Duelyst is a turn-based multiplayer and single-player strategy game, where players engage in quick matches with thoughtful decision-making and strategic positioning. With over 800 cards across 6 factions, assemble your battle deck and test your mettle against other players online in ranked ladder and draft mode tournaments. Enjoy infinite depth, lightning-fast matches, and a classic pixel art aesthetic with impressive spell and effect animations.
Duelyst offers a unique blend of card game mechanics and tactical board-based combat, providing a fresh experience compared to traditional CCGs.
The pixel art and animations are stunning, adding a vibrant aesthetic that enhances the overall gameplay experience.
The game is generous with rewards, allowing players to earn cards and resources without needing to spend money, making it accessible for free-to-play players.
The game has been criticized for its pay-to-win elements, with many players feeling that spending money is necessary to remain competitive.
Matchmaking can be frustrating, as new players often face opponents with significantly better cards and experience, leading to a steep learning curve.
Recent changes and expansions have introduced balance issues, with certain cards and factions dominating the meta, making it less enjoyable for players using less powerful decks.
gameplay
668 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
60%
1%
Duelyst features a unique blend of card game mechanics and tactical board-based gameplay, offering a strategic depth that appeals to many players. While the game is praised for its beautiful pixel art and innovative mechanics, some users note a steep learning curve and issues with balance, particularly regarding overpowered cards and pay-to-win elements. Overall, the gameplay is engaging and rewarding, with a strong emphasis on positioning and strategy, making it a standout in the collectible card game genre.
“Duelyst offers a strategic blend of card game mechanics and tactical board-based combat.”
“The gameplay is a mixture of turn-based strategy and Hearthstone, with a unique board that adds depth to the experience.”
“The pixel art is stunning, and the mechanics are well done, creating an engaging gameplay experience.”
“While some players may appreciate its unique combination of gameplay elements and strategic depth, others may find its learning curve steep and its pacing slow, resulting in a mixed reception among players.”
“The gameplay is boring; simply add the attack point number of a unit and drag it to do a single attack.”
“It has all the makings and potential of a great game, but its greatness has been squandered by terrible design decisions over many years, and I truly believe that no number of balance patches, no matter how comprehensive, will ever fix this because the developers refuse to look at the broken core mechanics.”
graphics
405 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning pixel art style, vibrant colors, and fluid animations, creating a visually appealing experience that draws players in. Many reviewers highlight the unique and charming aesthetic, which combines retro elements with modern design, making it a standout in the genre. However, some players express a preference for clearer graphics and note that the pixelated style may not appeal to everyone, though it is generally well-received among fans of retro art.
“The game is gorgeous, the art style is monumental, the gameplay is intuitive and clever, the story itself is mythical and fascinating.”
“Gorgeous pixel graphics, a fair amount of expansions, and 5 factions each with 3 heroes to choose from.”
“The graphics are beautiful, too.”
“Graphics suck.”
“Game looks decent but animation is a huge deal breaker for me; come on man, this is NES era graphics.”
“Outdated graphics quickly make you want to uninstall the game.”
story
191 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
86%
2%
The game's story is described as mythical and engaging, with a rich lore that enhances the overall experience, although many players feel it lacks a dedicated story mode. While some appreciate the background narratives found in the game's cards and codex, others express disappointment over the absence of a structured single-player campaign, which could better showcase the game's lore. Overall, the narrative elements are compelling but underutilized, leaving players wanting more depth and integration into gameplay.
“The game is gorgeous, the art style is monumental, the gameplay is intuitive and clever, the story itself is mythical and fascinating.”
“I came for the art style and kept playing just to find out what happens next in the story.”
“Duelyst is a pretty entertaining card game with wonderfully done art and character design, as well as an intricate story and lore-filled world found in various scripts on cards.”
“The downside is that the story missions/tutorial games are kinda meh and the fact that the company won't be updating this game with more features/cards (at least for a while) is a bummer.”
“It's not much but it helps and if you do the daily quests you net about 100 gold a day which equals to a pack of your choice.”
