As games get more complex compared throughout the years, genres can then meld together in new and exciting ways. One that has been a bit more popular in recent memory is the combo of CCG and roguelike. From Hand of Fate’s more action-based approach to Slay the Spire’s more strategic trappings, it’s been really popular to merge the two genres.
In that vein, we now have Gordian Quest: a strategic Early Access title that mixes D&D esque looting, deckbuilding, and roguelike mechanics. If that alone doesn’t appeal to you, here are five reasons you should check out the game and get your deck on.
As Roguelike as You Want It
Rougelike titles usually don’t compromise on their difficulty. While that allows for an enjoyable challenge, it can also make the genre difficult to get into. Luckily, Gordian Quest gives the best of both worlds. You can make the challenge hardcore where fallen party members die permenantly. If you aren’t ready for that, you can remove the permadeath. Some players might decry it as making the genre too easy, but the greater choice in this case allows for players to decide how difficult they want their experience to be.
Deck Building Goodness
Since Gordian Quest takes a lot of cues from CCGs, each hero has their own smaller deck and rules. Not only that, but loot you find in dungeons can also give you bonus cards that can turn the tide in a fight. There’s a lot of ways you can earn cards for your deck, and leveling up can feel like buying a booster pack in Magic. Every time you level up, there’s that brief rush of dopamine as you see what card you get. If you love the idea of using multiple, smaller decks rather than a larger one that can turn unorganized, you’ll definitely appreciate all the chances for strategy.
The Proper Mix of Skill and Luck
Like classic pen-and-paper RPGs of old, there are event moments that let you roll for a chance at a better outcome or loot. While that alone is pretty helpful, you can influence that roll even more with a card in your deck. While you can use that card to tip the odds in your favor, it will exhaust that card and you won’t be able to use it in a fight until you properly rest. It forces you to be cautious, knowing that the card you choose will later cause an unpleasant disadvantage in the next fight. The chances to
A Cool Approach to Status Effects
Status effects are a given in these sorts of strategy games, but the way they attack cards in Gordian Quest is really cool. For instance, if you get burned, some of your cards will be on fire. That means if you play that card, you will get damaged. It adds another degree of strategy, making you wonder if using that really strong card in your hand is worth the health penalty. Consequences aren’t usually fun, but it’s not often you see a status effect so clearly.
Future Updates
While Gordian Quest is a neat package with a 5-6 hour first act now available, there is a lot more to come in later updates. This includes the next three acts, even more heroes, an endless mode, and a relationship mechanic somewhat similar to the one seen in Fire Emblem games. It’s not often you see an Early Access title with this degree of polish. There’s an exceptional foundation here, and it’s only going to get more refined in time.
Gordian Quest is now available in Early Access for $19.99. If you wanna support the next big Roguelike/CCG/Strategy game, now’s a good time to do it!
The following article is a sponsored post for Gordian Quest, developed by Mixed Realms.
