Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2015

 PC
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 25
  3. Negative: 5 out of 25
  1. Game Informer
    Jul 16, 2014
    88
    Magic 2015 – Duels of the Planeswalkers is possibly the best of the series, and an excellent option for gamers that might be interested in learning how to play Magic: The Gathering.
  2. Vandal
    Aug 4, 2014
    80
    We really enjoyed it, even though we didn't like that much the microtransaction system, specially when it's a game you have to pay for. If you're interested in it, try the mobile version first, which is free-to-play.
  3. Riot Pixels
    Aug 4, 2014
    80
    The only thing Duels of the Planeswalkers lacks is, I think, a draft mode, because Hearthstone already has its Arena. And, naturally, they must bring back the Two-Headed Giant. Aside from that, Magic 2015 is really good, truly a second wind for the series.
  5. CalmDownTom
    Jul 24, 2014
    80
    Duels 2015 lacks any of these fun Multiplayer formats which, to me, is it’s greatest weakness. But with a robust tutorial, a massive selection of cards and an emphasis on allowing the player the freedom to choose their own Decks, I still have to rate Duels 2015 as one of the strongest of the series.
  6. Pelit (Finland)
    Sep 17, 2014
    77
    The card game takes one step forward and two steps backwards. Free deckbuilding is a big plus, but when you consider that the play modes from old Duels are cut completely and some of the card pool available is behind an IAP paywall, the new Duels doesn't compare well against other, cheaper, slicker and - quite frankly - more fun competition like Hearthstone. Duels is simple not on par with the competition. [Sept 2014]
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Awards & Rankings

66
#66 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
3.2

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 127 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 127
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 127
  3. Negative: 89 out of 127
  1. orctown-troll
    Aug 7, 2014
    0
    Do not buy this game. It is a sorry excuse for a sequel that has bare bones features compared to the previous installments, is riddled withDo not buy this game. It is a sorry excuse for a sequel that has bare bones features compared to the previous installments, is riddled with almost mandatory microtransactions if you actually want to build a deck that has any strategical chance against the campaign opponents and the cheating/sabotaging AI is back worse than ever.

    Let's go through this point by point. The sealed format is gone, Two headed Giant is gone and the puzzle challenges are gone. Instead there is *only* the campaign mode where you fight duels against decks that have massively superior cards than you, that you can never have unless you buy the "premium booster packs" on top of... you know... *buying the game with your hard earned money*. The AI has the magical ability of without fault always drawing the exact card it needs to win, while you get shafted by either only land or no land cards at all. I have beaten both 2013 and 2014 campaigns and the revenge campaign of 2013 so cheating is nothing new for the AI in this series but man... the AI not only cheats like a motherfu*ker but uses game-breakingly strong cards that you can never, ever gain. So going through the game becomes an exercise in "let's hit the restart button until we give up in disgust". This on the easiest difficulty. Even the "help AI" has been sabotaged against you and it constantly tells you to make moves that are simply suicidal and *always without fail* automatically tries to choose the absolute worst way to use your mana. Even if you have the patience to grind through the "explore realm" levels to get all the possible cards you can, you still eventually run into a planeswalker there as well, who will without fail decimate you by cheating and prevent you from gaining even the weak pointless cards you could get from exploring the realms. Ajani, for example trumps your progress in one of these "explore" nodes and is absolutely impossible to beat, unless the game shows mercy and decides to eventually sometime in the year 2989 give you a duel that is actually possible to win. Ajani has a deck that, if drawn perfectly, is unbeatable by any combination of cards you can muster up. And as we have already established, the AI almost always chooses to draw a perfect card for every situation and beat you. The same thing happens with most other opponents, especially planeswalkers like Jace and Liliana. So that is the game designer's idea of "fun". Impossible cheating AI duels that transform the game from a game of Magic into a game of "hit the restart button 960 000 times and smash your head against the wall and then *maybe* you can progress to the next opponent and repeat the process".

    This game is nothing more than a stripped down sham to try and force people to pay free-to-play microtransactions by causing aggravation and frustration. Do not waste your money on this crap. It's not even a game, it is a joke. The designer's clearly wanted to show a middle finger to every Magic player in the world, new or old, and try to prove that they can get the cash they want by putting out any insulting bullsh*t they want.    … Full Review »
  2. guinevere2
    Jul 17, 2014
    0
    Money grabbing pure pay-to-win sham with online store and DLC releasing at the launch day. Even "complete bundle" edition does not include allMoney grabbing pure pay-to-win sham with online store and DLC releasing at the launch day. Even "complete bundle" edition does not include all cards - the best have to be bought separately. You get the picture… Full Review »
  3. evilglenn3000
    Jul 17, 2014
    2
    Look this is really important, DO NOT SPEND MONEY in this game, you gain literally nothing by doing so. Now on to the game itself, well theyLook this is really important, DO NOT SPEND MONEY in this game, you gain literally nothing by doing so. Now on to the game itself, well they flattened the story and although the range of cards is decent enough there is NO way to earn them all by playing the game. Sorry wizards you straight failed us this time.… Full Review »
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