Card Thief

A Google user

5 years ago

A game I thought I'd love but fails to be very compelling. A combination of unclear and volatile mechanics, lack of rewards for trying to maximize output, and lack of the ability to plan even for the next turn makes the game unfulfilling even when you get out with a chest. For more specific examples, I'm not a fan of the unreliability of card multiplier ramp up. You may plan out your next turn's goal, slip through 5 cards only to find your goal stealth or treasure card had only ramped one point higher. Other occasions they'll ramp to eight after two hops for no reason. If there is a deterministic mechanic behind the differences, it's very unclear. Enemies also move unpredictability. Usually guards move into empty spots you leave behind.. except for the times they just don't and a card is just dealt there instead. You'll have planned to move the guard out of a corner for a next turn wombo-combo, only to just find out none of it mattered and he's still hanging in a corner protected. If they don't move predictably, then their moves need to be telegraphed before the user locks in their move. Lastly, I feel no need or reward to maximize gold retrieved and chest size. Other than leaderboard, who cares? Maybe one more token to advance to the next level earlier? I always feel like I can get out of the level with a chest, so the only challenge is trying to get it to be a bigger one. There's just no viceral payoff when you do, though. The mechanics on the cards themselves I think are well designed. I do also like the equipment cards and their mechanics. Overall though, uncompelled to excel at it or advance much.

A Google user

5 years ago

A good time-killer but loses its luster over time. You have to replay the same level at least 15 times to collect enough items to unlock the next location (unless I was doing something wrong, there is not any information about items outside of the game). The time it takes for opening chests increases drastically after each chest with no distinction between a level 1 chest or a level 6. Don't really have anything to do with the loot either. Having more content would make this game perfect.

Eo W

1 year ago

The premise is simple but captivating. I love the art style. Leveling up equipment is a general challenge that feels rewarding. It's great as a no-wifi game that at least still requires you to think a little so it keeps you invested. I do wish you could speed up game play just a little bit with selecting cards and while the thief is moving but overall I have nothing bad to say. Would recommend to friends ! Much love

A Google user

5 years ago

Extremely fun and innovative game with fantastic graphics, music, gameplay, rules and design. It's been created with a lot of attention to detail, and, impressively, ads are actually completely optional to accelerate more features and skills. I'm very happy with how much depth there is to the game, since I usually go through free card-based strategy games pretty quickly! Hope to see more.

Verdane

1 year ago

Personally, I LOVE this game. I've only been playing for a day and I'm hooked! The stylization really sucks you into this world, and the artwork itself is personally eye candy. It just doesn't really get old. The level is entirely different each time, which offers a lot of replays and endless chill time solving not too hard but fun puzzles! Just don't get yourself stuck surrounded by guards and unable to sneak through!

SteamyMeatyBoi

3 years ago

Honestly I was looking for different gameplay when I first got this. I admit, at first I was disappointed when it didn't turn out like I wanted it... But then... I played it. I was completely wowed. So simple, it's decieving. There is an extreme amount of depth and strategy to this game when it's just choosing a pathway in a set of 9 cards. (3x3 grid) With a beautiful art style thrown into the mix, this makes for an amazing casual puzzle/strategy game. Great job on this one guys! :D

Yosef Zaner

1 year ago

This is a great game, full of different options for strategy and play style. The difficulty progresses nicely and fairly. As far as graphic design goes, it's a perfect score from me. A lot of effort was put into detail and animation. I appreciate that the ads were used only as a means of opening chests early. Ads are often a problem nowadays, and they tend to take up more screentime than the actual gameplay. My only issue is that you can't pause a game in the middle, but that's hardly an issue.

A Google user

5 years ago

The game is genuinely free and has no intrusive ads whatsoever. That alone is worth high praise, and it's worth at least checking the game out. I found the learning curve to be fine, but ultimately it still felt too random. The aesthetic also feels directionless and the progression is clearly slowed way down so as to mask a general lack of content.

Kayla Brady

1 year ago

I absolutely love how challenging this game is. Some people conplain about the tutorial being confusing, but I didn't have any issues with it. You will fail, though. A lot. You'd think failing many times would be discouraging or frustrating, but I find it fun and addicting because you know exactly what happened and you want to use that knowledge the next time. And escaping with all that gold is so rewarding...

Tony Camp

3 years ago

Pros: Beautiful graphics, good atmospheric music, play whenever you want, this was a very addictive game for about a week. Cons: The equipment interface is a little clunky and confusing. The tutorials aren't very helpful, and even after beating all four castles, I still don't fully understand the mechanics of the game. Also, with only four castles, you'll run out of things to do very quickly, and the daily puzzle and the three bounties aren't enough to keep coming back.

A Google user

4 years ago

I like this game, Really, it has a lovely feel and a great aestetic.. However, It lacks depth, after the first few hours, there's not much to go for except a laundry list of unlocks for your equipment to be slightly better and a highscore mode on daily challenges. If your thing is grinding out for the top spot on a leaderboard that resets daily for no real benefit, then this is up your ally, but not mine. still good though

Anastasia Linden

1 year ago

Lots of fun, easy to learn and ads are optional. My only gripe is that trying to use an ad to accelerate lockpicking (to open chests you win from levels) always causes my game to crash, and can't exit the ad unless I close the game entirely (which means no extra progress on lockpicking) So far I haven't seen any gameplay glitches, which is great.

A Google user

5 years ago

This is such a ridiculously gorgeous and fun game, and I've only just downloaded it about an hour ago. I'm in love with the design of the cards, the guilt master, the little sleeping elf at the beginning, basically every bit of the graphics. The audio track is suspenseful and perfect for the game, I usually turn off sound on the games I play but i cant with this one. The game itself isnt hard to catch onto but is so much fun. They could turn this into a story game if they tried, its gorgeous.

Caleb Peace

6 months ago

Fun, addicting gameplay. Gets repetitive after a while. I do have a few thing that I think should be added to the full version. I'm not sure what's in the full version but I have some suggestions if they aren't in yet: Money that you get from a heist should be able to be currency, same for stolen goods you get from chests. More cool cards. Heist deck creater. Bigger grids or long paths in some levels. Easier to advance campaign, but more levels in campaign.

Secretly A. Pawssum

4 months ago

Was fun at first, but putting the player's earned rewards behind an hour long timer or ad blocking is scum level monetization. Additionally, once past the first castle, it becomes more than twice as difficult. We're talking a learning curve from hell. Also, I'm an intelligent person who went through the tutorial carefully, and sometimes I still don't understand how some later cards work. I'm assuming a lot of these good reviews come from the first hour or two of gameplay. DEFINITELY Not 4/5.

Mike Spiehs

6 months ago

Truly one of the best FREE mobile games of all time in my opinion. Ive been playing for a couple years. The artwork is ethereal and responsive. All ads are optional and skippable. So much to do with several power ups to unlock and upgrade and several different contracts to fulfill. I'm not sure why this game and many others by Arnold Rauers state they're similar to solitaire when they're not. The game is mostly luck based, but it intermixes strategy beautifully. You play how you want to play.

James Judy

4 months ago

Wonderful game! Creative theme and beautiful art direction. The puzzles are unique and challenging. One of the best puzzle apps available. Takes some skill and effort to finish, and it's a rewarding experience. I just wish it went on longer. I especially like the portrait aspect ratio which makes it easy to switch between apps at a moments notice.