Griftlands

Charm and good storytelling overcome limited, experimental deck-building.

Griftlands provides drama, laughs, and fun strategy that's a great twist on the genre, adding more character depth and lore than the usual deck-builder

I like the world and the writing, and I especially like how it can click its heels and conjure up a story – as long as you don’t get bogged down in overlong battles. It’s certainly worth keeping an eye on, and if any of this sounds interesting then an early access visit might well be worth your while.

I like Griftlands. It’s fun, and it does introduce new ideas, in the roguelite deckbuilder realm. I wish it did a bit more to make itself feel different from the other games in the genre. Combat is certainly somewhat too close to Slay the Spire and others. However, the setting and the negotiation system are great and really worth checking out. While I don’t intend to replay Griftlands, like I’ve done with other deckbuilders, I very much enjoyed my time with it.

"Double agent and licence to kill."

Griftlands has so much to offer to a player. The nuanced deck-building system, heartfelt characters and a deep lore makes it a worthy way to sink dozens of hours.

With a fascinating world and highly replayable roguelite sensibilities, Griftlands stands out as one of the most delightful RPG releases of 2021.

Among roguelike deck builders, Griftlands is an ambitious one. But it actually pulls off those ambitions. The gameplay is unique, combining a two-deck system with a relationship system. Visuals, sound, and controls get one thumbs-up, while the writing gets two thumbs. Even run-of-the-mill conversations have a spark of wit, or at least a dash of snark. More importantly, it’s fun to play (though there’s lots of terminology to digest at first) and enough reason to replay on a higher difficulty if you love a good challenge. At $19.99, this is seriously a steal.

Griftlands uses flexible systems to create a remarkable roguelike deck-building RPG. Its best aspect, without a doubt, is the great influence of decisions: allying with someone or annihilating characters have important consequences in the events. In addition, it's exciting to be able to resolve dilemmas in a variety of ways—talk, intimidation, and bribery are valid options. The two types of encounters (negotiation and direct combat) are solid and with good possibilities, even if they are not as varied as other representatives of the genre. Finally, the elaborate narrative aspect makes the matches engaging, but there are some pacing problems. Griftlands is inventive and another great representative of the genre.

Griftlands shines in unexpected places.