Artifact

 PC
User Score
2.2

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 622 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 111 out of 622
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 622
  3. Negative: 488 out of 622

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  1. Eilanzer
    Dec 5, 2018
    4
    At this moment i don´t recommend this game to any friend, there is a LOT to improve in the game to be worth your time.
    The game need casual and expert rank
    Need some way to encourage you to keep playing, quests, skins, cards, tickets, gold, sleeves, sprays...anything! Chat ¬¬ (c´mon that´s basic and should be in the game day one) Balancing (cards like axe or drow are pure bullcrap)    At this moment i don´t recommend this game to any friend, there is a LOT to improve in the game to be worth your time.
    The game need casual and expert rank
    Need some way to encourage you to keep playing, quests, skins, cards, tickets, gold, sleeves, sprays...anything!
    Chat ¬¬ (c´mon that´s basic and should be in the game day one)
    Balancing (cards like axe or drow are pure bullcrap)
    TOO MUCH RNG!!! The rng in this game goes to increase your damage, to double your cards to even cheat death...RLY?!...RLY!!! ¬¬

    Don´t get me wrong the game is good and has potential, but it has too many flaws right now...So just wait.    … Expand
  2. NixsoNYKT
    Dec 5, 2018
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Плюсы + :
    1. Геймплей в разы разнообразнее + вариантивнее чем в той же хирстоуна
    2. Легко можно освоиться новичкам в эту ККИ, особенно если ты играл в доту
    3. Картинка приятное + озвучка(оригинал).
    Минусы -:
    1. Как и во всех ККИ без определенного кол-во доната много выигрывать не получиться! Но чтоб у тебя были почти все карты тебе нужно донатить в разы меньше чем той же хирстоуне!
    2. Агрессивная политика доната! Слишком...
    3. Много рандома которые влияют на весь матч, каким либо ты задротом не был если рандом не на твоей стороне на 100% опять же ты не выиграешь! В хирстоуне есть баланс в этом плане!
    4. Слишком мало контента! За 1300 руб Если ближайшие время валв не выпустят большой патч с контентом каким нибудь то игра уже умрет!

    Итог: В данное время не советую брать эту игру, уж тем более если у вас нет лишних 3к чтоб карточек нормальных понабрать. Ждите 3-4 мес потом я надеюсь изменение будут!    … Expand
  3. wagllgaw
    Nov 28, 2018
    4
    This game could have been a real interesting competitor to HS / MTG Arena / Eternal but unfortunately it cripples itself with pay-to-win, total lack of progression system, and a real focus on gambling as the core mechanic. This game is interesting if physical MTG was your only competitor but cardgames are a crowded space and I don't see how I could justify any more $s on this game.

    It    This game could have been a real interesting competitor to HS / MTG Arena / Eternal but unfortunately it cripples itself with pay-to-win, total lack of progression system, and a real focus on gambling as the core mechanic. This game is interesting if physical MTG was your only competitor but cardgames are a crowded space and I don't see how I could justify any more $s on this game.

    It is a real pity because their are positives. They really looked to innovate on the core card game formula and that should be worth a few points just by itself.    … Expand
  4. Struyk
    Nov 29, 2018
    3
    Pro's:
    Dota Universe
    High Skillcap
    Richard Garfield
    Awesome deckbuilding
    Smooth gameplay and UI
    Moba-like

    Cons:
    Pay2Play
    Pay2Win
    Unbalanced
    Lots of luck involved
    Not Half-Life 3
    Semi-Slow Games

    Luck:
    Drawing the right Cards
    Minions entering the right lane
    Minions / Heroes entering the right combat lane
    Getting the right combat direction
    Pack opening ( especially in draft )
  5. Kamamura
    Dec 11, 2018
    3
    Greed machine designed to siphon money from people via a virtual market with artificially created scarcity of virtual items.

    The games design seems solid at the core, but is sprinkled with some really badly designed RNG cards. No way to get cards besides paying real money, good cards can cost over 20 dollars a piece.

    Stay away.
  6. Caerleon
    Dec 4, 2018
    3
    Pluses:
    Interesting gameplay, minimum amount of randomness. Unlike casual Hearthstone, where you only need to play green cards, here you need to really think. Three playing fields give scope to tactical planning.
    Minuses: It is impossible to play without donate. Is it a joke? I've bought the game and have to pay extra to play? The best card is your credit card I understand what the    Pluses:
    Interesting gameplay, minimum amount of randomness. Unlike casual Hearthstone, where you only need to play green cards, here you need to really think. Three playing fields give scope to tactical planning.
    Minuses:
    It is impossible to play without donate. Is it a joke? I've bought the game and have to pay extra to play? The best card is your credit card

    I understand what the idea was. Valve wanted to make a real card game where every card is valuable. Remember the old days of Board games, when we bought sets in stores. I think they wanted to convey the spirit of that time. Therefore, the cards can be bought or changed with other players.    … Expand
  7. ireviewbadgames
    Feb 17, 2019
    3
    A tragic tale of how far the folk hero known as "Valve" has fallen; gone are the days of critical acclaim and commercial success, instead they invite this foreboding specter of almost unfathomable greed. Almost.

