Forbidden Solitaire

Not to say that either the story or the gameplay are bad (they're both very good IMO!), but they're here to do a job and that job is putting funky 3D models of dead wizards and guys with messed up heads and goofy FMV sequences on my screen while rompler synths play in the background, which they do a perfect job of.

Regarding the gameplay, it mixes classic solitaire with combat segments where you deal damage using the same mechanics and the balance between the two is really spot on!

If you enjoy creepy visuals, unsettling tones, and a very chill solitaire experience, this will absolutely click.

The gameplay is fun, with what I would call a "pretty chill but definitely not free to win" difficulty level, and the story hits the haunted game beats I'd expect with a good twist or two.

Although the isolated elements of the game sound as though they wouldn’t mix, the combination of a well thought out story, with many degrees of possible interpretations, the incredibly well executed voice acting, the purposefully cheesy cutscenes, and the masterfully created card puzzles come together to make what I can only compare to a fulfilling and tasteful meal.

The game has a good mix of 'puzzle', 'combat' and 'stealth' challenges along with an interesting upgrade system and the 'game-within-a-game' premise.