Never have I ever wanted to be more like a con artist. In Devolver Digital and Nerial’s Card Shark that’s the name of the game. Pulling over card tricks on your unsuspecting marks or just straight-up cheating at times is just a small taste of the masterful tactics that this title will allow players to achieve. Most card-based games these days rely on a player’s knowledge of its strategy, whereas Card Shark allows the player to control things entirely, with no understanding needed of the actual game at hand.

Gameplay

Unlike most card games you’ll come across these days, Card Shark doesn’t focus on a specific card game in the slightest. You won’t be learning how to read a table or lay cards strategically. Instead, you’ll mess with card decks in order to gain a better hand, pretend to fill your opponent’s cup whilst signaling your partner of their hand, or cheat your mark at a simple game of Three-card monte.

There are very many different variations of these tricks and a slew of ones I have yet to mention as well as some I still have yet to come across in my playthrough. Everything I’ve seen so far though has been extremely fun, leaving me glued to my screen in anticipation of the next trick I’ll get to learn. Everything in one way or another has you moving your mouse around to control your current task, making controls simple yet important.

While the game focuses on its extremely unique gameplay at most times, its story and RPGish moments are also very important to this title’s core. It all correlates to a cohesive and believable world to enjoy. Every character has an interesting personality that fills conversations with intrigue. This title has many layers to it that make it way more than as it appears at its surface.

The devs even allow players to test their skills as the game has 3 different difficulty options. There’s an easy option for those who just want to enjoy the game leisurely, a medium option for folks like me who want to play the game as it’s meant to be played, or a hard mode that deals higher consequences to you for messing up your trickery.

Expectations

I’m hoping that as I play, the game continues to unravel in the best of ways. I want to learn more tricks and see what kind of scenarios play out including them. I’d also really like to see the bizarre and hilarious characters continue to pour in as the story starts to come full circle. I’ve been very invested thus far, so I’m hoping that the climax feels earned.

Something that I’ve personally enjoyed about this title is that it always wants you to succeed. By this I mean, there are always chances to practice tricks with those teaching them as well as a help button located in the corner of your screen. This button helps with showing you the controls needed at that given time and the gist of what you’re goal is. My hope is that these two parts of the game continue to be present as it becomes increasingly difficult.

Verdict

If Card Shark continues on the path that its developers put it on, this title is going to be one of the best games I’ve played in 2022. Through its wholly unique gameplay and fantastic world-building narrative, this is an extraordinary experience, even early on. There are very few games that truly let you master being a swindler and I am so happy that it’s been executed this well, so far.

Card Shark releases on June 2nd for PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch. You can check out its demo right now on Steam so go ahead and try it for yourself!