Last Kids on Earth: Hit the Deck!
- February 17, 2023
- SMART Technologies
Get on Steam"Last Kids on Earth: Hit the Deck!" is a strategy-based game where players help Jack and his friends survive in a post-apocalyptic world filled with zombies and monsters. Using a battle-card system, players engage in tag-team combat and complete over 30 quests. The game is based on the award-winning novel series of the same name by Max Brallier.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and engaging deck-building experience with unique mechanics, such as using items to influence card sets and character synergies.
- The art style and animations are vibrant and appealing, making the game visually enjoyable, especially for a younger audience.
- It provides a refreshing take on the deck-building genre by allowing players to maintain and refine their decks over multiple missions, enhancing replayability.
- The game lacks significant meta progression and replayability, as players may find little incentive to replay after completing the campaign.
- Some mechanics, like evade cards, can be unclear, leading to frustrating moments during combat when players struggle to gauge enemy attacks.
- Cutscenes can feel abrupt or lacking in context, which may detract from the overall narrative experience.
- story42 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story unfolds through a series of missions featuring four playable characters, each with unique decks that evolve over time. Players draw from a 'story deck' specific to each mission, adding a layer of strategy and environmental interaction, while the narrative is presented in non-chronological vignettes that create a scrapbook-like feel. Although some players find the story enjoyable and fitting for a kid-friendly audience, others note inconsistencies and frustrations with the pacing of card draws impacting gameplay satisfaction.
“Interestingly, the story is presented as vignettes that are not in chronological order, giving it a sort of scrapbook feel.”
“I don't personally know much about The Last Kids on Earth, so I can't say whether it holds true to the story, but the way it's presented here is enjoyable.”
“Slay the Spire with team-ups and a cute, kid-friendly story.”
“I think this could definitely be fixed in the future to make the story or context more cohesive.”
“I do think there are frustrations at times--sometimes winning is just a matter of waiting for the right story deck cards to appear, which can be a long wait or an instant win, neither of which is very satisfying.”
“But if you don't care about the story and/or you've already played it once and want to take subsequent playthroughs on the go, the gameplay works just fine.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Hit the Deck" is a fun and engaging card battler reminiscent of "Slay the Spire," featuring unique mission objectives and a variety of mechanics that add depth, despite its child-friendly appearance. Players start in a tree-house hub where they can access crafting and upgrading features, and the teamwork mechanic allows for multiple characters to be taken on missions. However, some users found the mechanics challenging to grasp without more guidance, though the card creation aspect was particularly enjoyable.
“With all of the interesting unique objectives for each mission, the story deck, and the various mechanics, 'Hit the Deck' is a very fun and fresh take on the deck-building genre.”
“Before every mission, you start in the tree-house, which acts as a hub or main menu where you can access various mechanics, including: the armory, a place to view your achievements, a custom card crafter, and an upgrading station for all of your gear.”
“I also enjoyed the card creation mechanic, and I took a lot of childish joy out of the goofy naming options.”
“As someone who doesn't have much familiarity with any kind of video game, I found some of the mechanics difficult to pick up, and wish there had been slightly more explanation of how things worked.”
“But if you don't care about the story and/or you've already played it once and want to take subsequent playthroughs on the go, the gameplay works just fine.”
“Fun little card battler akin to Slay the Spire, though without the roguelike elements, with a surprising amount of gameplay depth considering it seems to be aimed at children.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their phenomenal and whimsical art style, featuring bright colors and slick animations. Additionally, the inclusion of cutscenes from the show enhances the visual experience, even for those unfamiliar with the source material.
“The art style is phenomenal and the animations are slick.”
“The art style is whimsical and bright, and there are cutscenes from the show, I assume (I haven't watched it).”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is highly influenced by its emphasis on teamwork, which encourages players to experiment with different strategies and character mastery. However, some users feel that there is limited replayability overall, suggesting a mixed experience in this aspect.
“Teamwork really opens the game up to a lot of fun strategies and makes the game much more replayable, as it allows you to explore each character and gives you time to master each of them.”
“No real replayability.”
“No real replayability.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is highlighted through its charming cutscenes, which effectively engage players and enhance the overall premise. This blend of wit and charm keeps the experience enjoyable and entertaining.
“It manages to keep you interested in the premise and game as a whole using the various cutscenes from the series that are full of charm and humor.”
