Skogdal

About

Skogdal is a single player action game. It was developed by Erlend Kirkeboe and was released on April 28, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Something strange is afoot in the small rustic Norwegian town of Skogdal... This is a deckbuilding card game where you have to explore a large hand-crafted world across multiple runs. Immerse yourself in this weird but familiar adventure, and uncover an unsettling Carpenter-esque mystery… Skogdal offers more than 300 different cards for you to discover and draft. Fuse cards, bui…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 59 reviews

music14 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Skogdal is a charming and innovative deckbuilder that combines unique mechanics with a humorous narrative and a nostalgic 90s atmosphere.
The game features a vast amount of content, including numerous unlockable cards, characters, and strategic depth that encourages experimentation and replayability.
The art style and soundtrack are standout elements, providing a quirky and engaging experience that enhances the overall enjoyment of the game.

Some players find the early game repetitive and lacking in challenge, with a desire for more varied paths and choices in the initial stages.
The music, while enjoyable, can become repetitive over time, and some players feel that the soundtrack could benefit from more variety.
A few characters lack distinctiveness in their decks and traits, which may lead to a less engaging experience for players looking for unique playstyles.

music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
47%
9%
The music in the game is widely praised for its unique charm, featuring a diverse soundtrack that includes punk, metal, and parody songs, which fits the game's quirky atmosphere perfectly. While many players find the music engaging and enjoyable, some note that it can become repetitive over time, with a limited number of tracks. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the game's appeal, contributing to its fun and addictive nature.
- “Not only does it have a unique atmosphere, great music, and a fun 'what if Twin Peaks happened in a Norwegian small town' story, but the mechanics and the vast amount of content in this game are astounding.”
- “The art style, music, and whole vibe of the game are extremely fun, a breath of fresh air for games.”
- “The music stands out as completely unique in the genre; it's big punky guitar riffs with snarly Norwegian vocals for the most part. It may be divisive depending on your tastes, but it's cool as heck and fits the vibe of the game perfectly.”
- “The music is fine, but I guarantee you'll get tired of it in only a few runs as it feels like there are only a handful of tracks.”
- “The only 'issue' I had with the game is that I personally was not a fan of music with lyrics in the background (it feels too distracting), and that runs are slightly too long.”
- “Personally, I was not a fan of soundtracks with lyrics as they can get distracting, but most of the other tracks are excellent.”
gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
53%
10%
The gameplay of this deckbuilding roguelike is praised for its innovative mechanics, strategic depth, and a wealth of content, including unique card fusions and a humorous narrative. Players appreciate the balance and pacing of the mechanics, which offer a fun and addictive experience, while the charming aesthetics and engaging story enhance the overall enjoyment. Despite some minor issues with mechanics not being fully explained, the game stands out in the genre for its creativity and engaging gameplay loop.
- “The mechanics are fresh and allow for a surprising strategic depth; there are many different kinds of enemies, lots of possible builds, and a frankly insane amount of unlocks.”
- “Well-made deckbuilder with innovative mechanics and a story that unfolds over multiple runs.”
- “Its unique take on the deckbuilding roguelike is fun, with an energy-draw mechanic and story-based drafts, removals, and its card combination system.”
- “There are some mechanics that aren't explained, but that's part of the joy, I think.”
- “Perhaps there needs to be another mechanic in the game to obtain upgrade cards because you almost never see them.”
- “The game mechanics are largely familiar to fans of the genre but not in a way that feels overplayed or uninteresting.”
humor
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and nostalgic appeal, with many players finding it both hilarious and engaging. The art style and soundtrack complement the comedic elements, creating a delightful experience filled with funny moments and quirky characters. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with gameplay mechanics, leading to a fun and memorable adventure.
- “It doesn't re-invent the wheel like Balatro, but it has a lot of charm from the art style, to the soundtrack, and to the humor.”
- “Nostalgic, humorous, reminds me of my teen years but with the drama boosted up to max!”
