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Board Games and TCGs

Is the Doomlings Castle Glass Expansion Worth It?

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of the Doomlings expansion, Castle Glass. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. Make sure you also check out my review for the Doomlings Base Game and the Shadow Puppets expansion. I’ll be using my Amazon Affiliate link where possible. It really helps me out if you use it before you buy anything.

Table of Contents

What’s in the Box?

  • 30 x New Traits
  • 7 x New Dominant Traits
  • 2 x New Ages
  • 1 x New Catastrophe
  • 1 x Mystery Foil

What is Castle Glass?

Castle Glass is Doomlings‘ ocean themed expansion. It features vibrant sea themed cards for a fun and colorful upgrade to your Doomlings deck. You will need the base game to play with these cards.

Castle Glass introduces three trait classes to the game: Shells, Coral, and Fish. With these new classes comes the trait system, an additional way to rack up points. If you collect two or more of the same class, you get a class score bonus. The class bonus are as follows:

  • Regular Shells, Fish & Corals are each worth +1
  • Curious Shells, Fish & Corals are each worth +2
  • Exotic Shells, Fish & Corals are each worth +3

This means that if at the end of the game you have 2 shells, one exotic and one regular, you get an additional four points added to your total.

Review

I love Doomlings. It is easily one of my favorite board games, and will bring it out often at my table. Castle Glass is a fantastic addition to my collection, but I do have a couple reservations.

Art

I love the fun and vibrant oceanic theme in Castle Glass. Despite the simple design, Doomling cards always have a lot of flavor and whimsy. The fish are cute and they very creative with their shell and coral designs. Castle Glass has the prettiest Ages cards I’ve seen so far. I love the scene of the sand castles at sun rise/sun set.

Gameplay

I believe Castle Glass adds interesting mechanics to the game. I had a lot of fun with the fish cards. Fish cards had abilities that let you play multiple cards a turn, letting players build their school of fish quickly. You can use fish to cheat out other cards in your hand, draw for better cards, or get that trait bonus at the end. It was very flavorful. Coral cards seem to add some disruption. It would have players discard cards, or it would let you get bonuses for cards in your opponents gene pools. Shells lets players peak at the next age, which is very valuable information if used correctly.

The only issue I see with this expansion is that it adds a new scoring mechanic to the end game tracking. It is not a hard mechanic to track, but some people aren’t going to like having to count the number of shells and worry about the types. Honestly, I don’t think it will complicate the game too much, depending on your deck size. If you have a massive Doomlings deck and cards aren’t clustered, it will add a couple of points, but nothing that will get out of hand. I played with a small deck to make sure they came out more frequently, and it never felt like scoring got out of hand. Even if you don’t like the extra math, the mechanics in this set are worth it.

Conclusion

The Doomlings base game is perfect, and if you are trying to get into this game, start there. Now if you’re looking for expansions to spice up your deck, Castle Glass is solid. It has a fun oceanic theme with some interesting mechanics to shake up the meta. Whether or not you should buy this expansion really comes down to if you are willing to do the extra math at the end. I don’t see it as a huge problem, but I also see hot it takes away from the casual vibe the draws people to the base game. I will say I do prefer the Shadow Puppets expansion a little more, but I won’t be taking Castle Glass out of my massive Doomlings deck any time soon.

You can pick up your copy of Castle Glass on the official Doomlings store, or on Amazon through my affiliate link.

Board Games and TCGs

Shadow Puppets: A Dark Twist on Doomlings Gameplay

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Disclaimer

The folks behind Doomlings sent me the Shadow Puppets Bolster Expansion for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review. Make sure you check out my review for the base game. I’ll also be using my Amazon Affiliate link where possible. It really helps me if you use it before you buy anything.

Table of Contents

Box Opening

What’s in the Box?

Shadow Puppets Bolster expansion is a 40 card expansion that introduces four new species of Doomlings: Deeplings, Glitterings, Moonlings, and Fuzelings. The breakdown:

  • Deeplings (12 Cards)
    • 9 x Traits
    • 2 x Dominant Traits
  • Glitterings (12 Cards)
    • 9 x Traits
    • 2 x Dominant Traits
  • Moonlings (12 Cards)
    • 9 x Traits
    • 2 x Dominant Traits
  • Fuzelings (4 Cards)
    • 4 x Traits
  • Ages x 2
  • Catastrophe x 1
  • Bonus Foil Card x 1

What is Shadow Puppets?

