I have been looking around for a decent single player card battler for quite a while. So many are either adapted multiplayer boardgames, or turn-based strategy, or weird hybrid puzzle tile-laying games, or CCGs, or god knows what else passes as a 'card' battler or deckbuilder nowadays - the whole idea is becoming as genericly meaningless as 'roguelike'.

Anyhow, I needed something closer to Slay the Spite and Monster Train, or my favourite underrated gem, Dark Mist. After a few too many misfires along the way I finally found it here.

Pick a class, run through a series of mob encounters to a final boss, unlock stuff and tweak your deck along the way. Perfect.

There's more than enough going on here to keep the format interesting without straying too far into gimmicks.

Ignore the horrible "Vault of the Void" representative image that looks like it was produced in MS Paint, and is no doubt costing the game significant sales. In reality, Vault's in-game art looks gorgeous and everything is very easy on the eye, super-professional and readable - easily comparable with Vault's better-known competition.

Cards move smoothly and do the physical throwing/card flicking thing in a satisfying way.

Vault of the Void can at times appear a bit overwhelming in terms of the number of things to keep track of. Having said this, I managed to clear the game with the first hero on my third run, mostly staying with starter cards and largely ignoring anything that made my brain hurt. Over time I've been able to mix things up organically and build on some combos through the normal flow of the game as I've observed how things are supposed to work.

Which should not be taken to imply that the game is easy, more like easy enough to get into without tears. After a few hours in, however, I feel that I'm still only scratching the surface, and that's without yet having fiddled with the extensive difficulty settings and challenge modes, including a daily.

The solo developer is very friendly and responsive.

I would have preferred a few more intermediate micro-unlocks to keep me coming back and playing, but it's a small criticism.

Recommended.

I have been looking around for a decent single player card battler for quite a while. So many are either adapted multiplayer boardgames, or turn-based strategy, or weird hybrid puzzle tile-laying games, or CCGs, or god knows what else passes as a 'card' battler or deckbuilder nowadays - the whole idea is becoming as genericly meaningless as 'roguelike'. Anyhow, I needed something closer to Slay the Spite and Monster Train, or my favourite underrated gem, Dark Mist. After a few too many misfires along the way I finally found it here. Pick a class, run through a series of mob encounters to a final boss, unlock stuff and tweak your deck along the way. Perfect. There's more than enough going on here to keep the format interesting without straying too far into gimmicks. Ignore the horrible "Vault of the Void" representative image that looks like it was produced in MS Paint, and is no doubt costing the game significant sales. In reality, Vault's in-game art looks gorgeous and everything is very easy on the eye, super-professional and readable - easily comparable with Vault's better-known competition. Cards move smoothly and do the physical throwing/card flicking thing in a satisfying way. Vault of the Void can at times appear a bit overwhelming in terms of the number of things to keep track of. Having said this, I managed to clear the game with the first hero on my third run, mostly staying with starter cards and largely ignoring anything that made my brain hurt. Over time I've been able to mix things up organically and build on some combos through the normal flow of the game as I've observed how things are supposed to work. Which should not be taken to imply that the game is easy, more like easy enough to get into without tears. After a few hours in, however, I feel that I'm still only scratching the surface, and that's without yet having fiddled with the extensive difficulty settings and challenge modes, including a daily. The solo developer is very friendly and responsive. I would have preferred a few more intermediate micro-unlocks to keep me coming back and playing, but it's a small criticism. Recommended.