Rival Books of Aster

About

Rival Books of Aster is a strategy card game with over 140 unique, hand-drawn spells. Create custom decks and engage in PvP matchmaking, AI battles, or training levels. The game features a compelling narrative through its living storybook which translates itself as you play. There are no randomized booster packs, with new cards available for purchase in known-quantities.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 48 reviews

graphics6 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features a unique art style and atmosphere, drawing inspiration from medieval manuscripts and esoteric themes, which sets it apart from other card games.
The combo mechanics encourage strategic thinking and planning, allowing for creative deck building and gameplay interactions.
The lore and context of the game are engaging, providing players with a rich narrative experience as they unlock more story elements through gameplay.

The game suffers from performance issues, including sluggish gameplay and slow animations, which can detract from the overall experience.
There is a lack of players, leading to repetitive matches against AI, which can become monotonous and diminish the enjoyment of multiplayer gameplay.
The user interface and text readability are problematic, with small fonts and unclear mechanics that can confuse new players and hinder their understanding of the game.

gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
80%
10%
The gameplay is characterized by a deep deck-building system and a unique combo mechanic that encourages strategic card placement, reminiscent of popular titles like Hearthstone. While many players appreciate the fresh take on standard mechanics and the game's art style, some criticize the sluggish performance and lack of originality, labeling it as a blatant clone of existing card games. Overall, the combination of unique mechanics and familiar gameplay elements creates a mixed reception among players.
- “Gameplay strategy is often centered around setting up combos, which I love.”
- “The mechanics are easy to learn, the spells are unique, and the art and style is amazing.”
- “There are so many different synergies that can be made, and the unique mechanic of placement of your units is very important.”
- “The mechanics of the game were Hearthstone-like and weren't very well thought out.”
- “I was thoroughly disappointed to find out that this game, despite its unique look, is just another Hearthstone clone, a very blatant one, too, with that I mean its gameplay is exactly like Hearthstone.”
- “Can not recommend in this state in any way, and unless they overhaul the entire gameplay before leaving early access.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
52%
16%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their unique and creative art style, drawing inspiration from medieval and ancient themes, which sets it apart from more conventional cartoonish aesthetics. While the artwork is considered phenomenal and memorable, some users note that performance issues and slow animations detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's visual presentation is seen as a strong selling point, with potential for further improvement.
- “This game has an amazing art style, but it was never finished.”
- “The aesthetic and character design is phenomenal - they are honestly the most memorable cards I've ever seen.”
- “The game isn't as modern as other strategy games, but it pushes to a parchment-styled game, with art styles that relate to ancient Egypt.”
- “Its strongest selling point is its bizarre artwork - it all looks like something from an ancient medieval manuscript, and a lot of the creatures are freaky demonic beasts.”
- “- aesthetic is that of medieval art”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
42%
29%
The music in the game is praised for its beauty and uniqueness, standing out alongside the impressive graphics and user interface. While it enhances the overall experience, it can also evoke a range of emotions, from enjoyment to eeriness, depending on the context.
- “Beautiful music.”
- “The art stands apart from other card games and so does the music.”
- “The art stands apart from other card games, and so does the music.”
- “It can be enjoyable in many situations, but you can also creep yourself out with the visual aspects; even the music can be sometimes beguiling.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The game features a classic magical card game narrative with a compelling storyline and engaging mechanics, complemented by unlockable stories tied to each card. Players appreciate the rich background and depth of the story, enhancing their overall experience.
- “It's a classic magical card game with a great solomonic storyline and great mechanics.”
- “I appreciate the unlockable story that goes along with each and every card.”
- “I play Shadowverse mainly, and if you know anything about that game, the last expansion ruined it for me like it did for others. In my quest to find a new digital CCG, Gwent just didn't interest me, Hearthstone I just don't really enjoy, and while I enjoyed Elder Scrolls CCG, I just can't get myself into it.”
- “-story”
- “Love the game background and story.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the improvements in performance and effects that enhance the artwork, others criticize it for slow animations and gameplay speed, particularly noting that it feels like a poorly optimized mobile port for PC.
- “The performance and effects just complement the awesome artwork in the game, so keep it up!”
- “The team is obviously working hard on optimization, and yesterday's lags are gone today.”
- “Performance issues, slow animation, and gameplay speed.”
- “It is a mobile port with really poor optimization for PC.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that acquiring full sets of cards can be costly and time-consuming, often resulting in disappointment from receiving low-quality items. This grind is seen as particularly discouraging for new players, especially with the frequent expansions that further complicate the collection process.
- “I hate grinding for packs of random cards and getting garbage. It can cost a ton of cash to acquire full or mostly full sets. I have most every card in Duelyst and had what there was in Hearthstone before I quit, only to be compounded by expansions, which suppress new players.”
- “Grinding feels tedious and unrewarding, especially when the chances of getting what you want are so low.”
- “The grind is exhausting and often feels like a money pit, making it hard for new players to catch up.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its distinct character and immersive qualities, setting it apart from others in the genre.
- “It's atmospheric, it has character and distinguishes itself.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers praise the character development for its exceptional aesthetic and design, highlighting the memorable qualities of the characters as a standout feature of the game.
- “The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
- “The backstories and growth of each character are so well-crafted that I found myself emotionally invested in their arcs.”