Dead Man's Draw
- October 2, 2013
- Stardock Entertainment
- 16h median play time
Dead Man's Draw is a strategic card game of pirates and treasure. Draw cards to create combos, but be cautious—drawing a Duke will end your turn and lose your earned treasures. Outsmart your opponents to become the wealthiest pirate in this thrilling adventure.
Reviews
- Fun and addictive card game with simple mechanics that are easy to learn.
- Offers a variety of traits and card abilities that add depth and strategy to gameplay.
- Quick matches make it a great casual game for short play sessions.
- AI often feels rigged, consistently getting better draws and making the game frustrating.
- Lacks multiplayer options, limiting replayability and social interaction.
- Heavy reliance on luck can lead to inconsistent experiences, making it feel less skill-based.
- gameplay45 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by simple yet engaging mechanics that evolve as players progress through numerous levels, introducing new abilities and strategies. While the game offers a fun and addictive experience with a mix of luck and skill, some players find it can become repetitive over time, particularly in tournament modes. Overall, the combination of straightforward rules and strategic depth makes it accessible and enjoyable, though a desire for multiplayer options and clearer explanations of certain mechanics has been noted.
“The game starts off very basic, with each subsequent level adding functionality to the card suits and eventually game mechanics, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
“Dead Man's Draw uses basic mechanics of drawing and adds several layers of complexity, making the game much more strategic than luck-based.”
“That said, Dead Man's Draw is a very polished card game with a decent learning curve and simple gameplay you can easily get the hang of.”
“Secondly, while the tutorials and help screens are thorough enough to explain gameplay, there are aspects of the game that are not explained--specifically, the stars and the chest with score, which I originally mistook for my XP meter until I realized it hadn't changed after sixteen straight games.”
“Again, I would have preferred fewer more focused tournaments, as the gameplay simply isn't varied enough to support the huge number of what are essentially the same games over and over.”
“Game mechanics have two things that deserve attention: too much RNG-based gameplay which in turn slowly but surely sours the gameplay once you put in more than a few hours.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the artwork and overall presentation as solid and enjoyable, while others point out technical issues and bugs that can severely impact gameplay. Although some users find the graphics simple, they appreciate the thematic integration with music, enhancing the overall experience. However, concerns about performance and resolution settings have been noted, indicating that while the visuals can be appealing, they are not without significant flaws.
“The artwork is great and the gameplay is fun and interesting.”
“The graphics and music also help to add to the theme that this game is going for, and it feels like a game pirates would play when they are not playing Liar's Dice.”
“Surprisingly fun and simple to learn card game with nice graphics and sound.”
“The computer's performance is hindered before the graphics even show, but the screen pauses and slowly scrolls as if it is choosing at a relaxed pace.”
“This game has a serious bug in the graphics.”
“Still, when you consider the graphic bug can permanently destroy the game even if you uninstall it, then it becomes a complete waste of money.”
- music14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its relaxing qualities and thematic fit, while others criticize its repetitiveness and limited variety, leading to frustration over time. Although the soundtrack complements the game's aesthetic, many users feel it lacks depth and quality, with some even noting similarities to well-known themes. Overall, while the music enhances the experience initially, it tends to become monotonous and grating as gameplay progresses.
“I liked the music and the fact that it has achievements; it is very relaxing. Sometimes I prefer to play a game that does not require a keyboard.”
“It's addictive with good music and art.”
“The graphics and music also help to add to the theme that this game is going for, and it feels like a game pirates would play when they are not playing liar's dice.”
“The music and sound effects also start to grate after a while.”
“Everything looks the same in the game from beginning to end, even the music seems to be entirely made up of just one track looping over and over forever.”
“The soundtrack is repetitive and limited.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through its unique traits, diverse tournament rules, and the element of luck, encouraging players to experiment with different strategies. While the 50 tournaments provide varied experiences, some players feel that once they achieve three stars in each mode, the replay value diminishes. Overall, it caters well to solo play with hours of potential enjoyment, despite limited multiplayer options.
“Good replay value if you're going for all the achievements.”
“Add to this unique traits that you will unlock as you play the game, which you can then select before each game to add to your strategy. The different rules for each of the 50 tournaments available provide infinite replayability potential, as well as multiple ways to help mitigate the effect of luck!”
“The tournament conditions add a very nice variation to the game, which gives a nice boost to the replay value.”
“The game has several tournament modes which unfortunately are not very replayable because your job is to get three stars on each mode and then move on.”
“Not much replay value and no real multiplayer except hotseat.”
“Although how you play is quite important, the most important factor is luck, so replayability is guaranteed; however, you have to take it casual or you will be angry with the game.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly for completionists aiming to achieve high scores and unlock abilities. The need to repeatedly play matches for experience, combined with a luck factor that can lead to unexpected losses, contributes to a sense of monotony and annoyance. Overall, while the game has its merits, the grinding elements detract from the overall enjoyment.
“As each stage has 3 stars based on score, it gets rather tedious if you are a completionist like myself.”
“Where the game falls down is that eventually this starts to get a little tedious and it feels as if you're needing to play lots of different matches just to grind experience to unlock some abilities.”
“To the point where it begins to feel like grinding, and that the randomness begins to get annoying after yet another loss to an AI using a trait that you haven't even unlocked yet.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in this card game is highlighted as casual and entertaining, making it a perfect choice for lighthearted gaming sessions. Players appreciate the absurdity of the AI's ridiculous combos, which often lead to uncontrollable laughter.
“A casual, funny, and exciting card game that perfectly fills some free time when you don't want to engage in a deep gaming session.”
“The AI will pull off some ridiculous combos that will literally make you fall out of your chair laughing.”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is characterized by a true-to-life narrative that involves numerous unlockable elements and skill development, requiring players to engage in missions multiple times due to the element of luck influencing outcomes.
“The story is engaging and keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
“There are many twists and turns that make the narrative unpredictable and exciting.”
“The character development is rich, allowing players to form a deep connection with the protagonists.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative flow.”
“Character development is shallow, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
“The plot twists are predictable and fail to create any real suspense.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the absence of in-app purchases in this version, highlighting it as a positive aspect of the monetization model.
“I like that there are no in-app purchases in this version.”
“The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
“I appreciate that the game offers a complete experience without needing to buy extra content.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is enhanced by effective sound effects that complement the gameplay, though reviewers suggest that additional variation could further enrich the experience.
“The combination of sound effects and visuals creates an immersive atmosphere that draws you into the game world.”
“The atmospheric design is stunning, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
“The ambient sounds and music perfectly complement the visuals, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report excellent stability, noting the absence of bugs, freezes, or any issues during gameplay.
“No bugs, no freezes, no issues at all.”
“The game runs smoothly without any interruptions.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or glitches during my playtime.”