    The lessons you should learn, dear reader, are simple: show up 10 minutes early, don't double dip and listen to advice when they tell you that shirt does NOT go with that    A tragic tale of how far the folk hero known as "Valve" has fallen; gone are the days of critical acclaim and commercial success, instead they invite this foreboding specter of almost unfathomable greed. Almost.

    The lessons you should learn, dear reader, are simple: show up 10 minutes early, don't double dip and listen to advice when they tell you that shirt does NOT go with that jacket.

    Lord Gaben decided to finally delve into the CCG market. . . unfortunately he did so years too late. Now he faces down competition like Gwent, Hearthstone and of course, the massive machine known as Magic the Gathering. Then, Valve decides to ignore common sense and generously decides to sell the ability to even play the game for $20.00 USD. What's that, you actually want cards, not the bum ones you RNGed when you bought the game? You'll have to empty your wallet some more, because the only way to acquire new cards is through real cash! Valve needed to pick one system or the other.

    Even with this disaster in the making, our once-golden child still had a chance. . . the beta testers! But alas, instead they recruited an army of Yes-Men and boot-lickers, endlessly singing Lord Gaben's praises: "Oh yes, the game is perfect! No changes needed." "Best card game ever, Hearthstone is done for!" Any real criticism was brushed aside and ignored, leaving us with this wallet-sucking monstrosity- simply too horrible to even look at.    … Expand
  8. HobusTobu
    Nov 28, 2018
    3
    The game is enjoyable on the surface for any TCG players out there. However, the game is clearly a desperate hail Mary from Valve to find a foot in a market by spinning off one of their most popular IPs at the moment.
    I think somewhere along the development pipeline, Gaben saw the game and said, "I'm not paying to promote this." Because this game really, super quieltly eeked out of the    The game is enjoyable on the surface for any TCG players out there. However, the game is clearly a desperate hail Mary from Valve to find a foot in a market by spinning off one of their most popular IPs at the moment.
    I think somewhere along the development pipeline, Gaben saw the game and said, "I'm not paying to promote this." Because this game really, super quieltly eeked out of the woodwork. I didn't know the release date until it was out. They added an update to Dota just to show the release trailer for artifact.
    Other reviewers have touched on why the pay to win model is dumb, but let me add something, I genuinely can't comprehend why someone would pay for digital cards. Physical cards, sure. I can physically trade those in a few years and they may increase in value because they're physical. But digital TCG, I can only trade Steam Wallet dollars. Which is about as useful as trading Dave N Buster's bucks at the Car Dealership. So, you're paying as much as you would for other TCG, you get less, and the experience is only online. I shouldn't have to explain why that's dumb.
    The game has cool features at first, until you realize that outside of the most basic matchmaking features, the game requires you to buy tickets to play the other features.
    The game as is, is the polar oppostie of Dota. It's absolute horse **** that they attatched Dota's name to this game. The art design is the same, but outside of that, they're nothing alike.

    Lastly, the consequences of this game directly impact Dota 2, the game that we actually give a **** about. Many of the changes to heroes in Artifact recently showed up in the 7.20 update for Dota. Expect to see hero buffs and nerfs take place purely based on how Valve wants to inflate or deflate the value of Artifact cards. If you think that supporting this game is all's well that ends well, peep how complacency empowers lazy, fearful, greedy companies like Activision, Bethesda and EA pays out.
    Pro tip: You get **** games in the future.

    To all those who are saying this game is good for trying something new, keep in mind that new ideas aren't always the best. And all the pro Dota players or Dotacasters that are sucking this game off are totally biased. They're paid by Valve to promote the game. And being able to stream a game before everyone else gets their hands on it will guarantee you views/donations. That's just the law of averages.

