Card games, but you know, not card games.

This is for games that use cards as a mechanic or mini game that aren't based on traditional card games. No blackjack or poker here.

Min game - Gwent
Mini game - Added in update
Combat mechanics?
First person shooter platformer - uses cards as boost mechanics?
Mini game - Tetra Master
Rogue like deckbuilder
ESP cards for combat? Not sure how it works. DS version only.
Mini game - Triple Triad
Card based battle system
mini game - Vantage Masters
RPG with cards for combat actions
Mini game - B&D
Tactical RPG - Seems more about chips than cards? I haven't played them yet to confirm.
Mini game - Joustus
Card based battle system like Megaman battle network
Combat mechanics based on cards
Online PvP based on Gwent from Witcher 3
Combat and puzzles based on Gwent from Witcher 3
Tactical RPG - Seems more about chips than cards? I haven't played them yet to confirm.
Deck building Rogue like
Deck building RPG
Stealth game using card mechanics for actions
Stealth game using card mechanics for actions
Rogue like with cards for actions and combat?
Narrative deck builder
RPG with cards in combat
Real time strategy deck builder
Combat mechanics based on cards
Use cards to solve golf puzzles.
Rogue like with cards for actions and combat?
RPG with cards in combat
Deck builder Roguelike
Battle system based on cards - Not a real life card game apparently.
Card Battle system
Deck Building Rogue Like
Deck building Rogue like
Deck building Rogue Like
Card Based Deck Builder. Use cards to entertain the circus crowd?
Card combat game using the eyetoy

Orx

Tower Defense deck builder

33 Comments


1 year ago

Shovel Knight: King of Cards?
Would the Metal Gear Acid titles count for this? Neon White and Phantom Dust also come to mind.

1 year ago

@unaderon is right, King of Cards needs to be here. Also SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech

1 year ago

@unaderon and @thealexmott - Good call guys, I only played the base game and didn't realise this had actual card mechanics but just saw some screen shots, added!

@TheQuietGamer - How could I forget Metal Gear Ac!d! You only reviewed them recently! Added! I know nothing about Neon White though.

@Thealexmott X2 - Ah nice! I knew it was an RPG but didn't know it had card based features, just looked. That never came to a console I use so I never looked into it much.

Thanks all!
Mega Man Battle Network and Star Force are my suggestions, they use cards as the core mechanic in battles

1 year ago

Would most card rogue-lites fit the list? Examples would be Griftlands, Monster Train, Across the Obelisk, ORX, etc.

1 year ago

@BlazingWaters - Never played them but yep! I'm going to grab the collections Capcom announced to play them in future though. Added one of each.

1 year ago

@Drax - Sure do! Only one I've heard of there is Griftlands which has been on my wishlist a while. Added!

1 year ago

The World Ends With You features a card game on the top screen during battle. It's a psuedo-sequel to Kingdom Farts Chain of Memories. I'm pretty sure one of those GBA Castlevania games has cards... never played them, but it seems like a popular example

1 year ago

Gotta have Lost Kingdoms 1 & 2 on here.

1 year ago

@Swif - Can't believe I forgot those, I only played the first one but it was so long ago I barely remember it! Added!

1 year ago

@Hylianbran - Not played them so wasn't aware, is that both games or just the first?

1 year ago

@FallenGrace not sure about the squeakquel, it probably doesn't because, you know, only one screen. The original game functions very differently on the crappy rereleases because of the hardware shift so I imagine it was cut out of those at all. I don't think the original devs at Jupiter (the Chain of Memories folks who conceptualized the card game aspect) had anything to do with the ports so it wouldn't surprise me if it was cut out... I guess my point is that I don't think it's in the sequel or subsequent versions. Bummer.

1 year ago

Monmusu Gladiator

1 year ago

Bug Fables & Bravely Default II come to mind

1 year ago

@Alphaone2 - not played either yet, added thanks!

1 year ago

Xenosaga Episode 1 count on this list?

1 year ago

@LSW - It's been years since I played it, does that have its own card game in it? 🤔

1 year ago

Saving this for wishlisting later.

1 year ago

@FallenGrace YES! There is a game-in-game(mini-game?) called Xeno Card, which has a cheesy name. ...I'm not a big fan of card games, but I was quite enthusiastic about Xeno Card. (I can't say it out loud, but I prefer it to Gwent.)

1 year ago

@CDX - Finally I made a list useful on here ha ha. I'm adding notes to the games if they are mini games of full mechanics for people too.

1 year ago

@LSW - I have blanked that from memory somehow! 😂 Added with a note of the game that should not be named...

1 year ago

I just remembered about Signs of the Sojourner and Concrete Jungle, not sure if the latter fits as well as the rest but it's worth consideration. Maybe Golf Peaks too?

1 year ago

Trails into Reverie - Minigame (Vantage Masters)
Kuro no Kiseki II: Crimson Sin - Minigame (Seventh Hearts)

1 year ago

@Drax - Signs of the Sojourner looks interesting, added that on my wishlist.

@Rola - Thanks, I've added Reverie as it's at least out soon. Kuro II is years away so I'll leave it for now until the western name change at least. I'm only just working through my ng+ run of trails from Zero now XD

1 year ago

Does Card Shark count?

1 year ago

@Mettenem - that seems to be normal card games but with cheating as a mechanic is that right?

1 year ago

More or less yeah but the actual card games are skipped and it's only cheating mini games, so you're never playing a game of cards and when it's your turn you only do the cheating bit

That's why I wasn't sure if it counted for this list

1 year ago

@Mettenem - This is a bit of a curve ball lol. I was thinking more mechanics or mini games. Card Shark seems more thematic from your description? I'm not sure if I should count it either XD


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