Deck of Souls

About

Deck of Souls is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Bigboot Studios and was released on June 20, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

Roguelite deck-building meets souls-like. Break out of an infinite loop to close the hell gates, turn enemies into cards, and build your own omnipotent Deck of Souls! Rolls included.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 113 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a variety of interesting cards and mechanics, providing a fun gameplay experience.
The art style is well-crafted and adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.
There is a solid foundation for replayability with different starting decks and meta progression.

The game suffers from poor execution, with many bugs and unclear mechanics that frustrate players.
There is a lack of variety in encounters and the overall gameplay can feel repetitive after a few runs.
The writing and dialogue are often poorly translated or confusing, detracting from the narrative experience.

gameplay
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
62%
9%
The gameplay of "Deck of Souls" is a mixed bag, featuring unique mechanics that blend deck-building with souls-like elements, which some players find engaging and innovative. However, many reviews highlight issues such as poorly explained mechanics, sluggish pacing, and a lack of clarity in combat operations, which can detract from the overall experience. While the game offers enjoyable moments and potential for fun builds, it may require further refinement and content updates to fully realize its potential.
- “Overall good deck builder with some different mechanics that are unique to the game.”
- “The core concept of Deck of Souls is interesting on paper—you counter opponents by placing cards under their actions, which is a unique spin on deck-building mechanics.”
- “Breaking out of an infinite loop to close the hell gates, I found myself enthralled by the unique gameplay.”
- “The mechanics and order of operations in combat are well off and several features are outright broken.”
- “Even if later mechanics improve the experience, the first impression was so sluggish that I had no motivation to continue.”
- “Gameplay is meh, kind of uninspiring.”
story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
64%
12%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging and filled with hidden gems, while others criticize its confusing narrative and poor writing. Although the main plot is considered decent and worth the price, many feel it is too short and lacks focus, often veering into absurdity. The contrast between the whimsical visuals and the grim undertones adds an intriguing layer, but overall, the execution leaves room for improvement.
- “The underlying story is decent and archetypical, and honestly, it's a worthwhile $20-$30 purchase; I do wish the main story was about twice as long as some of the bosses' stories were actually really interesting.”
- “The story is interesting and engaging enough to encourage a few playthroughs.”
- “For how whimsical the characters of the game look, there's a surprisingly grim story inside.”
- “The overall mission of the main character is somewhat interesting, but it loses focus really quickly and takes a swift turn from serious or strange to something resembling meme trash.”
- “The story makes no sense and the writing and use of English is pretty bad.”
- “Story got too confusing so I skipped past it.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their well-crafted, dark, and atmospheric aesthetic, complemented by charming pixel art and a fitting soundtrack. While some players initially found the visuals underwhelming, many noted that they grew on them, enhancing the overall experience despite some gameplay issues. The unique art style and expressive visuals contribute positively to the game's grim narrative, making it visually appealing and enjoyable.
- “The art style is well-crafted, with a dark, atmospheric aesthetic that fits the theme.”
- “Unique pixel graphics, a soundtrack that matches the mood, and a simple-to-follow UI are absolutely some key ingredients that make this game such a joy to play.”
- “The visuals—pixelated yet expressive—contrast with the grimness.”
- “Graphics are nothing special; music is well done; gameplay needs some work as there are some moments the game is a bit sluggish to respond and some of the game's systems are not clearly explained (example that you spend souls if you don't take a card) and stuff like set bonuses should be clear.”
- “While at first glance I was initially unimpressed with the graphic choice of Deck of Souls, it really ended up growing on me.”
- “I like how the game’s story is grimdark, demos, souls, etc., but the visuals are just chibi pixel dudes with wacky oversized weapons.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create a moody and immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. While some users find it occasionally over the top, the soundtrack is generally considered well-executed and a key element that contributes to the game's enjoyment. Overall, the music complements the unique pixel graphics and gameplay, despite some noted areas for improvement in polish.
- “The music is also great, adding a moody and immersive tone to the game.”
- “Unique pixel graphics, a soundtrack that matches the mood, and a simple-to-follow UI are absolutely some key ingredients that make this game such a joy to play.”
- “The graphics and soundtrack are amazing.”
- “Lack of polish (effects, music, etc.)”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game receives mixed feedback; while some users find it lacking, others appreciate the funny dialogues and the contrast between the pompous text and the chibi pixel art style. Overall, the humor is seen as a positive aspect that complements the game's engaging story and visuals.
- “Amazing art, funny dialogues, and great combat!”
- “With an interesting story, good humor, great graphics, and a solid gameplay system to boot, it is well worth its humble asking price of $10.99 USD.”
- “I don’t know if it was the devs' intention, but all that pompous text reads very funny with the chibi pixel look of the characters.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Replayability in the game is mixed; while some players appreciate the meta progression and the opportunity to experiment with different builds, others find that each run feels too similar, leading to a perception of low replay value despite the game's intent for multiple playthroughs.
- “Replayability after beating the game is enhanced with meta progression and experimenting with different builds.”
- “There is a lot of replay value.”
- “Though the game is meant to be replayed, the replayability is somewhat limited as each run feels almost identical.”
- “Though a game meant to be replayed, the replayability is incredibly low due to each run being almost identical.”
- “Replayability after beating the game is sort of there with meta progression and trying out builds.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow and tedious, with battles lacking excitement and shop visits feeling repetitive. Many feel that the game becomes boring quickly, especially if one attempts to fully grasp the mechanics and strategies involved.
- “Battles feel slow and tedious, draining the excitement out of each encounter.”
- “The varied shop types have few options and feel rather tedious to visit.”
- “The game is too short, super boring after the first hour, and absolutely tedious if you want to properly understand what is actually going on within each round.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its well-crafted dark aesthetic that complements the theme, with gorgeous visuals enhancing the overall experience. While the gameplay starts slowly, the captivating art and atmosphere keep players engaged.
- “The art style is well-crafted, with a dark, atmospheric aesthetic that fits the theme.”
- “The card game is solid, and the art and atmosphere are gorgeous.”
- “The start is slow, but the visuals and the atmosphere were good, so I did not mind the pace.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game features well-crafted character development, drawing inspiration from roguelites and card-based games, particularly in its design and storytelling reminiscent of Dark Souls. Reviewers appreciate the depth and originality in character backgrounds, noting that the developers have invested significant effort into creating a unique experience rather than merely imitating existing titles.
- “With obvious influence from roguelites and card-based games like Darkest Dungeon, combined with the story-rich elements of Dark Souls, this game stands out in its character development.”
- “The backgrounds and character design are clearly inspired by Souls games, but it's evident that a lot of work and love was put into them; it's not just a cheap copy for attention.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I found the progression system to be uninspired, leaving characters feeling static and unchanging throughout the game.”
- “While the character designs are visually appealing, the lack of meaningful growth or transformation in their arcs is disappointing.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its strong optimization and user-friendly controls, contributing to a smooth gameplay experience.
- “The game is well optimized and has convenient controls.”