Card Shark

A game that challenges the conventions of standard card games, Card Shark is a unique adventure game that combines cunning with strategy. This beautiful indie title is, to put it simply, like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and that’s partially thanks to its peculiar gameplay and creative setting.

Cheat your way into high society as you use every dirty trick in the book to fool your opponents and run away with their money. This is a game that goes beyond your usual virtual poker simulator, becoming instead a truly unique adventure that happens to feature card games as one of its main gameplay elements.

Cheating your Way to Victory

A game of cards requires skill, sure, but when that fails, cheating becomes the most important tool in a player’s repertoire. That’s the idea behind Card Shark’s gameplay: cheat without getting caught. Think of it as an upgraded version of the card games we’ve seen in Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption series.

The game takes place in the refined party halls of 18th-century France. You begin your quest as a nobody, hoping to climb the social ladder and get into some of the finest establishments that Paris has to offer.

Of course, a gambler like you would need to use every tactic at their disposal if they hope to win big and enter the upper echelon of the aristocracy. A word of advice, though: don’t get caught cheating.

If other characters find you tricking them, they won’t hesitate to ask for retribution, often with deadly consequences. Things like duels and swordfights are a common occurrence in this era of the French aristocracy, so be ready for a fight at all times, just in case things take a turn for the worse.

This variety in gameplay keeps things interesting beyond the simple card games. Coming up with new ways to cheat is as amusing as it is rewarding, basically becoming a tycoon-type game that forces the player to look for new ways to beat their opponents. Simply playing poker, as you did in Poker Night 2, won’t be enough in Card Shark.

Baroque Presentation

One of the best things about Card Shark lies in its unique hand-drawn visuals and the way it perfectly captures the opulence and decadence of 18th century France. The animations during duels and card games are also superb, making the game feel like a moving storybook.

For a game that’s centered around card games, Card Shark certainly does have a great sense of variety for its scenery. Not only will you be visiting palaces and royal party halls: players will also come across taverns, small towns, and all sorts of luxurious parlors on their way to royalty.

The presentation here is absolutely top-notch. Every aspect of the game’s world is spectacularly presented, and it’s made even better thanks to the game’s powerful orchestral soundtrack.

Even if you’re not too much of a fan of card games in general, the story and characters of Card Shark will be enough to pull you into its fantastic world of cheaters and luxury.

Pros

• Amazing hand-drawn art style captures the setting perfectly well
• Tons of mini-games to cheat your way through the story
• Compelling plot and impressive orchestral soundtrack

Cons

• Some animations can look a bit stilted due to the game’s art style
• Steep learning curve for some card games