Card Shark (2022) · Tastebuds

Card Shark is an adventure game full of cunning, intrigue, and delectable deceit. Enter a world where you’ll need to play your opponents better than you play your cards. Cheat your way to the top of 18th-century French society.

Simulator Adventure Indie Card & Board Game Historical Drama france french revolution historical figures in fictional settings historical adventurePC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Nintendo Switch

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Character

Plot-driven, grave, cool and unpretentious.

character-ledplot-driven
gravecomic
cooloverwhelming
unpretentiousprestige
resolvedopen-ended

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From the critics

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GamingTrendDavid FlynnJun 202295/100
Card Shark is unlike any game you've played before. As a card game where you don't actually play cards, learning and executing various methods of cheating is a ton of fun. The historical setting contributes to the conspiracy central to the story, while adding its own colorful cast of enjoyable characters in the gorgeous setting of 18th century France.
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Hardcore GamerJordan HelmJun 20224.5/5
In fact it's that humble acknowledging of what it's demanding of the player - let alone all the fine details to keep track of - that Card Shark successfully side-steps as a result.
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Nintendo LifeMitch VogelJun 20229/10
Card Shark is the kind of game that at first blush seems like it just won't work. Lots of dialogue bookended by brief, simplistic minigame sequences seems like it would make for an experience that would lose its luster quickly, yet we couldn't put it down. Witty writing, high-stakes gameplay, and a gorgeous art style all come together here to make for a game that's well-executed and unique in its appeal. If you're looking to try something awesome that notably bucks most modern gaming trends, Card Shark is absolutely something we'd recommend, well worth your time and money.
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Press StartBrodie GibbonsJun 20225.5/10
Card Shark succeeds at establishing wild stakes within its wonderfully weird take on 18th century France. It serves up a memorable cast, a story that rewrites history in a fantastical way, all the while arming the player with tricks of the trade that'd make Penn and Teller blush. For a game that's more about playing your opponent than your cards, Card Shark is a memorable adventure.
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Game InformerMatt MillerJun 20226/10
Card Shark features an attractive art style, subtle writing, and a promising premise. But I couldn’t get past my dislike of the core gameplay encounters and the endless teaching segments. I applaud the effort to pull together a unique concept, but the accompanying frustrations mean I have to discourage a sit-down at this particular table.
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