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Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: SOULVARS takes deckbuilding combat to the next level with the innovative Soulbit system.

    Combine Soulbit actions and use deck-controlling Abilities to pull off 100+ breathtaking moves. Tactically counter powerful attacks and debuffs from enemy "Dominators", and time your counterattacks
    SOULVARS takes deckbuilding combat to the next level with the innovative Soulbit system.

    Combine Soulbit actions and use deck-controlling Abilities to pull off 100+ breathtaking moves.

    Tactically counter powerful attacks and debuffs from enemy "Dominators", and time your counterattacks for maximum effect!

    Enjoy the best of both worlds: deep deckbuilding strategy and high-speed RPG battles!

    ◆ A future where human souls can be digitized...

    Humanity faces the consequences of its technology with the sudden appearance of grotesque Dominators.

    Elite units consisting of Soulbearers, next-generation humans born with alternate Souls, are dispatched day and night to intercept and counter Dominator attacks.

    The story follows Yakumo, a freelance Soulbearer, as he handles assignments from private military contractor "DDO" (Dominator Disposal Organization).

    ◆ Deep, exhilarating battles and character growth

    Experience the best of both worlds - dynamic pixel art animations and turn-based tactical planning.

    Each enemy is a puzzle to solve, a challenge to overcome!

    Identify their weaknesses and combine Soulbit actions to unleash powerful finishing moves!

    Explore the cityscape and hunt unique Dominators for rare and powerful gear on your path to mastering the ultimate Arts!
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Jun 28, 2023
    80
    SOULVARS is a complex video game dedicated to fans of classic Japanese role-playing games and, especially, to those who love their deep combat systems. Newcomers might find combat hard to comprehend but the game does offer the resources to understand the mechanics and use them in cool ways. Because exploration isn’t very engaging and the narrative can be a little hard to follow, players need to really love the combat to remain engaged. SOULVARS is clearly a labor of love but it will mainly appeal to those who appreciate the same classic titles as the developer.
  2. Aug 1, 2023
    80
    Soulvars is one of those games that should be recommended if you're talking to a fan of classic JRPGs who is looking for a signature element that brings a strategic element to the gameplay that takes the monotony (for the most part) out of the equation. While it's true that its campaign length doesn't exceed 20 hours, which may be crucial for many players, it is highly replayable.
  3. Jul 3, 2023
    70
    SOULVARS is best described as a “tsundere” game. Its mechanics are tough and intimidating at first, but investing a little time and effort getting to know it opens its heart. You get out of it what you put into it. Beyond its 10–15 hour main campaign (depending on the difficulty level), there is post-game content. Sadly, the disappointing story and characters are a mountain of unrealized potential that could have been so much better. If you are the kind of RPG fan who favors gameplay over story and characters, then SOULVARS may be worth a look.
  4. Jun 25, 2023
    60
    SOULVARS may have been a hit when it came out on mobile in 2022, but its PC version has not made enough changes for it to feel like it is meant to be played on other gaming devices. The game had an opportunity to increase its interactivity by including more explicit instructions, adding many more narrative elements and by spicing up the game’s landscape. However, as it stands, I’d be sticking to the mobile version of SOULVARS as the ported version lacks a lot of soul.
  5. Jun 23, 2023
    60
    Soulvars is fast and addictive, but the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the limited tutorials makes experiencing the best parts of this game more effort than they’re worth. It has the style and energy to keep your attention for a few moments, but it doesn’t last when the character writing and world-building lay in an optional encyclopedia than in the game’s story. Still, this game is all about speed and combat, and it delivers in that regard.
  6. Jul 31, 2023
    55
    Overall, the gameplay mechanics of SOULVARS were enjoyable, but the story is repetitive and the characters and story felt lacking. If you enjoy deck-builders, this should be up your alley, but if you’re here for the narrative I would look elsewhere.