Shadowverse

About

Shadowverse is a single player and multiplayer role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Cygames, Inc. and was released on October 27, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"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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77%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,144 reviews

story363 positive mentions

grinding112 negative mentions

The game features beautiful anime art and engaging character designs, making it visually appealing.
Shadowverse is generous with its free-to-play model, offering plenty of rewards and resources for players to build competitive decks without spending money.
The gameplay is fast-paced and strategic, with unique mechanics like the evolve system that adds depth to matches.

The game suffers from significant power creep, making older cards obsolete and leading to a repetitive meta dominated by a few overpowered decks.
New players may find the matchmaking system frustrating, as they often face experienced players with optimized decks, leading to a steep learning curve.
The game's balance issues and reliance on luck can result in frustrating experiences, where matches feel more like a coin flip than a test of skill.

story
1,327 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
70%
3%
The story in Shadowverse is widely praised for its depth and engaging character arcs, with many players appreciating the extensive single-player content that rivals traditional RPGs. The narrative unfolds through a visual novel format, featuring fully voiced characters and intertwining storylines for each class, which adds a layer of immersion and investment. While some critiques mention pacing issues and a few repetitive elements, the overall consensus is that the story mode is a significant highlight, offering a rich experience for both new and returning players.
- “For a free game, there's a lot of single player story content here, and a lot of it is legit good, which is super rare for free games like this.”
- “The story mode is great, nearly 60 hours in and I have only scratched the surface of the story missions.”
- “I'm absolutely garbage in terms of gameplay, deck building, strategy, and all that, however the story goes hard, I love the voice acting and the amount of philosophical topics they go through in the plot, it's honestly amazing the twists and turns this story takes.”
- “The story mode is extremely monotonous; I personally don't care about the story, but I know some people do.”
- “The story is embarrassingly bad and low effort.”
- “The story quests quickly smash you into a wall.”
gameplay
1,215 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The gameplay of Shadowverse is often compared to Hearthstone, featuring a familiar mana system and card mechanics, but it distinguishes itself with the unique "evolve" mechanic that allows players to enhance their cards mid-game, adding depth and strategic complexity. Players appreciate the balance between skill and luck, with many noting the game's accessibility for newcomers while still offering intricate strategies for veterans. However, some critiques highlight issues with balance and the prevalence of pay-to-win elements in multiplayer, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “The mechanics are easy to learn but hard to master, with a good balance between strategy and luck.”
- “The evolve mechanic is really powerful and it's awesome all your cards have a super saiyan form in a way.”
- “The gameplay is polished, there are deep strategies and it flows well.”
- “However, the multiplayer mode is a stark contrast, plagued by pay-to-win mechanics and overly competitive players.”
- “The new mechanics and ideas barely make any sense and take away from what made this game appealing to its audience to begin with, I assume to draw in a simpler and new audience.”
- “The gameplay is boring... from start.... but then!!!!!”
graphics
670 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The graphics of Shadowverse are widely praised for their stunning anime art style, featuring beautifully detailed card artwork and smooth animations that enhance the overall gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the vibrant visuals and the unique evolution mechanic that provides different artwork for evolved cards, although some find the aesthetic polarizing, particularly due to its heavy reliance on anime tropes. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a significant strength, appealing especially to fans of anime and visually rich card games.
- “The artwork is amazing, especially the legendary cards and leaders.”
- “This game boasts impressive visuals that live up to expectations.”
- “The graphics are impressive, yet the game runs smoothly even on non-gaming PCs.”
- “The artwork on the cards is anime-styled and quite mediocre.”
- “Has some interesting mechanics that you won't find in something like Hearthstone, but at the end of the day, the annoying graphics/visual effects and the crappy art style really make the game unplayable.”
- “The graphic design is pretty bad, but the decks gameplay is really good for a digital TCG.”
music
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
42%
10%
The music in the game is generally praised for its beautiful orchestration and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience with memorable soundtracks and fully voiced characters. However, some players note a lack of variety, with repetitive tracks and limited new content over time, leading to frustration during lengthy download periods. Overall, while the music is well-received, it could benefit from more diverse tracks to maintain engagement.
- “The music is stellar in this game.”
- “The music is both appropriate for the game's tone and graphics, and is also well orchestrated.”
- “The music is great and the anime art style is extremely high quality.”
- “After all these years, the UI hasn't changed or improved a bit; the music in the game is still the same with no new tracks. They've also gotten lazy about the card art now.”
- “The biggest weakness is the music; there are only 1 or 2 repetitive tracks unless there are collaborations going on.”