    AVOID if you can.    … Expand
  9. Aseptik
    Nov 30, 2018
    3
    Prey "pay" to win. Vavle did good game with an interesting mechanics by i need to pay to play in this game.
  10. kazkovsky
    Nov 28, 2018
    2
    The best card in this game is your credit card. I love Dota 2, I love the concept that you have all heores and pay only for cosmetics. Here you have pay 2 win scheme.
  11. rogerroger
    Nov 30, 2018
    2
    It's a decent enough card game. But it's Pay 2 Play, Pay 2 Win, Pay 2 Anything. There's no way to earn cards without paying real money, and the $20 intial price does not give you enough cards.
  12. UrfinGoodwin
    Dec 14, 2018
    2
    Pay2Win and donate ,donate,donate ... This game about greed at not a bad visual part
  13. xlmaelstrom
    Nov 29, 2018
    2
    I actually got into the beta through a friend and it was very,very fun while we had access to all cards.Draft versus good players, try out every constructed deck you'd want.
    Then the "public" beta opened and the true nature of the game showed up. You pay2pay2pay2pay2 eventually ,possibly win something little if you maintain 60-70% win rate.
    I stopped playing Magic, because of it's ****    I actually got into the beta through a friend and it was very,very fun while we had access to all cards.Draft versus good players, try out every constructed deck you'd want.
    Then the "public" beta opened and the true nature of the game showed up. You pay2pay2pay2pay2 eventually ,possibly win something little if you maintain 60-70% win rate.
    I stopped playing Magic, because of it's **** economy and now this thing is even worse. You have a market where the tax is 60% of the card value for some of the cheaper cards.There is no direct trading. If someone like the Gwent developers can profit off something that is essentially a dead game by now and give good prize pools, then there is no reason for Valve to pick-up MTG economy.
    In Gwent you can have pretty much full collection while being f2p and shell out some money on animated(premium) cards.
    Here, if you want to play constructed and play the 2 of the strongest colours - well ,get ready to shell out the price of an AAA game for 2 cards on the market. Full collection price is at least 150 pounds (200$) and you can't try the game for free.
    You have to pay to try it out, you have to pay for the competitive modes, you have to pay for constructed since you can't own all the cards even if you payed for the game already.If you decide to pay for competitive, well getting any reward is happening at 60% win-rate and you still don't get your money back at this point. Going 3-2 in a competitive, for which you have payed already to enter , you win just your ticket back LOL, not even a pack for a 2$ entry.
    Rewards are a joke ,competitive modes are behind a paywall, constructed collection costs what you would spend for 1 year ahead on AAA titles.
    I am not even sure if it's only Valve's fault as Garfield has defended MTG Economy multiple times, but still **** Gaben, **** Garfield for ruining a beautiful, fun , high-skill cap game with their greed.    … Expand
  14. LeoShum
    Dec 2, 2018
    2
    Very interesting gameplay and great mechanic, also great features like buying and selling cards, but there are still 3 BIG minuses:
    1) Pay-to-Play and Pay-to Win, when you should buy packs and tickets and there no alternative fore biggest part of players to enjoy gaming.
    2) No Social features like chat 3) No player information like statistics. We are still love Valve and still can    Very interesting gameplay and great mechanic, also great features like buying and selling cards, but there are still 3 BIG minuses:
    1) Pay-to-Play and Pay-to Win, when you should buy packs and tickets and there no alternative fore biggest part of players to enjoy gaming.
    2) No Social features like chat
    3) No player information like statistics.
    We are still love Valve and still can love Artifact like every Valve game if Valve will remember about their reputation and and will cease to be so greedy!    … Expand
  15. Arogvat
    Nov 30, 2018
    1
    Classic pay-to-pay service, just give Gaber more money and THEN you can play you game. Moneyfarm for Valve.
  16. Atyzer
    Dec 9, 2018
    1
    Game Genre: Simulator of Valve's greed.
    2018 wasn't nice to gamers.
    I loved Valve's business direction for years. Played their amazing games since I was a 11 y.o. kid. HL1, HL2, TF1, TF2, CS 1.5/1.6, CS:GO, Dota2. I've always admired cosmetic ways of monetization in Valve's games, but this new direction is so wrong on many levels. The game itself is okay, but the way it revolves around    Game Genre: Simulator of Valve's greed.
    2018 wasn't nice to gamers.
    I loved Valve's business direction for years. Played their amazing games since I was a 11 y.o. kid. HL1, HL2, TF1, TF2, CS 1.5/1.6, CS:GO, Dota2. I've always admired cosmetic ways of monetization in Valve's games, but this new direction is so wrong on many levels. The game itself is okay, but the way it revolves around MTX is wrong on many levels.    … Expand
  17. fastbot
    Dec 14, 2018
    1
    Покупаешь игру в надежде на лучший ККИ. Играешь 5 игр . Дальше плати, нет возможности бесплатно получать паки ток за деньги. Да велв привлекли якобы к созданию этой ККи самого Ричарда Гарфилда создателя magic the gathering, что и подкупило к покупке, но создатели забыли провести паралель между реальной игрой и общением с живым аппонентом и покупкой паков ( реальных карт ) и своейПокупаешь игру в надежде на лучший ККИ. Играешь 5 игр . Дальше плати, нет возможности бесплатно получать паки ток за деньги. Да велв привлекли якобы к созданию этой ККи самого Ричарда Гарфилда создателя magic the gathering, что и подкупило к покупке, но создатели забыли провести паралель между реальной игрой и общением с живым аппонентом и покупкой паков ( реальных карт ) и своей компьютерной игры. Платить за пиксели дополнительные деньги чтоб играть как в реальной жизни ну такое + цены на карты Сумашедшие. Далее это компьютерная игра жанра ККИ , должна как и многие нынешние игры хоть немного вознаграждать , но тут такова нет . Ни заданий ни ачивок, играй просто так. Игра полностью манетизированнна из бесплатного только игра с ботами. Далее почти 40 минут 1 партия игры в это что очень много для компьютерной ККИ да , игра создана для фанатов жанра и найдет своих игроков, но я сомневаюсь о ее долгожитии как игры или киберспортивной дисциплины. Вобщем это провал по всем пунктам. Можно уснуть пока партию отыгрываешь. 0/10… Expand
  18. flafi
    Dec 4, 2018
    1
    Худшая ККИ из всех. Жопный высер гейба, и дело не в донате, отвратительно все, арты, музыка, партии невероятно затянуты и скучны. Впустую потратил 20$. Больше не куплю ни 1 проекта от valve.
  19. Ridden
    Dec 2, 2018
    1
    очень много доната, в платной игре платить за контент это жёстко
    следующая игра от валв будет требовать почасовой оплаты
  20. blaicefreeze
    Nov 29, 2018
    1
    Valve is continuously becoming a worse company, and this game attests perfectly to their egregious monetization and refund policies.