“Only cons are the lack of a story mode (a shame, because the lore is really great) and the absence of a 'inventory' where you can see your acquired items (emotes, skins, card backs, etc).”
music
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
25%
4%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, while others find it somewhat bland or lacking in variety. Some users express a desire for more soundtrack options and the ability to customize music choices, but overall, the music is often described as good, fitting well with the game's stunning visuals and engaging gameplay. Despite some criticisms, the soundtrack is generally considered a positive aspect of the game, contributing to its charm and appeal.
“The music and art style of this game were otherworldly... a real beauty.”
“The pixel art is stunning, the soundtrack is inspiring.”
“What intrigued me the most is the art & music obviously.”
“My one complaint is that the soundtrack is a bit bland, and only has one or two noteworthy pieces.”
“Though I do wish they added in a bit more variety to the music now and then.”
“The sounds and music in this game are not that great...”
monetization
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
71%
19%
The monetization model of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it for being overly reliant on microtransactions, which some describe as exploitative and akin to a "cash grab." While a portion of the community appreciates the relatively generous options for free-to-play players and the ability to purchase card packs outright, others feel that the introduction of complex currency systems and high costs for in-game purchases detracts from the overall experience and accessibility. Overall, the game's monetization strategy appears to be a significant point of contention, impacting player retention and enjoyment.
“Far more generous monetization scheme than most other card games.”
“You can also buy card expansions in full, so the monetization of this game is more generous than most games of its type.”
“An actually fun, aesthetically pleasing card game that doesn't beat you over the head with microtransactions to win.”
“It's been turned into a cash grab anyway due to Bandai taking everything over; you have absolutely zero chance to gain the funds required to open new packs or try new strategies unless you're able to wade through the overpowered opponents, without paying real money.”
“A standing example of a fundamentally good core game concept, ruined by game-monetization skinner-box strategies and awful login problems that have persisted throughout the years.”
“The bad news is that in order to make it free, Counterplay Games has crammed every monetization scheme possible into one game.”
grinding
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
2%
95%
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience; while some players find it manageable and less tedious compared to other card games, others feel it can become frustrating and time-consuming, especially when trying to build competitive decks without spending money. Many appreciate the game's free-to-play model and the ability to earn cards through grinding, but some express dissatisfaction with the slow progression and the necessity of grinding to access better cards and strategies. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a common feature in collectible card games, with varying levels of enjoyment depending on individual preferences.
“Not too grindy.”
“Very fun and strategic card game with a lot of depth and not too grindy to earn cards.”
“I do see that grinding can get boring and frustrating if you're losing a lot of matches in a row just to get another 100 gold for one new orb of hope.”
“All rewards are cosmetic, and it's impossible to be competitive without enormous amounts of grinding and/or money.”
“While it is nice to just play, if you want to do well at the game (and let's face it, many of us do), the best of what the game has to offer is hidden behind a paywall or hours of grinding.”
stability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been a significant concern for many users, with frequent glitches, freezes, and bugs impacting the overall experience. Players report issues such as game crashes, unresponsive UI, and difficulties in multiplayer, making it nearly unplayable at times. While some users have not encountered crashes, the consensus is that the game requires urgent fixes to address these stability problems.
“I want to love this game, but there are occasionally glitches and the UI has issues as far as the multiplayer experience goes.”
“The game has been buggy and unplayable for me lately, but assuming those issues can be resolved (might be local to my system), this has been one of my favorite games of all time.”
“Its always freezing and it makes the game almost impossible to play, and when it freezes you can't close it so you have to restart your computer.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The optimization of the game receives mixed feedback; while some players report smooth server performance and quick matchmaking, others experience significant issues such as crashes, poor graphics settings, and lack of resolution options. Additionally, there are calls for more optimization features to enhance gameplay, particularly for those with lower-end systems. Overall, while the community remains active, performance problems detract from the experience for some users.
“The servers run smoothly and I'm always in a new match within 60 seconds or less, so I know the community is still very active and strong enough that I will probably make even more purchases in the future.”
