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 96 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game features a unique art style and atmosphere, drawing inspiration from medieval manuscripts and esoteric themes, which many players find captivating.
The combo mechanics encourage strategic thinking and planning, adding depth to gameplay and making deckbuilding enjoyable.
The lore and context of the game are intriguing, with players unlocking more story elements as they progress, appealing to fans of narrative-driven experiences.

The game suffers from performance issues, including sluggish gameplay and slow AI turn times, which can detract from the overall experience.
There is a lack of players, leading to repetitive matches against AI, which diminishes the multiplayer aspect and excitement of the game.
The user interface and text readability are problematic, with many players finding the font too small and the overall UI unintuitive, making it difficult to navigate.

gameplay
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
85%
5%
The gameplay features a unique combo mechanic that encourages strategic card placement and synergies, making it accessible yet deep for players. However, many reviewers noted performance issues, including sluggish animations and a lack of originality, with some describing it as a derivative of Hearthstone. While the art style and some mechanics are praised, the overall execution has left players wanting more innovation and refinement.
- “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-ish and weren't very well thought out.”
- “...and unbearably sluggish gameplay.”
- “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.”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and refreshing art style, reminiscent of medieval manuscripts and ancient Egyptian aesthetics. While the artwork is considered phenomenal and a standout feature, some users noted that performance issues and slow animations detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's visual design is seen as its strongest selling point, despite some areas needing improvement.
- “The aesthetic and character design is phenomenal - they are honestly the most memorable cards I've ever seen.”
- “The art direction is refreshing in today's world of only cartoonish art styles.”
- “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
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
65%
21%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and uniqueness, complementing the standout art style. While it enhances the overall experience, some players note that it can evoke unsettling feelings in certain contexts. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength of the game.
- “Beautiful 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.”
- “The art stands apart from other card games, and so does the music.”
- “-music/sounds”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The game's story is praised for its classic and engaging narrative, with a solomonic theme that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the rich background and the unlockable story elements tied to each card, adding depth to the gameplay. However, some users express dissatisfaction with other card games, indicating a search for a compelling story-driven experience.
- “It's a classic magical card game with a great solomonic storyline and great mechanics.”
- “Love the game background and story.”
- “I love 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. On 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”
- “☐ story?”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
37%
25%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the ongoing improvements and the visual effects that enhance the artwork, others criticize the performance issues, particularly noting slow animations and gameplay speed, especially given its origins as a mobile port.
- “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 have been addressed.”
- “It is a mobile port with really poor optimization for PC.”
- “Performance issues, slow animation, and gameplay speed.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, highlighting the difficulty of obtaining desired cards from random packs, which often leads to disappointment and significant financial investment. This grind is exacerbated by frequent expansions, making it particularly challenging for new players to catch up.
- “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've collected most of the cards in Duelyst and had everything available in Hearthstone before I quit, only to be compounded by expansions that suppress new players.”
- “Grinding for random packs is frustrating and often leads to disappointment. The amount of money required to complete a set is overwhelming, especially with constant expansions that make it harder for new players to catch up.”
- “The grind for random card packs is tedious and often results in receiving low-quality cards. It feels like a money pit, especially when trying to complete sets, and the ongoing expansions only make it worse for newcomers.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently 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
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers praise the character development for its exceptional aesthetic and design, highlighting the memorable qualities of the characters. The visual appeal significantly enhances the overall experience, making the characters stand out in the game.

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