Shadow Puppets is an expansion for the Doomlings deck builder game. You will need the base game to play with these cards. Make sure you check out my full review of the base game.

What is Doomlings

Doomlings is a quirky little card game about the end of the world. Players take turns building a strong gene pool from cards they pull from a collective deck. Each card has a value and some have abilities that interact with other cards or players. For example, a card can allow a player to draw more cards each round, giving them a slight advantage. Each round has its unique set of rules based on the age or catastrophe card in play. For example, a card can force players to only play a certain color card. The game ends when four catastrophe cards are played and the winner is the player with the most points.

How to play

Games with Denver James has a fantastic tutorial that you should watch before you get started. Make sure you give him a like and a follow.

What is Shadow Puppets

Shadow Puppets is a darker themed expansion that essentially allows players to play trap cards. It allows players to disrupt a players turn, swap cards, and even give away cards. It also introduces the subvert mechanic which allows players to sacrifice Doomlings for points. What makes Shadow Puppets unique is is dark edgy flavor of both the abilities and artwork. The set does have a few demonic looking Doomlings. This is your trigger warning.

Review

The Shadow Puppets expansion brings some surprisingly needed dark humor, with interesting mechanics that only make the game more fun. If you like the flavor of the set and need some more trap cards, go get yourself a copy.

Quality

Doomlings is a high quality card game with some very good looking game pieces. The Shadow Puppets Bolster expansion is no exception. The cards are a little thinner than I am used to, but the art and quality of the card stock is as excellent as ever. I still recommend using sleeves. I may be a crazy person that sleeves everything, but it really makes shuffling the cards easier. You will be shuffling this game a lot, and the sleeves will help preserve the game.

Mechanics

I absolutely love the mechanics for this set. Nor only is each new species flavorful, the interactions it creates are so much fun. I love the fact that at any moment, you can just disrupt a persons turn or strait up ruin their whole strategy. There is a card that lets that lets you swap gene pools. You can build a bad pool on purpose to swap with someone who is actively trying to win and ruin their day. It’s like the blue shell in Mario, but with more control. Of course, someone can just swap hands with you and ruin your strategy. That feels pretty balanced to me.

I really like the ages in this expansion. One lets you draw 3 and discard 2. This creates some very tough choices, but it is always fun to draw cards. The other mechanic lets you swap hands, and this can absolutely ruin someone’s day. If you want a set with a lot of disruption, Shadow Puppets is fantastic.

Conclusion

I love Doomlings and recommend to anyone who wants a fun and simple game to pull out at game night. The game is easy to teach, especially for people new to the hobby, and the game is family friendly. Most importantly, it is very easy to set up and take down. Games of Doomlings are pretty quick, but the interactions make it meaningful.

Now if you’re looking for an expansion, Shadow Puppets is awesome. The disruptive nature of the expansion gives the game a layer of fun I didn’t think it needed. It has definitely earned its spot with the rest of my collection.

You can pick up your copy of Shadow Puppets on the official Doomlings website, or on Amazon through my affiliate link.

Universus

2026 Universus TCG Roadmap: Exciting New Releases Ahead

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Intro

UVS Games has just announced its 2026 roadmap, and the lineup will have fans new and old excited about the future of the game. As casual collector, I definitely see a couple of sets I want to whale on. If you want to pick up Universus, always support your LGS. You can also pick up Universus on TCG Player using my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you use it.

The Road Map

What’s coming in 2026?

2026 marks a very important milestone for Universus: the system’s 20th anniversary. With this milstone comes a collecion of iconic figures from fighting games, manga, and of course, Kaiju. Whether you are new to the game, casually collecting, or trying to take the top spot in next year’s circuit, there seems to be a little bit of something for everyone.

So what is coming?

  • King of Fighters XV Challenger Series
  • Godzilla Booster Set
  • My Hero Academia Challenger Series
  • TEKKEN 8 Booster Set
  • Street Fighter 6: Part Deux Challenger Series
  • Fairy Tail Booster Set

Thoughts

While I am not too crazy about the fighting game sets, Street fighter had some very cool unique cards and the decks were a lot of fun to play. They are a solid place to start, assuming you can’t find any Godzilla. What I don’t like about the fighting game sets personally are that most of cards are screenshots. If you’re a fan of the games in questions (and the games in questions are cool), then this becomes less of an issue. As a collector, these sets don’t excite me as much. I prefer the comic stills, especially like the ones in the Heroes of Exandira set. Those look really good in a binder.

