The Amazing American Circus

44%
Game Brain Score Based on 211 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
The Amazing American Circus Game Cover
The Amazing American Circus blends deck building, management and a delightful theme to create something truly special.
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In "The Amazing American Circus," players manage their own circus troupe during the Gilded Age, navigating a unique American form of entertainment filled with folklore, crime, and social inequality. The goal is to establish a successful circus empire by building a troupe, managing the circus camp, and amazing audiences. The game is set in a detailed 2.5D world inspired by 19th-century America.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

44%
Audience ScoreBased on 211 reviews
gameplay23 positive mentions
grinding12 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique circus theme that adds charm and creativity to the deck-building genre.
  • There is a wide range of performers, each with their own unique mechanics, allowing for diverse strategies and combinations.
  • The art style and music are well-executed, contributing to an engaging atmosphere.
  • The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, making navigation and understanding mechanics frustrating.
  • The tutorial is poorly designed, leaving players confused about how to effectively play the game.
  • The game suffers from balance issues, with some cards and performers being significantly more powerful than others, leading to repetitive gameplay.
  • gameplay139 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the mechanics overly complex and poorly explained, leading to confusion and frustration. While some appreciate the unique circus theme and the variety of character abilities, others criticize the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the lack of engaging progression. Overall, the game presents an interesting concept but suffers from a steep learning curve, bugs, and a convoluted design that detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The game excels in having a wide range of performers, each with their own unique deck mechanics, and the most fun way to play is not to try and pick the best performers each match but to explore lots of the unusual combinations.”
    • “This game is oddly a ton of fun, the mechanics take a while getting used to but once it happens it's never boring. I found the quirks a refreshing way to limit players, and having to constantly workaround them, as well as the cards was more fun than I thought it would be frustrating.”
    • “The central gameplay mechanic is mildly innovative, taking the deckbuilding fad and turning it into not exactly a battle between heroes and monsters but instead a circus between performers and demanding audiences.”
    • “The sub-par tutorialization made the gameplay confusing to follow and progression was not satisfying enough for me to continue.”
    • “The gameplay is not compelling enough to encourage me to try to learn it.”
    • “Many of the mechanics are poorly explained and the UI is opaque.”
  • story48 mentions

    The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it weak, repetitive, and lacking in compelling characters or depth. While some appreciate the unique circus setting and creative quests, others criticize the overall execution and voice acting, leading to a lack of investment in the narrative. Overall, the plot is seen as thin and unsatisfying, failing to elevate the gameplay experience.

    • “The amazing American circus is a story-driven deckbuilder.”
    • “The story adds to all of that with crazy and very creative quests (distract someone, and use a chicken to open a safe which will end up in a 'battle', etc.).”
    • “The plot is interesting and catchy to me.”
    • “The plot is thin, and once the sheer length of the journey to the end becomes clear, that plot is nowhere near enough to actually keep the player invested.”
    • “The story is incredibly boring, and the voice acting is also atrocious.”
    • “The characters are boring and forgettable, and there wasn't really a need to have a story or dialogue since it didn't even do anything with the characters they tried to develop.”
  • graphics38 mentions

    The graphics of "The Amazing American Circus" receive mixed reviews, with some praising its charming art style and vibrant animations that evoke a circus atmosphere, while others criticize the overall visual quality as simplistic and lacking depth compared to modern standards. While the aesthetic appeals to fans of the genre, concerns about the execution and potential budget constraints are noted, leading to a perception of the visuals as subpar for a contemporary game. Overall, the art style is appreciated by many, but it may not satisfy those seeking cutting-edge graphics.

    • “The amazing American circus has a nice art style.”
    • “I love the circus and circus history, so the aesthetic is very pleasing to me.”
    • “The art style is what drew me to this game in the first place; months before it was released, I saw an ad for it and immediately wanted to play it, and the art and animation in the game do not disappoint.”
    • “It's unclear if this is due to a lack of budget to arrange someone who can create graphical assets properly, or a lack of talent.”
    • “Regardless, the overall visual quality of the game is very low, beneath what PC gamers have come to expect in this era of cutting-edge photorealistic 3D graphics.”
    • “While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the game, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
  • music17 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and fitting atmosphere, with many players finding it catchy and enjoyable. However, it tends to become repetitive during extended play sessions due to limited tracks, which detracts from the overall experience. While the sound effects and voice acting receive mixed reviews, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a strong point, complementing the game's artistic direction.

    • “Wonderful art style, great soundtrack and original card game mechanics.”
    • “The art is amazing and the music is catchy.”
    • “Artwork, music, and story are fantastic.”
    • “The music loops on itself.”
    • “If you manage to survive the first two tents, you will run out of money so you cannot buy food or hire more artists, resulting in an endless losing series spiced with one single track of circus music during the whole gameplay.”
    • “The music is well done.”
  • optimization14 mentions

    The game's optimization is notably poor, with frequent performance issues such as crashes, long loading times, and resolution changes rendering it nearly unplayable. Players report a clunky experience that detracts from the otherwise interesting concept, and leveling up feels frustratingly slow, especially in previously visited areas. While the graphics and music are praised, the overall execution suffers from significant technical shortcomings.