“Optimized decks focus around powerful minions with immediate impact (like rush cards, which don't have to wait a turn to attack) and removal cards.”
“It could've used some more optimization options, but Duelyst was a blast to play.”
“I might come back to this game either when I get a better computer or when they fix the performance issues.”
“Weird text boxes saying 'show_x_menu_something' appearing everywhere, the game performance is very poor and after my third crash I was done.”
“(Maybe there were better optimizations, or the ability to disable the shaders, shadows, and lighting entirely?) On top of that, the game lacks resolution settings, making my tiny monitor a huge hindrance and slowing down gameplay.”
character development
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The character development in Duelyst is highly praised for its unique and visually stunning design, with players appreciating the diverse classes and their effects. The intricate lore and storytelling enhance the overall experience, making the characters feel more engaging within the game's richly crafted world. Overall, the character design and animation contribute significantly to the game's appeal, even in its free-to-play model.
“The character design is unique in its own way, and I loved playing with different classes just for the different effects!”
“Duelyst's art style and character design are absolutely jaw-dropping.”
“I've only been playing for three hours right now, and I must say that the character design is great. I especially like that in battle, the characters and minions (summoned with cards) are pixelated (not because of bad graphics though).”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its blend of hilarious moments, such as unexpected outcomes and quirky mechanics like cosmetic crates and emotes. Players appreciate the comedic elements of gameplay, including the ability to cheer up opponents and the entertaining nature of replays, which foster a fun community atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully delivers a mix of lightheartedness and laughter, making it enjoyable for players.
“It has all the all-conquering highs and hilarious table-flipping lows I've experienced with any tabletop game worth its salt.”
“Special thanks to a funny system of quick-chat emotions and for the possibility to cheer up a loser by giving him 5 gold coins; I think this should build a great community.”
“Also, your friends can view your replays in order to give you advice on what to improve, or just enjoy a funny game that you played.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
Players highlight the game's exceptional replayability, driven by its beautiful artwork, rich lore, and diverse factions that offer various playstyles. The blend of genres and competitive multiplayer elements further enhances the experience, ensuring that no two games feel the same. Overall, the game is praised for its stylish design and high replay value.
“Beautiful artwork and lore to the world helps bring the character into the diverse factions you can play, and with the variety of playstyles each faction can have, it really adds to the replayability of it.”
“They managed to create a game that's stylish and fun with a high degree of replayability.”
“The replayability is absurd and no two games are ever alike even when playing against built decks.”
“I love the mold of genres and the replayability.”
“Extreme replayability.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its unique gameplay and stunning pixel art, which evoke feelings of heartbreak, especially with its impending closure. While some players feel a lack of deep emotional investment, others appreciate the game's ability to create emotional highs and lows, particularly through its innovative quest system that encourages engagement regardless of outcomes. Controversy surrounding the developers' comments on emotional experiences and their partnership with Bandai Namco adds another layer to the game's emotional landscape.
“Amazing card game with amazing pixel art; it's so heartbreaking that it is closing soon.”
“The gameplay is so unique that it makes me want to cry; it's finally not a cliché and not a 50% Hearthstone copy.”
“The quest system is also amazing - there are quests like 'play 4 games with x faction' - it doesn't even matter if you lose, you still get credit, and I find this has a huge emotional and psychological impact.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, complemented by impressive graphics. While some users express a desire for more diverse soundtracks, the overall environment is described as enjoyable and enhanced by a friendly community. The game successfully creates a captivating atmosphere that contributes to its addictive nature.
“All in all, it's enjoyable, addictive, and has a great atmosphere, though it could use more soundtracks or the ability to add our own.”
“Tactical CCG with crafting and a very free-to-play friendly atmosphere if one is willing to improve.”
“Graphics look great and the atmosphere is top notch.”
“The atmosphere feels very bland and uninspired, lacking any real depth.”
“The maps and overall atmosphere are quite underwhelming, giving a sense of emptiness.”
“While the gameplay has potential, the atmosphere fails to engage or immerse the player.”