That said, what is important are the mechanics and the unique cards that make this game worth collecting. If the mechanics change the meta enough or the unique cards in the set are cool, that will be enough to excite me. I may not vibe with most of the art for the Tekken and Street Fighter cards I do own, but the decks are fun enough and the champion cards are cool enough that I would buy into them if I didn’t already own the set.

What I am very excited for is the Godzilla cards. I missed out on the initial run of Godzilla when that came out, but what I’ve seen looks very cool. Some people will argue that Godzilla is problematic because it runs the meta, but I’ve played enough card games to know that it happens everywhere. Maybe the set changes up the type of Godzilla decks you end up playing against. Either way, as a collector, I can’t wait what this set has to offer and I am more than ready to open a couple packs.

What I am most excited for is the Manga sets. I know Deku is a problem, but the cards from previous MHA sets have all been pretty good. I feel confident in my excitement for this set, and I hope it brings new people in the space. The space needs it. More importantly, I am ready to whale on the Fairy Tail set. I love this anime and the set is bound to have some cool cards. It has to for the year to end on a good note.

Until then, lets get hyped for GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- Blitz Booster landing November 28. Don’t forget to preorder yours today!

video game reviews

Dfiance Review: A Unique Tactical Card Game Experience

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Disclaimer

I was sent some free in-game currency to review Dfiance for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Dfiance?

Dfiance is a free-to-play pvp tactical cardgame out now on steam.

Choose one of three unique factions as you command a battlefield of powerful allies in your quest for conquest. Dominate your enemies by strategically placing your enemies your enemies in a way that gives you the advantage. What faction will you choose? How far up the ladder can you climb?

Gameplay

Dfiance reminds me of Gwent, with a few extra steps. Players build a deck based on their favorite faction and try to build synergy through their interactions. All players start with the same three starter decks and can use currency they earn by playing the game to buy more cards. There is a ranked and casual mode for pvp and an AI mode for those who want to practice.

The game itself requires some unique strategy. I recommend looking up videos on YouTube after finishing the tutorial because there are some mechanics and nuances that aren’t very intuitive, especially when it comes to the upgrade system. I recommend checking out the game’s official YouTube page. Players essentially take turns placing units on the battlefield. The battlefield is split into four sections, two flanks, a frontline, and a backline. Each card has a cost, and players must navigate the game’s unique mana system efficiently to earn the most points before the end of the game. Some cards have effects that create unique interactions with other cards on the board, (their own or the opponents). Its a unique game that makes more sense the more you play it.

Review

Dfiance game that you need to stick with past the initial slump. The game does not have enough of a player base for consistent fair matchmaking, so new players will have a hard time with all the loses. Others will take issue with how different the gameplay loop is, especially when compared when coming from one of the big three TCGs. It took me a couple of hours before the gameplay was able to click and I was able to enjoy the game. So what do I think? Let me start with the good.

The game will draw players with its flavor and art. The game looks fantastic! The battlefield gave me the impression that I was commanding a powerful army, even though I lacked the skill to do so. The art on the cards is beautiful, especially if you are fan of fantasy. I love how each faction looks and feels different. I enjoyed looking through each card and appreciate the amount of flavor that went into each faction.

The game itself runs great. I never encountered noticeable performance issues. The game is in a good place, but it needs more players. A lot of my matches did feel unfair. There is some skill issue that needs to be factored into this as well, but I was at a clear disadvantage trying to climb the ladder with the starter decks. The starter decks are fine for teaching players the fundamentals, but they’re missing a few key mechanics that will win you games. Again, this could be a skill issue.

Players can upgrade their decks or their existing cards by buying packs., but it does feel like a grind to do so. I don’t know how I feel about game’s monetization. On one hand, it is nice that there seems to be a limit to keep the whales from running away from the game, on the other, the free-to-play grind feels a little steep. Again, this could be a skill issue, but it didn’t feel very casual. This could be because I was always losing.

Another issue I have with the grind is that packs don’t give enough cards. Players can buy into their favorite faction which is nice, but only have two options: a starter pack for 100g and a regular pack for 600g. For 100 gold, players can open 5 card packs without a chance at a legendary. This is a good way to build a collection for a faction, but lacks a bit of key power. For 600g, players get that chance at higher rarities, but that price just seems too high. I got enough currency for two normal packs and feel like I wasted my money and that is bad for the player who spends money, and worse for the player who grinds for it. When everyone feels like they have a better deck on the ladder, not getting enough cards for a proper upgrade is going to turn off some players. Packs should have more cards.

