This Deck Battle Game Is Weird

Nathan Mattise approached the Mondo Games rep at Fantastic Fest, as he wanted to play a round of Unmatched, the recently released spin on deck battle game board games. There, he stood confused. Should he use the Jurassic Park raptors? What about Robin Hood?

“You should definitely play Bruce Lee,” the rep suggested, directing me to a different board. And with that, our battle commenced: the greatest martial arts fighter of all time against… the mythical King Arthur? Huh?
When “deck battling” gets mentioned, most minds probably go to the classic collectible trading card games: Magic The Gathering, Pokémon, The Star Wars Customizable Card Game, The Star Trek Customizable Card Game, etc. These games developed cult followings for their combinations of complex strategy, varying play styles, and multi-faceted gameplay. But they also alienated other gamers because the process of acquiring cards could get expensive—and building a successful deck required significant thought and time.

Unlike other games, this game, which was created in partnership with Restoration Games, tries to find the middle ground.

It’s deck battling, but the decks have been premade. Players can still use varying play styles, but those styles have been attached to specific characters. (Bruce Lee ain’t here to dink and dunk you with range attacks; it’s melee time, folks.) Because of this, the setup and learning curve are greatly simplified (though options for expansive customization are, too).

Who won the game between Bruce Lee and King Arthur? Find out over at Ars Technica.

(Image Credit: Nathan Mattise)


Login to comment.




Email This Post to a Friend
"This Deck Battle Game Is Weird"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More