Challengers

I disagree with the complaint I see a lot that the game is bad because matches have no choices. Matches are fast, and they drive choices in deck building. I agree with the complaint that matches are pretty random, but I think that's fine given how fast the matches (and the entire game) are. Ultimately, I dislike the game because deck building has very few choices. Most of the special powers are worse than just taking a vanilla big creature, so deck-building choices are pretty mindless. The interesting choice is between size and duplication, but overall the interesting cards tend to be the bad cards. Still, it's quick and pleasing and fun to watch play out. So, it's not painful to play, but I feel like there is a lot of lost potential. From my limited plays, the robot seems WAY too strong in the later rounds, which is just bad luck for players paired with it. The robot gets used when there are an odd number of players, so I recommend this ONLY for an EVEN player count. Solo is fine but challenging.

Challengers offers a nice introduction to the deck-building mechanic. While possessing enough dynamic variability to engage a heavier gamer, it has simple mechanisms that one can grow further into. My 12-year old son loves this game from the first play!

Pre build decks like Magic the Gathering, play the cards like in war (but together it feels nothing like either). The tournament style is a fun twist too, it makes this game feel like an event. Be ready for lots of luck influencing the game though.

What a clever take on the autobattler genre. Managing your deck is engaging and the matches are snappy and exciting.