Artifact

Artifact is an engaging collectible card game that's sure to excite fans of Dota 2. Unfortunately, the business model inarguably favors those who are willing to spend real money and it could use some additional features and modes.

Ultimately, though, Dota and Artifact both appeal to me for the same reasons. Both can feel overwhelming and unfair, but both those feelings can be quashed with experience - at least, outside of the competitive modes. For now, those are the preserve of the wealthy - and a question mark on the game's longevity for everyone else.

Artifact is a challenging, deep, and surprisingly approachable card game that breaks many of the conventions I’ve come to expect from the genre. That mechanical bliss is complemented by countless Easter eggs and detailed lore, but I am starting to miss a more meaningful progression system to keep me engaged long term. Its physical card game model has ended up being one of the more reasonable aroun...

Robust tactics and elegant design ensure Artifact’s often sublime strategy isn’t complex. But a lack of long-term goals and a risky monetisation strategy leaves the game’s future feeling uncertain.

Artifact feels like the MOBA of card games, in more ways than one. There's just as much strategy, just as much variety, just as many resources to manage, and it's just as challenging. There's a certain satisfaction in piecing together combos that can wipe out an entire board, but it isn't easy. A lot of time in Artifact, especially in the early going, will focus on deck-building. After building a ...