    P2W without any type of F2P isn't fun, valve. Why did I waste 20 bucks on a game that is RNG based inherently, and even more RNG based economically? **** you valve, you abysmal piece of **** company. I am never buying another valve game again, and    Valve is continuously becoming a worse company, and this game attests perfectly to their egregious monetization and refund policies.

    P2W without any type of F2P isn't fun, valve. Why did I waste 20 bucks on a game that is RNG based inherently, and even more RNG based economically?

    **** you valve, you abysmal piece of **** company. I am never buying another valve game again, and maybe a steam game for that matter. Their stance on refunds is fraudulent and quite possible illegal. I wish nothing but the worst for this horrendous, anti-consumer company.    … Expand
  21. Jerrido
    Dec 1, 2018
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Маленький кусочек донатного нечто, и прямо в карман габену.… Expand
  22. itook
    Dec 1, 2018
    1
    Игра слишком сырая и поломанная своей экономической моделью.
    В ней нет ни-че-го кроме драфтов. Рейтинг отсутствует, статистика тоже, баланс хромает, а от кол-ва рандома хочется плакать(как бы его не защищали адепты валв, прикрывая красивыми, но пустыми фразами вроде "рандом можно контролировать"), но если это еще можно простить, то монетизация просто убила игру. Людям нужны стимулы, но в    Игра слишком сырая и поломанная своей экономической моделью.
    В ней нет ни-че-го кроме драфтов. Рейтинг отсутствует, статистика тоже, баланс хромает, а от кол-ва рандома хочется плакать(как бы его не защищали адепты валв, прикрывая красивыми, но пустыми фразами вроде "рандом можно контролировать"), но если это еще можно простить, то монетизация просто убила игру. Людям нужны стимулы, но в игре их нет.    … Expand
  23. Xeraf
    Dec 2, 2018
    1
    So 4 critic reviews (85+80+70+63)/4 = 74.5

    We looking at score that shown... 77...

