an amazing experience with a story that leaves you on the edge of your seat wanting more; all of this for £7.99 you just cannot go wrong.”
- “The story can get dark with some violent pixel death but it never takes itself too seriously and has many jokes and moments of brevity (there is a talking dog).”
- “This is a really fun and unique game, with a pretty entertaining storyline.”
- “The story can't find a consistent tone, being simultaneously dark and brooding while actively absurd.”
- “Nothing really harmonizes in the present story and plays like a multitude of ideas incorrectly paired together.”
- “Because this ending plot point also hinges on a character never introduced until the very end (the captain’s wife), and is the reason for all of the events in the game up until that point, makes this last sequence specifically poor in regards to writing.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
40%
15%
The music in the game has received high praise for its excellent quality and seamless integration with gameplay, particularly through the animated bands that perform in sync with the soundtrack. Reviewers appreciate the smooth jazz style and the attention to detail, noting that the music enhances the overall experience and keeps players engaged, even those who may not be fans of poker. Many have expressed their enjoyment of the soundtrack to the extent of purchasing the original score, highlighting its standout nature in the game's design.
- “The soundtrack is excellent; it's so good that I have written a separate review for it on its Steam page.”
- “The game's soundtrack is great and filled with songs you could easily find yourself bobbing your head to as you play.”
- “The music is stand-out delightful; smooth jazz keeps me at the table.”
- “The songs didn't have lyrics, but they also did.”
- “I'm not someone who can tell you the intricate details about music, but one thing I can say is that I loved all of the tracks.”
- “Each note is performed in time with the music.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The gameplay is praised for its innovative twist on poker mechanics, featuring diverse character abilities and various mini-games that keep the experience fresh and engaging. However, some players feel that the emphasis on dialogue and linear progression detracts from the poker experience, and the lack of character depth may hinder replayability. Overall, while the game offers a unique and enjoyable mix of mechanics, it struggles with pacing and certain design choices that could be improved.
- “Mr. Frog successfully made the poker mechanics in the game consistently fun by diversifying the gameplay with different character abilities that can aid or hinder the player.”
- “The poker in this game is good, and the cheating mechanic adds to the game without making the poker irrelevant.”
- “Unique and fun concept - very enjoyable mix of game mechanics.”
- “Also, it was probably for gameplay reasons later on with choosing party members, but it would have been preferable to have been able to talk to and understand fully every character. In the end, I didn’t really know anything about them, and if this is done only to encourage replayability, then that’s understandable. However, from playing it once all the way through, I haven’t the desire to replay it; hence, it would have been better to understand the characters in one playthrough.”
- “That, plus a 'stress' mechanic that causes you to panic and give chips away means that there's no real 'poker' in this game.”
- “I expected to play poker most of the time, but instead, the majority of the game is just dialogue, linear gameplay, talking to this guy then the other guy, and silly smaller games that have nothing to do with poker.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the depth of the plot and the variety of side content, others feel that the linearity and lack of character understanding in a single playthrough diminish the desire to replay. However, features like a quick play mode and multiplayer options add significant replay value for those interested in exploring different gameplay styles.
- “Edit: finished the game, the plot is actually pretty mind-blowing and the game is very replayable, I do recommend it.”
- “Additionally, one of the bonus modes you can unlock is a quick play mode that lets you host custom poker games with the AI and use any assortment of characters you want, as well as a tournament mode, online multiplayer, custom matches, and more, so it actually has quite a bit of replayability too.”
- “Also, it was probably for gameplay reasons later on with choosing party members, but it would have been preferable to have been able to talk to and understand fully every character. In the end, I didn’t really know anything about them, and if this is done only to encourage replayability, then that’s understandable. However, after playing it once all the way through, I haven’t the desire to replay it; hence, it would have been better to understand the characters in one playthrough.”
- “Given the overhead in working through the storyline, I do not think that the game will have replayability for most.”
- “It seems like the game is also replayable, unless it is so linear that your decisions don't affect who dies, which would suck, but I don't think it is like that.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics in the game are praised for their charming 1930s noir aesthetic, featuring well-animated character abilities and background elements that enhance the overall experience. The artwork, reminiscent of styles from 30 years ago, complements the unique gameplay and adds to the game's distinct atmosphere.
- “Mr. Frog didn't slack when it came to animating character abilities and other visuals. In fact, if you pay attention to the bands that play in the background of the poker games, their animations are tied to the music playing.”
- “The setting is unique, being in the 1930s, as the latest film mentioned in the game is 'Modern Times' by Charlie Chaplin, which came out in 1936. The noir, early 20th-century aesthetic gives a lot of charm and character to the game.”
- “The mother-like style of the artwork belies the unique gameplay experience as well as the fairly bleak atmosphere waiting for you.”
- “The setting is unique, being, I believe, in the 1930s as the latest film mentioned in the game is 'Modern Times' by Charlie Chaplin, which came out in 1936. The more noir, early 20th-century aesthetic gives a lot of charm and character to the game.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is inconsistent, with a tone that shifts awkwardly between absurdity and seriousness, often failing to deliver effective comedy or impactful moments. While it attempts to blend a vintage horror aesthetic with humor, the execution leaves much to be desired, resulting in a mix that can feel both flat and ludicrous. Players sensitive to darker themes may want to approach with caution.
- “The game brings an uncommon 1960s Vincent Price 'Pit and the Pendulum' style horror to gaming, albeit tempered with humor.”
- “The humor is so absurd that it often catches you off guard, creating moments that are both ridiculous and entertaining.”
- “The blend of serious themes with ludicrous humor creates a unique experience that keeps players on their toes.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating, particularly during the first playthrough and even more so in subsequent runs due to save file deletion. While some suggest that incorporating character development opportunities could enhance the experience, others note that the game's reliance on poker mechanics for progression detracts from the traditional grinding found in combat-focused games.
- “This is annoying in the first playthrough, but absolutely tedious in subsequent plays, which will be forced when the game deletes your save file towards the end of the game.”
- “Places where the game could be improved include opportunities to develop a character to increase special abilities outside of the main storyline (add a touch of grinding).”
- “Poker naturally lends itself to grinding through difficult and tight situations to get better and play against better opponents; this game decided instead to use poker in lieu of combat.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a strong emotional journey, transitioning from a wholesome beginning to a dark and nightmarish experience. Players express empathy for the antagonist, understanding their tragic backstory and motivations behind the violent events, which adds depth to the emotional impact of the narrative.
- “This game is a ride; it starts off really wholesome and sweet and quickly turns into a complete nightmare.”
- “Strangely, it also made me feel empathy for the person in charge of the death game, because they lose someone in such a horrible way that you can almost empathize with why they have resorted to killing these characters.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The artwork presents a mother-like style that contrasts sharply with the game's unique gameplay and contributes to a fairly bleak atmosphere, creating an intriguing juxtaposition for players.
- “The mother-like style of the artwork belies the unique gameplay experience, as well as the fairly bleak atmosphere that awaits you.”
- “The haunting sound design and eerie visuals create an immersive atmosphere that pulls you into the game's world.”
- “Every corner of the environment is filled with intricate details that enhance the overall atmosphere, making exploration a captivating experience.”
- “The mother-like style of the artwork belies the unique gameplay experience, as well as the fairly bleak atmosphere waiting for you.”
- “The game fails to create an immersive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
- “Despite the intriguing premise, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to engage players.”