- “The English version has bad voice acting, and the music is as generic as you can get.”
grinding
115 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
2%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while it can be tedious and time-consuming, it is generally more forgiving than other card games like Hearthstone. Free-to-play players can build competitive decks with some effort, as the game offers generous rewards and opportunities to earn cards without excessive grinding or spending money. However, some users express frustration with the grind required to keep up with the meta and the reliance on luck for acquiring specific cards, making it feel repetitive and sometimes overwhelming.
- “It was fun but simple and not too grindy or pay to win.”
- “Don't expect the experience of grinding for cards to get any easier, as you won't have events to give you your bonus currency, and try your best not to be tempted to buy stuff.”
- “The power creep in this game has made its mark and if you try to get into the game as a new player, you will not enjoy it unless you buy yourself a few hundred packs or spend months and months grinding (by losing a lot, since your cards are nothing compared to the veteran players, which is the majority of the remaining player base).”
- “Winning becomes only a matter of grinding, or more likely, just buying until you have all the legendaries you need to make a deck identical to the meta deck.”
monetization
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
52%
40%
The monetization model of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the prevalence of microtransactions and high costs associated with in-game purchases, which some feel detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some users appreciate that the game allows for progression without spending money, others argue that the frequent introduction of new expansions and card packs creates a pay-to-win environment, making it difficult for free-to-play players to remain competitive. Overall, the monetization practices are seen as a significant concern, with some labeling them as exploitative or a cash grab.
- “Some issues with the monetization practice, but that's less on the game and more on the industry.”
- “Very good free game, some microtransactions, but I have played for half a year and haven't bought a thing because you can get anything through the gameplay anyway. It's not even grindy; you can just play and gradually get the cards you need to build the deck you want.”
- “I will forgive you for microtransactions on card packs since this is a free-to-play game, and I'm desensitized to that after so many games like this.”
- “Filled with microtransactions.”
- “Monetization is very pricey and is roughly 50 crystals per $1 USD.”
- “It is no longer possible for free-to-play players to get the full collection, and it became hard to keep up with the meta ever since developers added mini-expansions to the sets - additional cards are added for every set after 1-2 months since release, which is a blatant shameless cash grab as the mini-set includes golds and legendaries - the most rare and expensive to craft cards.”
humor
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players finding it both amusing and frustrating. Many appreciate the funny voice lines, quirky card interactions, and the overall lighthearted tone, while others criticize the lack of balance and repetitive gameplay that detracts from the fun. Overall, the game offers moments of hilarity, especially in its story mode and character designs, but can also lead to frustration due to its mechanics and competitive environment.
- “I'll be honest, the story mode ain't much for a story, just play it for money to get more cards... however, do listen to Luna's story as it's simply hilarious and adorable besides the whole sad death necromancy story. 8/10!”
- “The different expansions are mixing the game up quite a lot; playing unlimited is funny and 'Take 2' and 'Grand Prix' are increasing salt and experience, lul.”
- “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).”
- “Was it a guaranteed win by turn 7, it would have given everyone a chance to set up their win condition. Now instead, it's a guaranteed loss unless you play the same deck, and that means playing nonstop mirror matches. Imagine playing against the same deck over and over again... it's not funny at all.”
- “Edit: Please stop voting this as funny, this is not funny :(”
optimization
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
47%
16%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it runs smoothly on non-gaming PCs and achieves 60fps, it suffers from issues typical of a mobile port, such as high memory usage and an awkward desktop UI. Users express frustration over the lack of optimization in the PC version, particularly regarding the social and guild features, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite its impressive graphics and single-player presentation, the game's performance and balance issues hinder enjoyment, especially for those looking to experiment with custom decks.
- “The graphics are impressive, yet the game runs smoothly even on non-gaming PCs.”
- “As for performance, it runs pretty well.”
- “The game can run smoothly at 60fps on almost any PC.”
- “I wanted to give this game a recommended review after playing Master Duel, but oh well, it was an unoptimized mess.”
- “It’s not about the PC port itself but rather how unoptimized and inconvenient it is.”
- “However, it seems like an unoptimized mobile port (using 1-2GB of memory constantly for such a simple game).”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and freezing issues across various platforms. While some players appreciate the game's visuals and performance on certain devices, many express frustration over unresolved technical problems, particularly concerning in-game mechanics and financial transactions. Overall, the consensus indicates that the game suffers from significant stability issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “The game looks and runs great, which was a pleasant surprise.”
- “The Steam version runs great, with little to no problems.”