    I guess Valve money can defy even math nowadays... (also 1/10 cause i'm not made of cash)
  24. Sigfrid0s
    Nov 29, 2018
    1
    No suelo dar notas muy bajas ya que creo que todo juego merece por lo menos una oportunidad, pero realmente es increíble como Valve esta intentando que la gente gaste su dinero pagando para ganar... ni siquiera se molestaron en ocultarlo.
  25. Lukeros
    Dec 6, 2018
    1
    This card game is really fun when you first play it
    BUT! BUT! BUT!
    As time increases, you will find this is a game about burning money. Let's do math: If 3-2 is the standard that does not lose money. Then: A 2, 2, 1-2, 0-2 is a net loss of 1$, 4-2 seems to make a net profit of 2$, but under nowadays market price. If you can open a total value of 1$ card package, you can Thank God,    This card game is really fun when you first play it
    BUT! BUT! BUT!
    As time increases, you will find this is a game about burning money.
    Let's do math:
    If 3-2 is the standard that does not lose money. Then:
    A 2, 2, 1-2, 0-2 is a net loss of 1$, 4-2 seems to make a net profit of 2$, but under nowadays market price. If you can open a total value of 1$ card package, you can Thank God,
    But do not forget the mmr. This ranking mechanism will always ensure that your winning rate is around 50%.
    Once you enter the 50% winning rate area, you will be in lost 1$ for each round you play.
    I have played so many games, this is the first time I saw a player who has 50% winning rate, but each round game will have to pay 1$ to experience the failure.    … Expand
  26. new4or
    Nov 30, 2018
    1
    Basically loot simulator in a nut shell. First you buy the game, then you pay to win. P2W is somewhat acceptible in F2P games, but Artifact is just a waste of your time and money.
    And that is contributed by the very odd return politics.
  27. o_0Mimizu
    Nov 30, 2018
    1
    pay to win! game

    Valve let their game go to their head. I won't be buying any more Valve games.
  28. BulgarianCritic
    Sep 21, 2019
    1
    Gets pretty dull after 3 hours and the only way for you to actually improve and add more cards to your collection is via using money + dont forget that the main price of the game is pretty big so i would suggest to everyone to avoid it if they are looking for a card game.There are many f2p card games out there which will allow you to test them out and see if they are more of the thing youGets pretty dull after 3 hours and the only way for you to actually improve and add more cards to your collection is via using money + dont forget that the main price of the game is pretty big so i would suggest to everyone to avoid it if they are looking for a card game.There are many f2p card games out there which will allow you to test them out and see if they are more of the thing you liked while theres a huge risk with artifact + there are barely any players anymore so lmao… Expand
  29. Bobito8000
    Nov 28, 2018
    1
    There is little to compare between this and Hearthstone (another CCG).
    Artifact is very slow paced, it has a lot of luck involved in its gameplay, a lot of cards are broken, it is very confusing at the start and it will take a lot of time an effort to get yourself going into this card's game mechanics. It is just not good, requested a refund asap.
  30. kislorod
    Dec 1, 2018
    1
    Минусы:
    - За обычные игры не дают никаких плюшек, какой смысл теребить впустую? Даже нет никаких ежедневных заданий аля хс, чтобы как-то можно было колоду собирать
    - Рандом лютый, ну вы поняли где так же и где не попросят с вас 1390 рублей - Донаты зверские. Бесплатно ты сможешь что-то получать, только если купишь себе деку имбовую и начнешь с ней каждый день рандомить, так себе    Минусы:
    - За обычные игры не дают никаких плюшек, какой смысл теребить впустую? Даже нет никаких ежедневных заданий аля хс, чтобы как-то можно было колоду собирать
    - Рандом лютый, ну вы поняли где так же и где не попросят с вас 1390 рублей
    - Донаты зверские. Бесплатно ты сможешь что-то получать, только если купишь себе деку имбовую и начнешь с ней каждый день рандомить, так себе мотивация
    - Игры вольво и так выходят редко, теперь еще на это дно будут ресурсы расходовать
    - Никакой статистики, по ощущениям это все альфа и сон собаки

    Плюсы:
    - Вернул 700 рублей с 4 рарных карт, но вливать эти деньги обратно в игру нет никакого желания    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Most Discussed PC Game of 2018
60
#60 Most Shared PC Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. PLAY! Zine
    Mar 5, 2019
    75
    Complex and challenging card game, but with some fundamental flaws and bad monetization system that basically killed the game even before it went out.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Feb 6, 2019
    80
    Innovative mechanics designed by Richard Garfield (Magic: The Gathering), rules that you can grasp after just a couple of minutes, clear interface – Artifact is a great game. It’s a shame that it’s huge esports potential can be squandered, because Valve doesn’t seem to care for it enough to implement progression systems, leagues, rankings or means to comfortably communicate with rivals outside an invitation-only friendly tournament. [01/2019, p.58]
  3. Games.cz
    Jan 15, 2019
    50
    In theory, a brilliant card game for a demanding audience. In reality, a concept heavily damaged by bad balancing and a truly terrible monetization system. It may yet prove to be a success in the future - but right now, this is a game for wealthy masochists only.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »