ROGUEBOOK

Last year there was Monster Train, before that Slay the Spire, before that Dream Quest. The digital deckbuilder is in the ‘Doom-clone’ stage. All these games about constructing the perfect set of cards to survive randomized battles, victory based on some huge combo, differentiated by their looks.

Aesthetically, is a winner. It’s designed by, and shares its setting as well as visuals that are part Miyazaki forest, part children’s fairytale book. Glowing orbs waft through trees, sinister beasts with antlers emerge from the undergrowth. A Disney witch crooks her finger and a louche ogre king lounges like a jarl. There are a lot of fluffy yak creatures. I’ve been defeated more than once by raccoon jerks who fling yaks out of a catapult. I’ve learned to fear the yakapult.