The turn-based, roguelike, and deckbuilder style is certainly one of my private favorites in recent times. The variety of entries on this class is steadily growing, however probably the most prolific (and nonetheless my favourite) instance is Slay The Spire. I by no means anticipated this expertise to start, however Slay The Spire is a sport I’ve spent a whole lot of hours on at this level.
Following carefully in its footsteps and out of the blue showing within the sport’s remaining hours in 2025 is Hunter’s Moon: A Sovereign Syndicate Journey. Whereas the unique Sovereign Syndicate was a steampunk, horror/fantasy RPG within the total model of Disco Elysium, Hunter’s Moon is a spin-off throughout the universe however with a totally completely different gameplay method.
After spending loads of time with this newest foray into a specific model of deck builder that I really like, I wasn’t utterly happy with Hunter’s Moon. You will see how good it’s in form within the early hours. on the similar time, many It additionally makes you’re feeling optimistic and optimistic. Shuffle the deck and introduce your offers.
Pure gothic, steampunk ambiance
At the start, Hunter’s Moon seems to be and sounds nice.. Every thing concerning the UI, menus, and different mechanical visuals really feel utterly Slay The Spire-adjacent, if in a roundabout way impressed. There is a effective line right here. I believe I fell in love with the sport immediately as a result of it seems to be and feels just like this competing title. However as a private fan of Slay The Spire, I finally did not care.
From there, the “steampunk-meets-gothic-horror-heavy London” artwork model seems like a very nice mashup of the Lovecraftian horror of Bloodborne and the stark, stunning cel-shaded design of Darkest Dungeon. On the similar time, Hunter’s Moon feels artistically distinctive, buying and selling the panels of a Sovereign Syndicate graphic novel for storybook-like cutscenes and conversational encounters.
The music is much more excellent, providing extra selection and atmosphere-setting high quality than another related video games on this style. It will get creepy and unsettling throughout sure random encounters and battles with lower-tier enemies, earlier than hitting a pulse-pounding observe with among the extra notable boss battles.
As soon as unlocked, 4 playable characters (referred to as Brokers) fly round this dystopian model of London aboard an airship referred to as The Starling. There are some moments of enjoyable banter between characters, nevertheless it’s by no means excessive and does not get in the way in which of the sport itself.
Hunter’s Moon seems to be and sounds nice.
The story is a bit sparse total, nevertheless it nonetheless has some options that make it stand out in comparison with different related video games. Basically, one thing is inflicting terrifying mutations throughout England, and it is as much as you and your crew to search out the reason for every and put it down.
This lore is sprinkled all through quests, random encounters, and small dialogue blurbs that play each time you begin a brand new mission. The voice actors are wonderful, and the narrator and different actors are top-notch.
Acquainted gameplay loop with a couple of tweaks
Frankly, in the event you’ve performed Slay The Spire, you in all probability know the way Hunter’s Moon works from a gameplay standpoint, at the least for probably the most half. On the base degree, you interact in turn-based battles towards quite a lot of creatures whereas utilizing a deck of playing cards full of completely different powers and talents. Every card within the deck is dealt randomly, and every card has an related vitality price to make use of primarily based on its total energy.
Whenever you run out of vitality to play any extra playing cards, the flip switches to your opponent and the method repeats till somebody wins. As you progress by your run, you should have the chance so as to add playing cards to your deck or improve present playing cards you personal. Then it turns into a stability of mixing playing cards with related functions to synergize and construct the most effective deck doable for the most effective probability of completion.
Just like Slay The Spire, you can too acquire highly effective relics. Every relic gives game-changing bonuses, corresponding to extra vitality to make use of on a flip, elevated HP, and particular resistances. You may select to navigate encounters throughout your run in any order you see match, requiring extra technique to plan forward and select encounters in the most effective order to outlive.
Nevertheless, Hunter’s Moon provides much more concepts, and when you be taught all of the programs, it is really a bit deeper and extra layered than Slay The Spire. Most notable are the companions who combat alongside you autonomously. Subsequently, you want to take note of the actions and well being bars of your companions in order that they will contribute as optimally as doable to every battle. I wasn’t certain if I appreciated or wanted the companions at first, however they utterly received me over by the top as every battle elevated in complexity and have become enjoyable to grasp and plan.
There’s additionally loads of post-run meta development right here, as The Starling has rooms that may be repaired with foreign money discovered throughout runs. Making these repairs will make you noticeably stronger in your subsequent run, and can also be a approach to unlock new characters for future use. It is an ideal system and makes you’re feeling such as you’re really working in the direction of particular rewards and outcomes with every run.
…When you be taught all of the programs, it is a bit deeper and extra layered than Slay The Spire.
You additionally earn XP, which unlocks factors that may be spent on every character like a talent tree. For some time I assumed this technique was buggy as a result of the sport did not clarify that talent factors have been distributed evenly between characters, however as soon as I figured this out I tailored to this concept. Due to this shared talent level system, I could not actually give my all to my favourite characters as a result of I needed to deal with everybody equally. That is effective because it encourages everybody to attempt, nevertheless it’s additionally a bit annoying in the long run.
Whereas the sport is generally nicely defined, there was a unbroken theme that sure concepts weren’t all the time portrayed in an intuitive means. Most playing cards and objects include a reference card that tells you what every buff, debuff, or mechanic does, however some do not. I spent too many rounds making an attempt to determine what every sort of injury or debuff really does. That is as a result of it merely wasn’t clear. I realized it and at last figured all of it out, and I am certain you’ll too. Simply know that you’re going to have to do some homework right here as nicely.