Buying into a faction you like is cool, but finding what that is another story. The starter decks give players a proper preview of each faction’s unique mechanics. Not being able to find a fair match makes it hard to choose a faction. Players can practice against the game’s AI or thug it out in casual PvP to find a solution, but choosing wrong feels bad when the card packs are so expensive. This is an issue that will fix itself with more players, the problem is, will players stick around long enough for that to happen?

Honestly, the game is a unique take on the genre that more players need to try. The game has very cool flavor with very neat interactions. At the moment, the only issue I have with the game is that the new player experience isn’t great, especially if you’ve never played card games before. With a healthier playerbase, a lot of the issues I have with the game won’t be as bad.It just needs more players. If you are a new player, try to stick with it until you get past the hump before deciding to step away. Watch videos to ensure you aren’t wasting valuable resources. I personally don’t like the loop, but it is a game that will carve out its niche.

Go check Dfiance out on Steam. It is free-to-play.

Other TCGs

Universus TCG – Challenger Series Deck List: Chun-Li & Jamie Siu

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Universus TCG just released their Street Fighter 6 Challenger series decks, and I got my hands on one of each to share that card lists. This post will focus on the Chun-Li/Jamie deck. As always, make sure you always support your LGS, but getting the Chun-Li/Jamie on TCG Player through my affiliate link really helps me out.

The Deck List

Champions

  • Chun-Li, Marcial Arts Master
  • Jamie Siu, Peackeeping Breakdancer

The Deck

  • Aerial Kikosho x 2
  • Hundred Lightning Kicks x 2
  • Phantom Sway x 2
  • Arrow Kick x 2
  • Breakin’ x 2
  • Dance of the Pheonix x 2
  • Drive Parry x 4
  • Back Shaver x 3
  • Falling Crane x 3
  • Swagger Step x 3
  • Tensho Kicks x 3
  • Azure Kung Fu Instructor x 4
  • Elegance & Beauty x 4
  • Guardian Angel of Chinatown x 4
  • Hates Lectures x 4
  • Inherited Will x 4
  • Shifting Gears x 4
  • Street Hero x 4
  • Young Boss of Chinatown

The Card Art

Champions

The Deck

Other TCGs

I Tried the CookieRun Braverse TCG and Loved it!

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Intro

CookieRun: Braverse has officially dropped, and while it may not be too widespread, I was fortunate to have a store that carries it nearby. CookieRun: Braverse for those who don’t know is a TCG based on the adorable mobile IP now owned by Kakao games. It features adorable gingerbread cookie characters and a simple yet engaging gameplay loop. I picked up a bit of product because the art is very cute, and I had someone to play with.

How to Play

The game is very simple to pick up. The onboarding is easier than a lot of other TCGs out there because the intention is to get kids to play. That should not discourage older players from picking up Braverse TCG. To learn learn, the official website has a fantastic interactive tutorial that teaches people the fundamentals. You can also check out the official tutorial video.

Review

I want to give a shoutout the LGS that let us break our box and play our games even though they don’t carry Braverse (yet). Always support your LGS, especially if you have cool folks like the ones who let me test out the game and made me feel at home even when I was only visiting.

I bought a booster box and picked up a couple of the starter decks. As far as sealed product goes, Brave Beginning is a fantastic product to rip open. Full disclosure, ALWAYS buy the singles you want or need. You will never make money gambling on packs. That said, we had a lot of fun breaking packs. The art is so cute, and getting the special art was satisfying. As a collector, I am happy with my pulls and now I want more. The card quality is fantastic. The cardstock does feel a little on the thinner side, and there is some slight warping, but it was nothing too concerning. All the cards were properly cut with very well printed images and legible type. The art is incredibly cute. The foil effects are great, and the special full arts are very cool in person. If you are trying to collect an adorable game, it doesn’t get better.

We tried the purple and yellow starter decks, and both felt pretty even. Out of the box, they offer a great onboarding experience. It is simple enough for players to grasp the gameplay loop and fundamental mechanics, but you are going to want to upgrade the decks. I recommend picking up at least two copies of the color you want to run so you can run 4 of some of the rarer cards. I think the colors are pretty even. If you want to try out, the decks are cheap and are the best place to start.

As far as the gameplay goes, I love CookieRun Braverse. This is one of my favorite games, and I really hope that it catches on. First of all, this is one of the easiest TCGs to get into. Learning the mechanics is easy to teach and learn, and the interactions do not get too complicated. They nailed the new user experience with Brave Beginning. The hardest part about getting other people into the TCGs I like is the complexity. Most of my friends don’t play many board games, and there is always the risk of losing them when the rules get too complicated. With Braverse, once the game starts flowing, it is only matter of memorizing the flow and reading the cards.

