Whenever I see something involving cards that isn’t an obvious CCG I get the same feeling of excited skepticism. The reason for this is that sometimes the minute something stops being a straight deckbuilder it feels like the devs don’t quite know what to do with it. We either get a game that’s a carbon copy of whatever game is being used as the focus with a bit of fluff to try and make it look different, or we get what could be a really fun game that just about resembles a card game we know and love but with rules that suddenly make no sense. Neither of the scenarios is great. In one instance I don’t want to shell money to just play a game I already enjoy that just looks nice, and in the other, I still want things to have familiarity, so reinventing the wheel doesn’t work either. Now, I’m not saying that this is the case every time, and when the devs get it right they create a thing of beauty. This brings us to Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers, a game that’s taking the card genre in a different direction.
The folk at Yogscast Games have teamed up with Purple Moss Collectors and are adding to their collection of strategic, off-the-wall, Indie titles with Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers. They’re hoping this will be a home run for deck-building fans by putting a unique spin on a classic card game while combining cards from real life with those present in other games.
In Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers, the adventure begins in a tavern full of rough and ready characters where everybody plays a very different version of the game Blackjack. If you are to overthrow the corrupt capitalists preying on the game-addicted townsfolk you’ll need to not only master this for yourself but become good enough to come out on top.
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers boasts a collection of over 250 cards each boasting their own unique effects. Some of these abilities may seem a little strange but they will all be useful in the right context. Each new run will see players experimenting with nuanced strategies as they build their decks in an attempt to win. Completing a run will also unlock new starter decks, each of which demands different playstyles. Whether you wish to unleash corporate hell with the business card or get involved in a little mystical mayhem with the tarot is entirely up to you.
“From the moment we first saw it, we knew there was something very special about Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers, so I’m relieved to be able to finally talk about our partnership,” says Simon Byron, managing director, Yogscast Games. “It’s been a real collaboration between us and Purple Moss Collectors and a genuine honour to help Mike bring the game to life. With the demo now live, I can’t wait for players to experience Dungeon & Degenerate Gamblers incredible twist on a classic card game ruleset, which results in a fantastic roguelike deckbuilding adventure unlike any other. Yes, including that one.”
If you fancy trying the interesting take on Blackjack, you can hop over to Steam and get involved in the demo here. As a massive fan of all things card-related, I’ll be doing the same. I’ll let you know how I get on at some point in the not-so-distant future. This sounds like a really interesting premise and it’s always nice to try something new. I’ll see you all at the card table.
