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.

Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy VIII
Mini game - Triple Triad
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Combat mechanics based on cards
Baten Kaitos Origins
Baten Kaitos Origins
Combat mechanics based on cards
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Min game - Gwent
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales
Combat and puzzles based on Gwent from Witcher 3
Gwent: The Witcher Card Game
Gwent: The Witcher Card Game
Online PvP based on Gwent from Witcher 3
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy IX
Mini game - Tetra Master
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
Mini game - Blade
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II
Mini game - Blade II
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III
Mini game - Vantage Masters
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
Mini game - Vantage Masters
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Into Reverie
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Into Reverie
mini game - Vantage Masters
Inscryption
Inscryption
Combat mechanics?
Hand of Fate
Hand of Fate
Rogue like with cards for actions and combat?
Hand of Fate 2
Hand of Fate 2
Rogue like with cards for actions and combat?
Slay the Spire
Slay the Spire
Rogue like deckbuilder
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
RPG with cards for combat actions
The Eye of Judgment
The Eye of Judgment
Card combat game using the eyetoy
Shovel Knight: King of Cards
Shovel Knight: King of Cards
Mini game - Joustus
Metal Gear Acid
Metal Gear Acid
Stealth game using card mechanics for actions
Metal Gear Acid 2
Metal Gear Acid 2
Stealth game using card mechanics for actions
SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech
SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech
Deck building RPG
Neon White
Neon White
First person shooter platformer - uses cards as boost mechanics?
Phantom Dust
Phantom Dust
Real time strategy deck builder
Mega Man Battle Network
Mega Man Battle Network
Tactical RPG - Seems more about chips than cards? I haven't played them yet to confirm.
Mega Man Star Force: Dragon
Mega Man Star Force: Dragon
Tactical RPG - Seems more about chips than cards? I haven't played them yet to confirm.
Griftlands
Griftlands
Deck building Rogue like
Monster Train
Monster Train
Deck building Rogue like
Orx
Orx
Tower Defense deck builder
Across the Obelisk
Across the Obelisk
Deck building Rogue Like
Lost Kingdoms
Lost Kingdoms
RPG with cards in combat
Lost Kingdoms II
Lost Kingdoms II
RPG with cards in combat
The World Ends with You
The World Ends with You
ESP cards for combat? Not sure how it works. DS version only.
Monmusu Gladiator
Monmusu Gladiator
Deck Building Rogue Like
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling
Mini game - Spycards
Bravely Default II
Bravely Default II
Mini game - B&D
Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
Mini game - Xeno Card
Black Book
Black Book
Deck building RPG
Signs of the Sojourner
Signs of the Sojourner
Narrative deck builder
Golf Peaks
Golf Peaks
Use cards to solve golf puzzles.
Digimon Digital Card Battle
Digimon Digital Card Battle
Battle system based on cards - Not a real life card game apparently.
Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution
Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution
Card Battle mechanics
Fullmetal Alchemist: Stray Rondo
Fullmetal Alchemist: Stray Rondo
Marvel's Midnight Suns
Marvel's Midnight Suns
Card based battle system
Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact
Mini game - Added in update
Suikoden Card Stories
Suikoden Card Stories
Card Battle system
Shattered Heaven
Shattered Heaven
One Step From Eden
One Step From Eden
Card based battle system like Megaman battle network
The Amazing American Circus
The Amazing American Circus
Card Based Deck Builder. Use cards to entertain the circus crowd?
Alina of the Arena
Alina of the Arena
Deck builder Roguelike

33 Comments


Pazaak in KOTOR is absolutely based on blackjack?

1 year ago

@Hot_Anarcocoa - Someone recommended it to me for the list and it's been years since I played KOTOR so assumed it was its own card game. I just looked it up, yeah it blatenly is just with a different name. I'll take it off.

1 year ago

Fallout New Vegas has Caravan which is played with a custom standard deck - you collect cards and build a deck with no real limits. It's easy to break but the game is interesting.

Ogre Battle has usable tarot cards that trigger unique abilities in battle.

Persona 5 Royal has a President mini game, played with a standard deck. It takes place in a break zone in the game and has no effect on the main game.



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