Mystic Vale

A polished, playable way to spend any allotment of time.

All in all, Mystic Vale is a fun, no-frills card game. I am extremely fond of the fact that it's built around shared creation instead of blowing up one another. It's a well-designed card game that translates well into the video game medium. Based on the number of cards that are shuffled in every turn, I suspect the digital version is more fun than the physical version. If you like card games and deck-builders, Mystic Vale is absolutely worth a shot.

Whilst it might not necessarily offer the fantasy battling of the typical deck-building table-top games that I like to play, Mystic Vale hooked me in from the get-go thanks to its unique implementation of card-combining and rewarding gameplay mechanics. I haven’t had this much fun looking tending to my fields since I played Stardew Valley… Mystic Vale is certainly an addictive game though and one that I can see myself coming back to for some time, especially with the online multiplayer and the convenience of playing on the go. Here’s hoping that Nomad Games continue to bring a strong line-up of digital table-top releases over to the Nintendo Switch.

Deck-building games are always a bit tough to judge since on the one hand you don't want them to all be variations on the same theme but on the other if they veer a bit too far off in their own direction they can be tough to learn and fully appreciate...

I clearly have a predisposition towards deck-builders. The strategy involved is fascinating to me. This one is no different in that respect. In fact, I can honestly say I’ve become quite addicted, and am really looking forward to the release date so that I can investigate purchasing the available expansions and try the online play!

Mystic Vale is not without its flaws, but for fans of open and complex card games, it also offers a tantalising amount of depth.

Mystic Vale is a relaxing card game with a lot of hidden tactical elements and depth.

Mystic Vale makes the transition to a digital offering on Steam, but leaves its charm back on the tabletop.