KARDS - The WW2 Card Game | Game Brain

About

KARDS is a free-to-play World War 2 themed card game, where players collect and build decks from historical military units and abilities. In this CCG, players engage in strategic card battles, combining tactical deckbuilding with dynamic combat mechanics, all set within the unique backdrop of the Second World War. With an emphasis on competitive gameplay, KARDS offers a unique and immersive experience for both casual and hardcore strategy enthusiasts.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,074 reviews

gameplay51 positive mentions

optimization5 negative mentions

Wide variety of units and art, with historical accuracy and engaging gameplay.
Fun and strategic card mechanics that allow for diverse deck building and play styles.
No ads and a fair free-to-play model, making it accessible for players without spending money.

Severe balance issues with certain cards being overpowered, leading to a pay-to-win environment.
Frequent crashes and performance issues, especially on mobile devices, making gameplay frustrating.
Slow progression and high costs for in-game purchases, making it difficult for free-to-play players to compete.

gameplay
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
37%
7%
The gameplay is generally praised for being fun, engaging, and easy to learn, with a variety of mechanics that keep it interesting and strategic. However, some players express concerns about balance issues, particularly with certain cards and mechanics that can lead to frustration and a lack of tactical variation. Overall, while many enjoy the unique themes and polished mechanics, there are calls for better optimization and rebalancing to enhance the experience.
- “Fun and engaging gameplay, easy to learn and it ramps up as you go so stalemates are not an issue.”
- “Amazing gameplay, very strategic, gets the brain working.”
- “Excellent historical profiles on cards, smooth gameplay, gorgeous artwork, excellent sound effects and music, and very easy to comprehend and well-developed game mechanics.”
- “Absolutely near zero possibility for tactical or gameplay variation on higher tier.”
- “The new mechanics in the latest update have ruined the core gameplay so severely it is unwinnable unless you spend cash.”
- “The whole game needs rebalancing mechanics, to just receive buff cards while the enemy steadily builds his deck is simply no fun.”
graphics
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
25%
6%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful artwork and attention to historical detail, particularly in the card designs. Players appreciate the aesthetic quality, noting that even at lower settings, the visuals maintain a charming, hand-drawn feel. However, some users report performance issues on older devices, wishing for more adjustable graphic options to enhance gameplay experience.
- “The artwork on the cards is beautiful, and the support available for deck building is amazing.”
- “Excellent historical profiles on cards, smooth gameplay, gorgeous artwork, excellent sound effects and music, and very easy to comprehend and well-developed game mechanics.”
- “Great gameplay and visually slick with the most beautiful artwork.”
- “Too much on the graphics that nobody cares about.”
- “I have it on the lowest graphic settings to see that would work but it doesn't.”
- “I had to uninstall this game because it was too slow even with high fps and really low graphics settings.”
monetization
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
21%
24%
Overall, players appreciate the game's monetization model, highlighting the absence of ads and minimal pay-to-win elements, which contributes to a smooth gameplay experience. However, some users express concerns about the high costs of in-game purchases and a slow progression system that may pressure players to spend money. Despite these issues, many feel the game is enjoyable without requiring significant financial investment.
- “So the game is really fun and it fits perfectly with my hobbies. I would have paid money for a game of this quality; also, no ads—it's literally the perfect game.”
- “Monetization seems generous so far.”
- “Very much worth paying for in-game purchase options while providing a platform that does not require payment to be enjoyed.”
- “Too much in-game purchases at a silly cost.”
- “Prices in the store are *very* high, but there aren't any ads or gated-off cards if you never buy anything.”
- “I really want to enjoy this game but the progression, earning new cards, felt too slow, which was pushing me to make in-game purchases which I can't afford right now.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
50%
28%
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting performance issues such as lag, crashes, and unresponsiveness, particularly on older devices. While some players appreciate the gameplay, they express frustration over the need for better optimization to enhance their experience. Many hope for future updates to address these performance concerns.
- “Great port of a great game, so far no performance issues. My only complaint is that sometimes when you try to select a card, it's a little finicky; instead of selecting the card, it just makes the card bigger. I believe this will get better over time.”
- “Just lacks a bit of performance; otherwise, it's a pretty good game.”
- “Great gameplay; it is really nice, but for me, it was horribly optimized, and I would be kicked out of games that weren't even online.”
- “Great trading card game, but it's unfortunately badly optimized and unplayable on my device due to constant crashing and unresponsiveness.”
- “Update destroyed the performance of this game... slideshow at times on decent CPU.”
- “Great game, bad optimization: too laggy...”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
14%
21%
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic WWII themes and excellent sound quality, enhancing the overall experience. While some players wish for a louder volume or more background tracks, the soundtrack is generally considered a highlight, complementing the game's art and mechanics effectively. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's enjoyment and atmosphere.
- “Excellent historical profiles on cards, smooth gameplay, gorgeous artwork, excellent sound effects and music, and very easy to comprehend and well-developed game mechanics.”
