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Duelyst

A gorgeous tactics card game that's simple to pick up but has significant depth.
Duelyst Game Cover
80%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
monetization, grinding
81% User Score Based on 3,204 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 8 reviews

Platforms

PCTabletMac OSPhoneWindows
Duelyst Game Cover

About

Duelyst is a single player and multiplayer turn-based strategy game. It was developed by Counterplay Games Inc. and was released on December 31, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

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.

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81%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,204 reviews
gameplay259 positive mentions
monetization14 negative mentions

  • Unique gameplay that combines card mechanics with tactical board positioning, adding depth to strategy.
  • Beautiful pixel art and animations that enhance the overall aesthetic experience of the game.
  • Generous free-to-play model that allows players to earn cards and progress without spending money.
  • Pay-to-win elements and unbalanced matchmaking can lead to frustrating experiences for new players.
  • Recent changes and expansions have introduced overpowered cards that disrupt game balance.
  • The game has a dwindling player base, making matchmaking times longer and less enjoyable.
  • gameplay
    667 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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, leading to a mixed reception regarding its accessibility and pacing. Overall, the gameplay is engaging and rewarding for those who invest time in mastering its intricacies, though it can be hindered by pay-to-win elements and occasional frustrations with overpowered cards.

    • “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, providing a unique experience that combines elements from both genres.”
    • “The pixel art is stunning, and the mechanics are well done, creating an engaging gameplay experience that is both fun and strategic.”
    • “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
    404 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art style, vibrant colors, and fluid animations, which many players find captivating and reminiscent of classic indie titles. While some users appreciate the unique aesthetic and detailed character designs, others express a desire for clearer graphics or a more cohesive art direction. Overall, the visuals are considered a significant highlight, enhancing the gameplay experience and drawing players into the game's rich lore and strategic mechanics.

    • “The game is gorgeous, the art style is monumental, the gameplay is intuitive and clever, the story itself is mythical and fascinating.”
    • “Gorgeous artwork, great card variety and very deep lore, this game was truly unique and an absolute gem.”
    • “The art style and the animations are amazing.”
    • “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

    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 story aspect is seen as a missed opportunity, with players eager for more narrative depth and character development.

    • “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 very entertaining card game with nice art and character design, as well as a lore-filled world found in various scripts on the cards and an interesting story as background.”
    • “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

    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 limited and repetitive. Some users express a desire for more variety in the soundtrack and the option to customize music choices, but overall, the music is often described as good, inspiring, and fitting for the game's aesthetic. Despite some criticisms, the soundtrack is generally seen as a positive aspect that complements the game's stunning visuals and engaging gameplay.

    • “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

    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 earn cards without spending money, others feel that the system favors those willing to pay, leading to a "pay-to-win" environment. Overall, the game's monetization strategy has been seen as a significant factor in its decline, overshadowing its otherwise strong gameplay.

    • “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.”
    • “Fantastic game that was completely ruined by the Bandai/Namco cash grab.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding
    66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience; while some players find it manageable and less tedious than other card games like Hearthstone, 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 rewards and the necessity of grinding to remain competitive. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a common feature of collectible card games, with varying opinions on its impact on enjoyment and progression.

    • “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

    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 indicates that the game requires urgent stability improvements to enhance playability.

    • “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

    The optimization of the game receives mixed feedback; while some players report smooth server performance and quick matchmaking, others experience significant performance issues, including crashes and poor graphics settings. There are calls for more optimization options, such as resolution settings and the ability to disable certain visual effects, to enhance gameplay for users with lower-end hardware. Overall, while the community remains active, the game's optimization needs improvement to accommodate a wider range of systems.

    • “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

    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 background stories enhance the overall experience, making the characters feel more engaging within the game's artful and pixelated aesthetic. Overall, the character design is a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “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

    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 interactions, including the ability to cheer up opponents with gold coins and the enjoyment of sharing funny replays with friends. Overall, the game fosters a lighthearted community atmosphere through its amusing features and interactions.

    • “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

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its beautiful artwork, rich lore, and diverse factions that offer various playstyles. Players appreciate the blend of genres and the competitive multiplayer aspect, ensuring that no two games feel the same, even with similar decks. Overall, the game's design fosters a highly engaging and replayable experience.

    • “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

    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 quest system that rewards participation regardless of outcomes. Controversy surrounding the developers' comments on emotional engagement 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

    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 ambiance contributes to an enjoyable and addictive experience, enhanced by a friendly community.

    • “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.”
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20h Median play time
56h Average play time
8-56h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 27 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Duelyst is a turn-based strategy game.

Duelyst is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 56 hours playing Duelyst.

Duelyst was released on December 31, 2015.

Duelyst was developed by Counterplay Games Inc..

Duelyst 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 monetization.

Duelyst is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Faeria, Infinity Wars: Animated Trading Card Game, Shardbound: Forge Your Path, Master Your Strategy, SolForge, GWENT: The Witcher Card Game and others.