    • “There is room to perfect your circus and performances before you move forward, and the replayability is high (if someone says it's not, they're probably choosing those same performers over and over again).”
    • “The story and voice acting do a good job of setting a unique presentation, and the concept behind the game in performing and adapting a battle system to a performance is clever.”
    • “Performances use 1-3 characters that will add 5 cards per performer to your draw deck plus bonus cards they have.”
    • “The game has an interesting concept, but a very clunky performance.”
    • “Special mention to performance issues: changing the resolution makes the game almost unplayable, crashing, long loading screens, softlocks... I can't recall all, but there is a bug that made me especially angry in which the fakir is applied with all buffs from other artists.”
    • “Which brings me to the next point, leveling up is a nightmare; you get a lot of experience from new performances (cities/missions) but a pathetic amount (this also applies to money) from already visited places.”
  • grinding12 mentions

    The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium and repetitiveness in the game's grinding mechanics, with players finding the gameplay unengaging and the story lacking excitement. Many noted that unclear instructions and excessive grinding detract from the overall experience, making combat and progression feel like a dull slog rather than an enjoyable challenge. Overall, the game is criticized for its tediousness, with mechanics that fail to enhance the experience or provide meaningful incentives for change.

    • “There's a lot of grinding happening here and sometimes instructions are unclear or they don't just exist.”
    • “The majority of the game is slow and tedious.”
    • “The combats are tedious, repetitive, and dull due to the time they take.”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique and stunning visuals, creating an engaging and immersive experience reminiscent of "Darkest Dungeon" but set in a colorful circus environment. While the setting is intriguing, some reviewers note a lack of exploration and interaction with the world. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, with ratings often reaching as high as 9/10.

    • “This is 'Darkest Dungeon' in a colorful circus atmosphere.”
    • “It tries something new, has an astonishing atmosphere, and looks gorgeous.”
    • “It lives from the atmosphere and overall great idea.”
    • “This feels like 'Darkest Dungeon' set in a colorful circus atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is a confusing mix of vibrant colors that detracts from the intended mood.”
    • “The game tries to create a tense atmosphere but ends up feeling more like a carnival than a serious adventure.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game's stability is generally criticized for being very buggy, with numerous glitches and complex mechanics that frustrate players. While some users report that the issues are not game-breaking, others have encountered significant bugs, such as freezing during gameplay, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the stability of the game appears to be inconsistent, with a mix of minor and major issues affecting gameplay.

    • “Very buggy game.”
    • “Frustratingly buggy game.”
    • “Buggy, missing info, cards aren't intuitive and don't do exactly what they say they do, way too many screens to get to simple actions...”
  • humor7 mentions

    The game's humor is characterized by quirky character concepts and comical writing that creates absurd yet entertaining moments, appealing to a wide age range. While some characters may struggle in gameplay, their humorous traits, like a drunken uncle and a counting chicken, contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere that elicits laughter. Overall, the humor effectively enhances the game's charm, making it enjoyable for players of all ages.

    • “It has some funny character concepts, like the counting chicken, but most of them do very poorly in normal bouts, such as the strongman being a defensive type that doesn't do a great job defending most of the time.”
    • “Because obviously it has been funny for the devs to write a story about your good-for-nothing drunk uncle accompanying you on the road and claiming that 'me and you are making this circus great', because you are too weak-willed to get rid of him.”
    • “The writing is comical in the right ways and helps set the scene for some absurd moments, but ones that had me laughing all the same.”
    • “Instead of your teammates going insane killing each other, you get tomatoes thrown at you for being unfunny.”
    • “Crow knows a thing or two about being unfunny.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it high due to the potential for perfecting performances and experimenting with different artists, others note that the lack of carryover and the presence of optimal paths significantly diminish the incentive to replay.

    • “There is room to perfect your circus and performances before you move forward, and the replayability is high (if someone says it's not, they're probably choosing those same performers over and over again).”
    • “Replayability, even with the more static elements of the game, could be high.”
    • “Nothing carries over, so replayability is kind of low—mostly just using other artists and a new third of a map.”
    • “Replayability is essentially zero and really should be noted.”
    • “Possible that it hurts the replayability as 'optimal' paths definitely come into play.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized due to a surge of suspicious reviews, likely from fake accounts, which appear shortly after launch and promote direct purchases. These reviews are often linked to asset flips and scams, raising concerns about the game's legitimacy and the integrity of its monetization strategy.

    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, with prices set unreasonably high for in-game items that should be accessible to all players.”
    • “It seems like the developers are more focused on making money than providing a balanced gaming experience, which is really disappointing.”
    • “The constant push for microtransactions ruins the immersion and enjoyment of the game, making it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine experience.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is heavily criticized, with reviewers noting that the writing and voice acting lack depth and coherence, resulting in a disconnection from the intended emotional tone. Many feel that the poor execution detracts significantly from the overall experience, suggesting that the absence of voice acting might have been preferable.

  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is highlighted as a significant aspect of the game, with players noting that it unfolds between acts and battles in a manner reminiscent of "The Banner Saga," emphasizing a narrative-driven journey that enhances the overall experience.

    • “In between acts and battles, the story and character development unfold beautifully, reminiscent of the journey in Banner Saga.”
    • “The character arcs are incredibly well-crafted, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and relationships deepening as the plot progresses.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression throughout the game.”
    • “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any surprising ways.”
    • “The interactions between characters are often one-dimensional, making it hard to feel invested in their growth.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

63% average critic score

Buy The Amazing American Circus

Play time

5hMedian play time
35hAverage play time
1-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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