- “We don't give them an older inferior version of the game and ignore them as they post complaints about how buggy it is.”
- “If half the mechanics weren't a broken, buggy mess, this might be a decent game.”
- “Be very careful putting real money into this; there are glitches the community seems willing to dismiss and the developers as well when your money goes missing with 'no way to recover it.' Steam cannot help you either.”
character development
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
Character development in the game is generally praised for its engaging storylines and appealing character designs, particularly in the solo storyline, which enhances the overall experience. However, some players note that while certain characters exhibit depth, many remain one-dimensional, and the focus on character development is secondary to gameplay mechanics. Overall, the combination of lore and character design contributes positively to the game's appeal, despite some frustrations with repetitive encounters.
- “The Shadowverse solo storyline attached to this game is amazing and highly recommended, which has lifted my overall standards on story writing and character designs. 10/10 would recommend for the story alone.”
- “I generally don't follow TCG/CCG storylines due to the fact it's generally 'X hero slays Y bad guy to save the world,' but this anime story really has an in-depth world with great character development. Everything feels like it's supposed to be in this world.”
- “The animations and character designs are cool, with each of them having a different personality and an actual reason for fighting, whether it's good or not.”
- “What makes those scenes irritating is that the encounters aren't all exactly the same and you don't know which to skip. Depending on who you're playing as, you'll hear their inner thoughts. Skip the scene and you'll miss out on some important character development. I've seen the nexus cut scene eight times; however, you can skip it if you wish.”
- “Some characters are more interesting than others, and they're all pretty one-dimensional, but character development is not the focus of a TCG.”
- “Just another CCG with the same old juggling; however decent character design it might have, the 'hook, line, and sinker' would probably slap the cognitive sensory right back into my skull before long.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have expressed a strong emotional connection to the game's well-crafted story and characters, with some reporting tears during pivotal moments. Despite frustrations with gameplay mechanics, the emotional impact of the narrative has left a lasting impression, prompting players to reflect deeply on their experiences. Overall, the game successfully evokes a range of emotions, from joy to distress, enhancing the overall engagement.
- “What I didn't expect was a well-written story that made me feel for its characters.”
- “But here I am feeling emotional after reading the last chapter of the game.”
- “I cried a little too.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
Overall, the game's replayability has seen improvements with recent expansions, offering more counterplay options and accessibility for new players. However, some users feel that limitations imposed by certain cards and a lack of customization hinder its long-term replay value compared to competitors like Hearthstone. Despite these concerns, many still find the game enjoyable and worth trying, especially for newcomers.
- “Its more playable for newbies than Hearthstone. You will get a free 10-pack with each expansion, at least 5 legendary cards, and you can transform some cards into vials to create any card. Even if you are new, you can build a mid to high-tier deck with your preferred craft. Playing the story and versus bots can actually earn you some money too. Try it if you want; it's not as bad as people review. Hope this helps you! :) Good luck, have fun!”
- “It gave a lot of good feelings and I do not regret it, but I do feel the lack of customization really affects the overall replayability.”
- “While they have definitely improved with the latest expansions (by providing some more counterplay options, or making previous ones more playable), they haven't really stopped printing dumb cards that put a hard limit on the length of the game.”
- “I do feel the lack of customization really affects the overall replayability.”
- “I don't know how high the replay value of the game is after a month or so of playing, but there's zero reason to not pick it up and give it a try.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The atmosphere of Shadowverse is highly praised for its dark fantasy elements, engaging soundtrack, and immersive design, which enhances the overall gaming experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to draw them in with its unique mechanics and character interactions, making it a standout in the collectible card game genre. However, some users note that the balance of the game could be improved.
- “Shadowverse is really atmospheric and very addictive; I highly recommend anyone who likes card games.”
- “The way the decks play out (which is a lot more like Magic meets Yu-Gi-Oh rather than Hearthstone) and even the atmosphere, as it's built up well with music, card voices, map design, and character interactions that do a good job of keeping you in the zone and the game.”
- “If you seek a more Japanese-style CCG with expansions every 3 months and a dark fantasy atmosphere but with minimal RNG involved, this is the perfect fit for you!”
- “Then when you play it for a little while, you start noticing the small things that are different, the evolve mechanic (which allows you to increase your cards' strength 2-3 times per battle while on the field and rush your opponent's monsters), the way the decks play out (which is a lot more like Magic meets Yu-Gi-Oh rather than Hearthstone) and even the atmosphere, as it's built up well with music, card voices, map design, and character interactions that do a good job of keeping you in the zone and the game.”
- “One more thing, the gaming atmosphere is pretty balanced right now.”