The game itself is incredibly fun and engaging. While the game is clearly targeting kids, there is enough depth to it to make it fun and engaging. I was having so much fun that I didn’t realize I had been sitting at that store for three hours playing starter decks. We did spice up our decks with the packs we opened after a couple of games, but the game is fun with out of the box starter decks. The same can’t be said for every TCG.

My only problem with this game is that it is new and niche. Not many stores run it. There isn’t really a local scene at the store I got the product from. I have this product, but no where to take it too and that is a huge problem.

If you want to play a fun cute TCG, CookieRun Braverse is a fantastic game that deserves a lot more attention. You have cute cookies battling for dominance, and it doesn’t get better than that. If you are still on the fence, pick up a couple of the starter decks and get ready to spend all your money on the game. This is a great game to get your kids into the space, and an even better game to get those who have little interest in TCGs. There is no fan service, no complicated mechanics or long paragraphs of text. Braverse is just cute clean fun that you need to try at least once.

Check with your LGS to see if they can get you some CookieRun, otherwise you’ll have to settle for Ebay.

Uncategorized

Wizard Hand Demo Review: A Promising Solitaire Roguelike

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Disclaimer

I was sent the Wizard Hand demo to review for my blog. I understand that the game is still in development, so I will try to be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these are my honest impressions.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

What is Wizard Hand?

Wizard Hand is a roguelike solitaire game coming to Steam. Make sure you check out the demo!

Play solitair using a magical deck and try to get the required score and move to the next level. The goal of the game is to clear the table of cards while beating the required score. All players start with a basic deck that they slowly upgrade with other cards and abilities throughout a run. Finding the best combination and knowing when to use your powerful spell cards is key to success in this game. Do you have what it takes to beat the highest challenge?

Impressions

The Wizard Hand demo is incredibly addicting. I wish this were the full version because I want to see what else there is. Right off the bat, I was drawn by the game’s aesthetic. The card art is simple, but with enough elegance and flare to draw the eye. The gameplay is simple, but requires enough of a strategy to keep players engaged. Figuring out the correct sequence and combinations to maximize a score is a mellow puzzle, and I love puzzles. There does need to be more content, but it looks like the devs are hard at work at making things happen. Regardless of that, this a fantastic demo that is effective at showcasing the game’s key features in a way that is fun, engaging, and addicting. Wizard Hand is very promising, but I wish there was more. I can’t wait for a full version.

Other TCGs

Universus – Attack on Titan: Apocalypse First Impressions

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Disclaimer

Universus sent me a few packs and a playmat to cover their game. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let sway my opinions. I will be doing pack opening and a review of the playmat so stay tuned for that. I will also be using my TCG Player affiliate links throughout the article, but always support your LGS first.

Attack on Titan: Apocalypse

Universus has just released their newest expansion, Attack on Titan: Apocalypse, and I already see a few cards I want for my collection. If you haven’t had chance to play Universus, it is definitely worth trying once. The game has a unique flow and flavor, and it includes some very recognizable IPs. I recommend picking up a couple clash decks to get a feel for what to expect. I had a lot of fun with the Solo Leveling deck, but you can always pick your flavor.

Apocalypse is introducing 180 new cards to finish off the Attack on Titan saga. Players are going to want to chase the six serialized chrome cards with special art from the creator of the anime, but there are some neat cards I wouldn’t mind cracking.

Chrome Rares

The serialized chrome rares, and I am sad I will never get to see one in real life. The art on these look so good, and you know there are going to shine on the table (even the flimsy plastic ones). I can only hope they don’t have the foil lines that seems to be common issue across the thread. I don’t mind it too much on regular foils, but I would expect the serialized cards to be perfect. Either way, good luck finding your copy! I’m aiming for Erin, but will settle for any.

Armin Arlert, Power of the Colossus
Eren Yeager, Usurper
Levi Ackerman, Vengeance-Driven
Mikasa Ackerman, Hizuru’s Hope
Reiner Braun, Marley’s Shield
Beast Titan, Finale

Ultra Rares

The problem with the attack on titan set, at least from a collectors perspective, is the manga art doesn’t grab the attention like other games. At least the common ones anyway. After seeing them in my binder and seeing the whole story, the game grew on me. What this game does have going for it are its ultra rares and alt arts. The unique art for the Attack on Titan cards are incredible, especially in person. Some have a very nice texture to them. I am a huge fan of the use of color. Here are some of my favorites from the Apocalypse set:

Ultra Rare Alt Arts

It is a shame that the images for the alt art cards do not do them justice. I have pulled a couple from the Attack on Titan alt art cards, and they are amazing. I am a huge fan of the texture and the hand drawn feel. They are definitely worth chasing. Here are my favorites from Apocalypse, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go hunting for everything else!

