Shadowverse
- October 27, 2016
- Cygames, Inc.
- 20h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"Shadowverse is a popular strategic card game with over 4 million battles daily and a growing community of 22 million players. It offers a single-player story mode, finely-tuned battles with less RNG, and new card expansions every three months. The game boasts eight different leader classes, allowing for unparalleled deck strategy freedom, and features beautiful art and animations with fully voiced cards."
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Reviews
- Extremely addictive gameplay with high production values and fantastic art.
- Generous free-to-play model, providing many starter packs and rewards for new players.
- Unique mechanics like the evolve system and a diverse range of viable decks enhance strategic depth.
- Balance issues with certain overpowered cards and decks can lead to frustrating matchups.
- The game can feel unbalanced, especially for beginners facing established meta decks.
- The mobile origins of the game result in a less optimized desktop UI and some gameplay mechanics.
- gameplay58 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Shadowverse is generally praised for its innovative mechanics, particularly the "evolve" system, which adds depth and strategic variety, making matches more interactive compared to similar card games like Hearthstone. While some players note that certain matchups can feel stagnant and that the game encourages aggressive playstyles, the overall balance and diverse card pool allow for a range of strategies and deck-building options. Despite its similarities to other collectible card games, Shadowverse stands out with its unique mechanics and smooth gameplay, appealing to both newcomers and seasoned players.
“The gameplay was fun, they showered me with free packs, and I was really getting into it.”
“The game itself has some pretty good and unique mechanics, so even if the look of the game is not your favorite, it is still possible to have fun thanks to the variety of these mechanics, and the comebacks that seem to happen quite often, especially in lower ranks.”
“It's a solid CCG title that offers a lot of unique gameplay such as the evolve system, interactive campaign mode, and unique traits/abilities for each character.”
“Some matchups can be very stagnant.”
“Because of the lack of comeback mechanics and AOE (except for Bahamut, which is a legendary), there is almost no way of stopping the bleeding as a control deck.”
“The evolve mechanic is more annoying than helpful, as swift/haste/attack on the same turn drop units lose large amounts of meaning when every unit can have it.”
- story39 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging and well-developed narrative, with interesting character arcs and a challenging campaign that can provide around 25 hours of gameplay. Players appreciate the option to skip the storyline for those focused on gameplay, while some express a desire for additional episodes and character customization in the future. Overall, the story mode is considered a standout feature, enhancing the experience of the card game significantly compared to similar titles.
“A card game with a storyline linking the different 'chapters' or 'levels'.”
“The story kept me busy for ~25 hours, which is surprisingly long for a trading card game.”
“It's mainly because of the great story mode that I recommend this game.”
“It was frustrating not being able to complete the story mode because the AI just ran you over again and again.”
“Skip the story and mute the characters, and you will be fine.”
“If you choose to play, you'll be playing the single-player story only.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reactions, primarily centered around its anime art style, which some players initially found off-putting but ultimately grew to appreciate. Many reviewers praised the high-quality artwork and the effort put into card designs, including standard, evolved, and animated versions, highlighting the aesthetic appeal of the game. Overall, while the art style may not appeal to everyone, it is considered a significant strength of the game, enhancing the overall experience for those who enjoy it.
“The graphics and sounds are quite lovely for a CCG, making each card feel especially powerful or wimpy as appropriate.”
“Personally, what impressed me the most about this game is the amount of work put into the artwork of each card, as every card has standard artwork and 'evolved' artwork, not to mention the animated versions of both.”
“Beautiful artwork, fast battles, insane combos.”
“You will either love or hate the art style; it is without a doubt 'waifu: the gathering'.”
“Shadowverse is basically Hearthstone without the RNG and a more anime-esque art style.”
“If you're turned off by the art style, it might still be worth your time for the gameplay.”
- music5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as interesting and well-suited to the overall experience, featuring a simple and understated soundtrack. While the looping nature of the tracks may lead some players to prefer their own music over time, the overall quality of the audio, along with the game's art and user interface, is praised as polished and top-notch.
“There's plenty of nice, simple, understated soundtrack in it that suits the game very well!”
“I love the art, the music is good, voiced cards, very smooth menus and gameplay, no choppiness.”
“Everything else about the game; music, art, UI, is top grade and very well polished.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find that grinding becomes frustrating and tedious in solo mode around level 7 for each character, but note that the game allows for a more manageable free-to-play experience without significant paywalls or excessive grinding after the initial rewards.
“Solo mode gets frustrating and tedious around level 7 for each character.”
“It also seems much more feasible to play for free without it feeling tedious and slow-paced.”
“There is no paywall or excessive grinding after the initial rewards.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users noting that the desktop UI feels unrefined and closely resembles its mobile counterpart. Additionally, while the battle system shows potential for improvement, new players may struggle against more experienced competitors, impacting their overall enjoyment.
“The optimization of the battle system through 'evolution' adds a strategic layer that keeps the gameplay engaging.”
“I had fun playing this game initially, but it's important to note that players focused on winning may overshadow those experimenting with different gameplay styles.”
“As a new player, your initial performance may not accurately reflect your success once you start facing more experienced opponents.”
“Only gripe is that because this game was originally for mobile, its desktop UI isn't optimized and is basically a copy of the app.”
“Optimization on the battle system/sequence by 'evolution' is lacking.”
“I can't deny that I had fun playing this game initially; however, down the road, players who play to win will overwhelm experimental gameplay, and how well you're doing as a new player won't reflect on your performance once you start encountering those players.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the unique mechanics of the bloodcraft class, where cards gain special effects when the hero's health drops below 10, adding a comedic twist to gameplay. Players find this approach to humor more amusing than that of "Hearthstone."
“It's funny in a way, because the Bloodcraft class's mechanic is that certain Bloodcraft cards will have unique effects if your hero is below 10 defense (which is health).”
“Funnier than 'Hearthstone'.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization model is well-received, as players can earn customization options and unlock features through gameplay rather than relying on microtransactions, which helps avoid the typical cash grab feel of many free games.
“The monetization system feels overly aggressive, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
“It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending real money.”
“The constant prompts to purchase in-game currency disrupt the gameplay experience and make it feel more like a cash grab.”