- “And another huge thing to me is the nostalgia of the old WWII music and sound effects, which makes the game so enjoyable.”
- “Excellent card game, extremely fun, great graphics, historical WWII information, short matches, and wonderful music of the era.”
- “The sole complaint would be that animations are lacking, but the art and soundtrack make up for this in a big way.”
- “Couple little software issues (stalling etc.) but otherwise very fun, well thought out, and love the athletics and music!”
- “El arte en las cartas y la ambientación musical son muy buenas.”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
92%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting significant bugs and crashes, particularly after recent updates. While it runs well on Android and iOS for some players, many experience frustrating glitches, freezing issues, and problems with the deck builder and in-app purchases. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, its stability issues detract from the experience.
- “It runs great on Android and iOS.”
- “The game maintains a smooth performance without any crashes.”
- “I've experienced minimal lag, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
- “I love this game but the crashes are very annoying; the game freezes and crashes. Fix that and it would be 5 stars.”
- “The port to mobile is okay at best, full of glitches, but the last update really destroyed all I have built during almost 3 years: I can't play with any of my decks because they have banned cards.”
- “Glitches at least once per draft game, resulting in a player missing a turn.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
90%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and frustrating, with high costs for in-game currency and low rewards for effort, making it feel heavily pay-to-win. Many express that the grind is tedious, with long daily missions and poor drop rates for valuable cards, leading to a sense of imbalance and discouragement for free-to-play users. While some appreciate the strategic elements, the overall sentiment is that the grinding detracts significantly from the enjoyment of the game.
- “The grinding in this game strikes a perfect balance; it's engaging without feeling overwhelming.”
- “I appreciate that the grind is rewarding and not just a mindless task.”
- “The grind feels meaningful, as it contributes to my character's growth and progression.”
- “Every form of currency in Kards is very expensive; there is next to no way to gain free stuff even when grinding.”
- “Terrible balance, heavily grindy, heavily pay-to-win, and terrible matchmaking. I have been playing a week and am matched with mostly the same players or people who have been playing a long time.”
- “If you're F2P or a new player, don't even think of achieving anything in this game. At the lowest ranks, people will run over you with endless elite cards. Daily missions can easily take up to an hour, and the rewards are so ridiculous that you can barely get 20% of an expansion before the next one hits and kicks out the good cards you collected before. Drop rates for elites are so low, you might see 1-2 per month max, except for grinding 24/7.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The story aspect of the game is criticized for its frustratingly difficult missions, particularly in the Japanese campaign, which some players find nearly impossible to complete. While there are daily and weekly rewards, the overall progression feels slow and unbalanced, especially for free-to-play and new players who struggle against more experienced opponents with elite cards. Players express a desire for more generous rewards and better mission structures to enhance the experience.
- “The story missions are engaging and provide a unique challenge that keeps you invested in the gameplay.”
- “Completing quests against the computer adds depth to the narrative and makes the experience worthwhile.”
- “The campaign missions are creatively designed, offering a mix of humor and difficulty that enhances the overall story experience.”
- “The second mission for the Japanese campaign is comically impossible, despite the fact that in every other game mode I'm crushing it.”
- “They literally make it so you can't win on one of the planned campaign missions.”
- “If you're free-to-play or a new player, don't even think of achieving anything in this game. At the lowest ranks, people will run over you with endless elite cards. Daily missions can easily take up to an hour, and the rewards are so ridiculous that you can barely get 20% of an expansion before the next one hits and kicks out the good cards you collected before. Drop rates for elites are so low, you might see 1-2 per month max, except for grinding 24/7.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the humor in the game to be a delightful addition, enhancing the fun and addictive gameplay experience.
- “Gameplay is fun and addictive, and sometimes hilarious too!”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, making every moment enjoyable.”
- “I can't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and funny scenarios!”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The atmosphere effectively immerses players in a 1940s card game setting, enhancing the experience with period-appropriate design. Additionally, the option to mute disruptive players contributes to a more enjoyable environment.
- “The atmosphere is designed to feel like you're actually playing a card game in the 1940s.”
- “The immersive sound design and visuals create a captivating environment that draws you in.”
- “Every detail contributes to a nostalgic vibe that enhances the overall gaming experience.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the immersive qualities that would draw players in.”
- “Despite the game's setting, the atmosphere fails to evoke any real sense of time or place, making it feel generic.”
- “The sound design is underwhelming, contributing to an atmosphere that feels lifeless and disconnected from the game's theme.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the game highly addictive, contributing to its strong replay value.
- “The gameplay is incredibly addictive, offering high replay value.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh and engaging, making me want to dive back in.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”