Character Alt Art

This is where the set disappointing a bit. While there are some alt cards I wouldn’t mind pulling, there are some that I would be sad if I did. Maybe they look better in person, but I prefer the Heroes of Exandria alt cards better. That said, here are my favorites Apocalypse alt art cards:

Secret Rares

The secret rare design is my absolute favorite part of the Attack on Titan cards. They have such a unique style and presentation, and they look so good in person. I do have a couple, and while they aren’t going to buy me a house, they are my favorite parts of my collection. I don’t think Apocalypse has the strongest collection of secret rares, but it does have a few pieces I want for my collection.

Impressions

I only play casually and mostly just collect. I do get the cards for free, but I don’t let that sway my opinion. Apocalypse doesn’t excite me as much as Heroes of Exandria did, at least the art doesn’t. I think the manga art is fine, but it doesn’t have the same pop the comic book style of Heroes of Exandria. As a casual player, there are some cards I want to add to a couple of my decks. That said, I need to open a few more packs and watch how the meta shifts to form a better idea on the set.

If you want to pick up Universus Attack on Titan: Apocalypse, always ask your LGS, but TCG Player has what you need if that isn’t an option.

Grand Archive TCG

Grand Archive: All the Mercurial Heart Alter Edition Spoilers So Far

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Grand Archive has officially turned two, and we got a fun and informative stream to get us hyped for the games growth. Make sure to check it out. The most exciting news were the Mercurial Heart Alter Edition spoilers! The Alter Edition is a reprint with a few new cards you’re going to want to add to your collection. It is also a fantastic place to start your collection. The set will be reprintable for up to three years, which is great news for those just getting into the hobby. Make sure you always support your LGS, but you can always buy Grand Archive product from TCG Player using my affiliate links. It really helps me out.

Uncommons

Rares

Super Rares

Ultra Rare Alt Arts

Collector Rares!

video game reviews

Nif Nif Review: A Family-Friendly Deckbuilding Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Nif Nif to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update every two weeks.

What is Nif Nif?

Nif Nif is the wholesome deckbuidling roguelike you need to buy for your kids.

A mysterious spreads through the forest, contaminating its animals and turning them into monsters. Luckily, Nif Nif knows the cleaning techniques to fight the corruption and save its friends. Build your deck with powerful deck, fight powerful monsters and their bosses, and eat a few tasty snacks along the way. Do you have what it takes to clean up this mess?

Gameplay

The game starts at character selection, which is hard. Players can either play as Nif Nif or Cat. Both characters are unreasonably cute, and the decks play unique with some fun flavor. Players then choose their path to the big boss, building their deck along the way. Like most games of the genre, players choose a node on their path where they can proct combat, a random event, a rest, or shop at the store. Players earn new cards, abilities, and items throughout the run as they build their deck for the final encounter. The card pool for each run is random, so players will never run the same deck twice. A run is over when they run out of health. The run is complete when a player beats the final boss. Players are incentivized to complete multiple runs by chasing unshockable like new cards, abilities, and cosmetics. What makes Nif Nif unique is that the player doesn’t kill enemies. Nif Nif cleans monsters, returning them to their original form and that is both cute and wholesome.

Review

I am so glad Nif Nif was funded when because this game is fantastic, especially if you want to get your kids into deck builders. The art is adorable, the concept is inoffensive, and the gameplay is engaging. It is designed for kids, so the strategy is on the easier side. I like that the difficulty can be adjusted for younger kids, but adults will find the hardest difficulty easy. That sad, I didn’t mind the lack of difficulty. There was still strategy involved, and the cozy vibe made the each run a pleasant and relaxing experience.

I don’t have anything bad to say about this game because it is a solid game, especially if you’re looking for something to play with your kids. I think the difficulty is going to be the deciding factor. If you like something like Slay the Spire, you will appreciate how cute and creative the game gets, but its never going to scratch that need for strategy. That said, the game is engaging enough to earn its attention, and the vibes make it the perfect game for those who want to game, but don’t want a huge commitment.

You can pick up Nif Nif on Steam for $19.99.