Shadowverse: Champion's Battle

I’m really happy to see Cygames take the console adaptation of Shadowverse seriously and, rather than try and shovel a free-to-play thing on players, use this as an opportunity to broaden the appeal of Shadowverse, give the card game itself some context, and give fans the same kind of joy that they took out of Pokémon TCG all those years ago. With taut mechanics, a fun, light-hearted narrative, excellent production values and an almost obscene level of depth Shadowverse: Champions Battle is a genuinely impressive effort, and the best digital card game currently available on the Switch.

Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle is without a doubt the greatest card battling RPG on the Switch yet; an addictive and incredibly deep card game wrapped up in a heartwarming and enjoyable RPG that supplements and supports the potent core gameplay in all the right ways. Dozens of hours of content in single player alone, combined with a full-fledged online multiplayer, ensures that you’re getting plenty of bang for your buck, while the anime presentation and detailed card art and animations keep everything looking and sounding nice all the way through. If you’re at all into card games, don’t waste your time deliberating: go buy this game immediately. Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle is an extremely easy game to recommend, and absolutely worth your time.

We haven’t had this much fun with a card battle RPG since the Pokemon TCG games on the Game Boy Color. If you at all have an affinity for the concept, it’s unlikely that you’re burned out on the idea these days. Give Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle a shot, and it’s unlikely that you’ll be disappointed.

Quirks aside, I had a tremendous time playing Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle. Not only is it a fun and complex card game, but it’s one you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy. The threshold to start playing is low, but actually mastering the game takes much more perseverance. Overall, this is a wonderful game with attractive artwork and tons of great features. While it can be frustrating at times, especially due to the luck of your AI opponents, I’d highly recommend it. If you need a new game to get lost in, look no further.

Shadowverse: Champion's Battle is one of those games that are simple to get but hard to master. It has a simple story, strategic diversity and great care in the production makes for tens (or hundreds) of fun hours of gameplay, especially if the online competition gets hot.

Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle is an addicting deck-building card game on its own, but this game delivers an added campaign that makes it an adventure. Exploring the city, completing sidequests, and battling for deck codes and supremacy make each moment of playing fun. If you’re a fan of card games in general and want to try your hand at a new one, it’s a fantastic experience that’ll keep you coming back for more.

While some technical aspects of the game feel a bit unpolished, Shadowverse: Champion's Battle is a super fun card battle RPG and my favorite card game on Nintendo Switch alongside Slay the Spire.

Shadowverse: Champion's Battle is a great way to introduce those who want to get started in the world of competitive card games in a friendly and light way with an adapted difficulty. In addition, it offers a simple yet addictive story.

On the surface, Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle looks like a children’s card game with glorified animation, but it is actually more than that. With solid battles and structured rules, a large variety of cards, and a lot of NPCs specializing in different classes, every time you challenge someone it feels like a completely new experience. While following a cheesy and fun storyline in this RPG, the card game remains consistent and the characters predictable, making it easy to focus on strategizing and advancing to the top. Sure, there are moments where the repetition is evident, but there aren’t many RPGs that don’t require grinding.

Playing through this game brought me back to my childhood, when I played the Pokémon Trading Card Game and Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sacred Cards on my old Game Boys. We haven't seen many collectible card games like those on the Switch in recent years, but Shadowverse: Champion's Battle fits their mold well. So, if you're longing for that anime card game experience, give it a try and get ready to duel! [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 71]

Shadowverse is a solid effort from the people at Cygames, a CCG with an original story, a long campaign and intuitive mechanics. There's also a copious amount of content in both single and multiplayer.

Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle is proof that card battle RPGs are still as good as we remember.

Shadowverse: Champion's Battle isn't going to be remembered as a game of the year candidate, and fans of the original game will likely have more fun continuing to play on phones rather than giving this a shot. However, for fans of the anime and those who enjoy a good family-friendly JRPG, Cygames has put together a well-rounded experience that shouldn't be ignored. It's fun to spend a few dozen hours remembering how engrossing an absurd story about a group of friends saving the world with card games can be, and Shadowverse: Champion's Battle does that better than most.

Collecting as many new cards as I could and theory-crafting new decks and ways to play old ones is a captivating endeavor, made all the more accessible in Shadowverse: Champion's Battle. Anyone with an interest in CCGs or even Pokemon should at least try the playable Switch demo, or even the mobile game to find out if this is a universe worth exploring. I, for one, am happy to step out of the shadows and champion its cause.

Accessible and with a generous lifespan, Shadowverse: Champion's Battle manages to provide an effective gateway to the Cygames card game. Coated with a good-natured universe, the title allows everyone to get used to the mechanics of Shadowverse thanks to many really useful aids. Unfortunately, the lack of a French translation prevents it from reaching the target younger audience, which makes it more suitable for those who wish to try their hand at a card game solo and on a laptop, preferably. Same criticism on the side of its disappointing technique, its too simple scenario and its structure a little too repetitive which have something to tarnish the experience. Not enough either to prevent the title from offering a nice introduction to its real end-game: Shadowverse on PC and mobile.

I have really enjoyed Shadowverse, and I will no doubt keep this on my Switch as my go-to game when I’m stuck on the Tube. The problem is that if anyone looks over my shoulder to see what I’m playing, they’re probably going to make a snap judgement about me and what I’m into.