Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars

Voice of Cards is effectively Baby's First Yoko Taro Game, though its approachable nature does make it a little less satisfying.

Strip away the framing and this is a throwaway JRPG that never finds its bite.

Voice Of Cards isn't so much a card game as it is a JRPG in card game clothing, but its simple, repetitive battle system fails to make much of an impression. Far from being a winning hand, this is sadly one for the discard pile.

If you’re looking for an enjoyable RPG with some novel ideas and strong presentation behind it, Voice of Cards can easily eat up a weekend or two. It’s sweet and doesn’t overstay its welcome, even when I wished it would. While those factors aren’t enough for it to match up against the best-in-class competitors, there are many worse ways to spend a cozy fall evening than curled up with Voice of Cards.

Thankfully, the game's excellent presentation holds everything together, and at around 12 hours in length, Voice of Cards doesn't quite outstay its welcome. There are multiple endings to unlock as well, but additional playthroughs may be a tall order. Voice of Cards isn't the kind of RPG that you can rush through — its deliberately slow pace is part of the charm — but there is a slightly expanded New Game+ mode for those who fancy taking on the dragon all over again.

Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is a game that certainly won't appeal to everyone; this is one that you have to come into with an open mind. It's pretty short compared to most RPGs and doesn't take many chances with its gameplay, yet the card aesthetic remains consistently interesting, it's supported by extremely strong presentation, and that gameplay ultimately proves to be quite satisfying. For thirty bucks, this card game is one of the best concise RPGs you can buy on the Switch, and if any of its art or concepts pique your interest, we strongly recommend you give it a shot.

Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is one of two recently released smaller scale games dropped by Square Enix last October with minimal promotion. More experienced gamers might bemoan the straightforward gameplay or lack of difficulty, but those who are interested in the charm and humour only need bring their cards to the table

Despite its enticing visual style and standout soundtrack, Voice of Cards doesn’t rival Yoko Taro’s past works and is unlikely to charm RPG veterans.

Yoko Taro's storytelling is laid out on the table in a card-based adventure that'll appeal to tabletop and JRPG fans alike in Voice of Cards.

Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars isn't truly a card game, but a traditional RPG that uses cards for everything.