- “Was laughing for a good 10 hours straight; I really liked the game's sense of humor, some of the synergy builds like 'Intoxicating' were hilarious, giving you cards based on how drunk you were.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming and quirky hand-drawn art style that evokes a sense of nostalgia and creativity, reminiscent of vandalism on a high school desk. While some users note that the graphics may appear simple or generic in certain areas, the overall aesthetic, combined with a fun soundtrack and humor, contributes to a unique and engaging atmosphere that sets it apart from other deckbuilders. The attention to detail and the heart put into the visuals are widely appreciated, making it a refreshing experience.
- “The art style is charmingly quirky: think Guild of Dungeoneering, but make it vandalism on a high school desk.”
- “Also, you can really tell how much love and attention was put into this game; it's got such a heart to it, and the hand-drawn art style is obviously the cherry on top.”
- “The art style, music, and whole vibe of the game is extremely fun, a breath of fresh air for games.”
- “May be offputting for the graphics, but that's part of the charm!”
- “You'll immediately be drawn in by the pencil drawn aesthetics; some games would rely on a strong aesthetic to excuse a lack of polish or creativity within the gameplay.”
- “While it has simple graphics, it gets the point across and has a lot of atmosphere, which a lot of other deckbuilders lack.”
story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
27%
20%
The game's story is praised for its unique atmosphere and humor, drawing comparisons to "Twin Peaks" set in a Norwegian small town, while also being engaging and evolving through multiple runs. Players appreciate the intriguing narrative that unfolds alongside innovative deckbuilding mechanics, although some found parts of the story less compelling. Overall, the combination of a well-crafted story with charming elements and fun gameplay contributes to a memorable experience.
- “Not only does it have a unique atmosphere, great music, and a fun 'what if Twin Peaks happened in a Norwegian small town' story, but the mechanics and the vast amount of content in this game are astounding.”
- “Very fun deckbuilding roguelike with interesting mechanics and a great story!”
- “Its unique take on the deckbuilding roguelike is fun, with an energy-draw mechanic and story-based drafts, removals, and its card combination system.”
- “And whatever story was being told just kind of felt uninteresting, which would have been fine if the game nailed the rest of the stuff a little more.”
- “It's just a really good 'Slay the Spire' like game with more story elements and jokes.”
- “Well made deckbuilder with innovative mechanics and a story that unfolds over multiple runs.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game is praised for its unique atmosphere, reminiscent of a late '90s aesthetic, complemented by great music and an engaging storyline akin to "Twin Peaks" set in a Norwegian small town. Despite its simple graphics, it effectively conveys a strong atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, setting it apart from other deckbuilders.
- “Not only does it have a unique atmosphere, great music, and a fun 'What if Twin Peaks happened in a Norwegian small town' story, but the mechanics and the vast amount of content in this game are astounding.”
- “While it has simple graphics, it gets the point across and has a lot of atmosphere, which many other deckbuilders lack.”
- “I wish it had a demo, but you gotta trust me on this: its late 90s atmosphere won't leave you indifferent.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's replayability is mixed; while it offers some new paths and characters to unlock in subsequent playthroughs, the limited map choices may hinder its overall replay value compared to other roguelike deckbuilders. Players find it enjoyable but not as engaging as similar titles in the genre.
- “Skogdal also seems very replayable, unlocking new paths throughout the world on subsequent playthroughs, as well as new characters with their own interesting starting decks.”
- “I might be a problem that the map has a few choices (so far), when it comes to replayability, but so far so good.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game excels in optimization, offering players numerous opportunities for strategic deck building and decision-making that enhance gameplay. Reviewers appreciate the balance and depth of mechanics, which encourage careful planning and risk management, making it a more intellectually demanding experience compared to other card games like Hearthstone.
- “Overall, I thought the mechanics and risk vs. reward choices were very good. You are constantly offered various optimization and deck-building events, as well as choosing forks on the map that are better or worse for your build.”
- “It's nice to see a card game that is actually balanced for people who play card games. It's super nerdy with tactics; I genuinely think getting Legend in Hearthstone requires less brain power (and I speak from experience). It encourages heavy optimization, planning ahead, and taking risks while balancing out the RNG.”
- “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, making it frustrating to play at times.”
- “I found the optimization mechanics to be lacking, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The lack of proper optimization leads to unbalanced gameplay, making it hard to enjoy.”