Blades, Bows & Magic

Blades, Bows and Magic is a simple card battler that understands how to make a small ruleset feel readable and occasionally clever. Its best card abilities create the kind of sneaky reversals that make you grin, and its straightforward design makes it very easy to pick up. On the Other hand, the lack of real deckbuilding leaves the whole thing feeling lighter than it should. You can read the board, spot the threat, and understand the counter, but you cannot always shape the outcome satisfactorily. That makes the strategy feel reactive rather than authored. Still, there is something quietly likeable about it. Not flashy, not especially rich, but tidy, mischievous, and easy to grasp. Blades, Bows and Magic know exactly what sort of game it wants to be. It just does not always give the player enough say. Blades, Bows and Magic gets the Thumb Culture Silver Award.