PC REVIEW | Deck of Haunts

When I was young, I loved the idea of games where you could play as a villain. Then came titles like Haunting Starring Polterguy and Ghostmaster. But it’s been years since we’ve seen a fresh take on the ‘let’s scare the living out of our home’ genre—barring a few solid indie titles—so when I was given Deck of Haunts to review, I was quite excited.

Deck of Haunts not only lets you unleash your inner evil on unsuspecting mortals, but it also features a strong deck-building aspect. You can create new abilities to haunt those pesky fleshies, upgrade your house, and transform it into a unique structure terrifying enough to shake even the most hardened ghost hunters.

You won’t get the hang of things in a single sitting, but if you persevere and learn the cards, you’re in for plenty of spooky fun and mischievous shenanigans.

Things I liked!

• Concept | Playing as a villainous house, intent on terrifying its inhabitants, visitors, and even burglars, is an absolute blast. You can take a meticulous approach or charge in with all ectoplasmic guns blazing. The deck-building feature adds a unique twist, allowing you to strategize your most brutal haunts. Discovering new powers as you progress only makes the experience more thrilling.

• Graphics | The graphics follow the familiar style of deck-building games but with a spooky twist. As you might expect, everything feels like it’s been pulled straight from a horror comic, and the card designs are impressively well thought out. Scattered throughout are great little nods to the horror genre—if you know where to look.
  
  
• Sound | Sound plays a crucial role in determining the effectiveness of any horror game, and Deck of Haunts does not disappoint. Its soundscape is chilling, featuring rattling chains, eerie whispers, ominous bells, and much more. The wrong sound at the wrong time can make or break the atmosphere, but Deck of Haunts demonstrates the developer’s commitment to crafting an immersive aural experience—something that is truly appreciated.
  
  
• Updates | The developer plans to actively update this game for the foreseeable future, which is fantastic news—Deck of Haunts has a lot of potential. I wonder if there will be a mod store or even a way to add your own narrative to a house. Either way, Deck of Haunts is shaping up to be a game worth keeping an eye on for deck-building fanatics.

Mixed & disliked!

• Early bugs | As with most new releases these days, Deck of Haunts hasn’t escaped a few gremlins of its own. There are some bugs that might deter players from continuing, but as mentioned earlier, the developer is actively working to resolve the issues as quickly as possible. Just be aware that you may encounter a hiccup or two in the meantime.

• Difficulty for beginners | If you’re new to the deck-building genre, it’s worth taking the time to read through the tutorial instructions thoroughly and carefully review each card’s and human’s stats as you play. The learning curve can be a bit tricky, but if you’re fairly competent in the genre, it’s more about discovering which cards synergise well and allowing yourself to sink into the atmosphere.

CONCLUSION

Score: 72/100

A fun deck-building reverse horror game with plenty of potential to grow into something even more. With great graphics, a compelling concept, and a soundscape fit for a haunted house event on Halloween, Deck of Haunts delivers an eerie experience. If you enjoy playing the villain, grab Deck of Haunts and let your inner demons run wild.