Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Oct 4, 2021
    70
    This game is low budget, sure, but that doesn’t hold it back in the slightest. It’s a very good card game, especially attractive for Eastern European players due to the captivating way in which it deals with Slavic mythology.
  2. Sep 3, 2021
    70
    On the whole, Black Book is a fun adventure that does enough to stand out from the crowd. The combat and card play are different enough from its contemporaries that those looking for a more traditional entry point into deck-building can give it a shot, even if the game begins to wear out its welcome by the end of its thirty or so hours. The real reason to stick with it is the great attention to detail regarding Slavic folklore and how it weaves into the gameplay in ways that can make the player feel clever. It won’t be the flashiest game anyone plays this year, but there is a good time to be had.
  3. Oct 17, 2021
    68
    Black Book holds a lot of promise… not as a game, but rather an interactive guide to local myths and legends. In all other aspects it’s an exercise in mediocrity.
  4. Aug 5, 2021
    65
    Black Book is an intriguing game due to its unique subject matter. The problem is that the game's pace is too slow and you risk getting bored and missing out on all the good stuff in the game.
  5. Sep 27, 2021
    60
    It's hard to rate something like Black Book. It's a mix and match of things that are generally fun and refreshingly new, but the whole thing carries with it a lack of polish and balance, which could make this dark tale of witchcraft and demonology shine much brighter. This is basically a high 6, or a low 7. A mediocre, repetitive CCG/RPG, with some neat moments that'll - barely - manage to keep you interested. If looking to experience something outside of generic medieval fantasy, though, do give it a try. Morteshka's creation is basically Slavic Pagan Mythology: The Game.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.
  1. For a while, the front of my brain resisted a little, and I mentally changed terminology to things I was more familiar with, but eventually I stopped this. Things get lost in translation, and change in the retelling, and Black Book is clear that a precise choice of words is very important. Vasilisa is a koldun, she casts complex zagavor on a journey to resurrect her dead fiancé, and I’m absolutely there for the ride. Somewhere else, a long time ago.
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 62 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 62
  2. Negative: 4 out of 62
  1. Aug 12, 2021
    8
    The game is like Slay The Spire but with an actual well writen and voiced plot and minus the rogue-like elements. The story is good and theThe game is like Slay The Spire but with an actual well writen and voiced plot and minus the rogue-like elements. The story is good and the game contains lots of real Russian folklore. There are several original and interesting game mechanics such as "demon managing" (you must choose if you will send your demons to harass other people or suffer their debuffs or find ways to mitigate their penalties) and puzzle combat. There is lots of room for roleplaying choices to become a good or bad witch. And there are many options for build/deck customization. The only cons of the game are minimalistic graphics (this didnt stop Slay The Spire from being a great game) and that the difficulty is rather easy even on the "extreme" setting. I would also love if the "sin" system had more interactions with the game play than simply affecting some dialogue and the endings. Maybe some item or card interactions would be great. Or maybe i havent gotten that far. Full Review »
  2. Feb 27, 2022
    10
    потрясающая работа с настоящим фольклором
  3. Jan 7, 2022
    10
    This is definitely not my favourite tipe of games, but this is perfect. Story, setting, gameplay- everything 10/10.