Deck Builder’s Stream State, However Unbalanced State
There is a studying curve with this sort of sport, and at first the encounters will really feel very gradual as you learn and be taught what every card sort and skill does. I really like this a part of the deck builder. As a result of understanding all of the concepts and mechanics offered merely makes you’re feeling smarter. When every thing goes nicely, it is a actually rewarding feeling since you really feel such as you’ve completed your half in studying how every thing works.
However whereas I take pleasure in this studying section as nicely, video games like Hunter’s Moon actually shine when every thing begins to grow to be second nature. Finally you will be taught all of the playing cards, on-screen indicators for all types of actions, and the vitality prices of every thing you need to obtain in your flip. I’ve discovered that it is on this second that gamers can begin flying playing cards round like they’re possessed, giving us a sort of flowstate sport that may by no means be replicated in the identical means in lots of different genres. That feeling is alive and nicely in Hunter’s Moon, and it is fantastic.
After all, RNG performs a giant function right here. As a result of the success of your run will depend on which playing cards, relics, consumables, and different objects you come throughout throughout your makes an attempt. However whatever the final construct you select, as soon as you’ve got put every thing collectively, few video games on this style really feel as rewarding as Hunter’s Moon.
The builders really helpful a mouse and keyboard for Hunter’s Moon, and I utterly agree. This management scheme works greatest for the kind of motion on display. If you do not have high-end equipment, your previous setup will nonetheless work.
Not less than, that’s till you begin to really feel the imbalance within the title. I really like finishing completely different quests throughout loops and runs, however Hunter’s Moon may be very straightforward when you determine on the construct you need to use. that is seeds Whereas that is true of video games like Slay The Spire (at the least till the top), it is much more so in Hunter’s Moon. Griswald grew to become my essential agent. As a result of together with the 4 companions he can summon with him throughout battles, Ran has grow to be a near-guaranteed victory frequently for me.
…Few video games on this style are as rewarding as Hunter’s Moon whenever you put all of it collectively.
There are 4 sections to the sport, and I do not assume I ever died from ranges 1 to three. It is just because Griswald was so overpowering even in what appeared like probably the most tough boss encounters. Nothing might cease me. In whole, three of the 4 characters really feel the identical when you perceive them. The fourth character works like an entire joke as compared, and I am unsure why anybody would really select her. Sorry, Nandi. It is fantastic. However…I nonetheless by no means I’ll by no means use you for a run once more.
The sport continues at this “too straightforward” tempo for a very long time till you attain the ultimate degree, degree 4. The problem degree spikes right here, and it seems like you must put in a little bit of effort at decrease ranges to maintain going till you really beat the sport. I am okay with making an attempt, however after I already really feel like I’ve utterly mastered every thing, this sudden spike actually kills my momentum and makes the sport’s tempo really feel inconsistent and bizarre.
The excellent news is that these factors will be adjusted. I hope the builders get related suggestions and make Hunter’s Moon really feel higher calibrated and paced in problem. I a lot choose video games that ramp up evenly as an alternative of simply feeling tremendous straightforward till you get sabotaged on the finish.
Wants extra time within the oven
General the stability of the sport was my greatest criticism, however sadly I’ve to speak concerning the efficiency points as nicely. For probably the most half, Hunter’s Moon works extremely nicely. The visuals are clear; many It holds up very nicely by way of body price, whether or not you carry out actions on the display unexpectedly or in fast succession.
An issue I had many occasions was that the sport would get caught between my flip and my opponent’s flip. I play all my playing cards, run out of vitality, and finish my flip. Nothing occurs after that, and the characters on display simply stand there in idle animation endlessly. After all, this made many battles utterly unplayable, which is an actual disgrace. The worst half was when this occurred throughout a boss combat I used to be making an attempt to win.
It wasn’t the top of the world although, as I used to be capable of exit the principle menu and get again to operating. The scary half is that each time one thing like this occurs, you must begin the encounter yet again. Doing this additionally meant that the playing cards have been dealt in a unique order, so it was irritating to come back so near profitable solely to have to begin over due to this downside and be given a suboptimal hand on the subsequent attempt. It felt like punishment for one thing I had no management over.
This wasn’t a giant deal when it solely occurred a couple of occasions, however ultimately it grew to become a very widespread downside, with greater than a dozen separate occurrences. Each time I clicked “finish flip,” I sat there questioning if I might proceed enjoying the sport. After all, this does not really feel good in any respect, so you will have to patch it up and repair it earlier than you may really get into Hunter’s Moon.
I simply really feel So It is a disgrace, however I believe Hunter’s Moon shall be a very nice work, so fantastic As soon as these points and stability changes are resolved, the sport shall be full. I used to be capable of get previous the technical points as a result of I actually appreciated the sport (and, nicely, I am reviewing it), however not each participant does the identical.
Hunter’s Moon: A Sovereign Syndicate Journey is my absolute favourite deck builder cherished Early on. The presentation is nice and the Slay The Spire-esque gameplay is high notch. Sadly, the extra I performed, the extra I began operating into extreme efficiency points and a normal feeling of imbalance. With a bit extra time and optimization, it might simply grow to be the most effective titles in its style. Till then, it is nonetheless an excellent time, nevertheless it hasn’t reached its full potential but.