Shadowverse: Champion's Battle

 Switch
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 30
  3. Negative: 5 out of 30
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  1. sonic1385
    Aug 18, 2021
    10
    A cool game which make a good use of anime original char and make there dreams come true and card game with high graphic is good thing to make your fun time full
  2. sssdf
    Aug 31, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Nice game to play on switch, not the current meta, but it has some nice original game cards. The only thing is that you have to make a superior deck in chapter 7,8 where you are playing in the dark arena. It is truly a hell if you are not prepared enough.… Expand
  3. Rtheom
    Jun 28, 2022
    5
    It's kinda cool. They mix up the battles with some mini-games that are simple, yet just different enough to keep things from going stale. Unfortunately, the card game itself gets pretty frustrating once you realize that the computer opponents aren't using actual random card draws, but their decks are instead perfectly stacked to give them really powerful combos. In addition to that, theIt's kinda cool. They mix up the battles with some mini-games that are simple, yet just different enough to keep things from going stale. Unfortunately, the card game itself gets pretty frustrating once you realize that the computer opponents aren't using actual random card draws, but their decks are instead perfectly stacked to give them really powerful combos. In addition to that, the game actively stacks your deck against you, placing your high cost cards near the top to slow your own combos. Overall, pretty well made, but I wish the battles were genuine. I get why they did this, it's easier to program and ensures the game has "boss battles" that you need to defeat, but it also gets tedious losing to the same perfect sequence of plays for the 10th time. If you're a Shadowverse die hard, give it a shot. If not, skip it. There are better card games on the Switch.… Expand
  4. Tortor
    Oct 25, 2021
    9
    Story is awful, cheesy, definetly felt aimed towards children or the writers didn't know how to make a cohesive narrative for a single player card game. For what it did with the story, it wasn't bad, very standard 'wanting to be the best adventure' tropes. It made the single player experience much easier to get into as opposed to lobbies with AI. Something about walking around in a gameStory is awful, cheesy, definetly felt aimed towards children or the writers didn't know how to make a cohesive narrative for a single player card game. For what it did with the story, it wasn't bad, very standard 'wanting to be the best adventure' tropes. It made the single player experience much easier to get into as opposed to lobbies with AI. Something about walking around in a game world and having a baseline narrative to keep playing made it much more interesting to keep attached. This game is also very polished. Everything about it felt super clean, easy to jump in and out of, intuitive, bug free and great pacing. It felt like a game that was complete upon release with no issues with content, gameplay or bugs. The card based gameplay was a lot of fun. There's a massive variety of AI openents to take on and a lot of flexibility to customize you cards and use pre-made decks (if you have the cards). This helped me understand the game a lot as I knew nothing about this game going in and the pre-made decks was a good way to be introduced to all this. It does get really hard once you start nearing the end. So i definitely never felt like anything was getting too easy or running out of content. Highly recommend this and hope this game gets the attention it deserves, it's a solid single player trading based card game that is super rare for the Switch, glad to stumbled on this.… Expand
  5. Wildkittyfriend
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    OMG YES!!!!! I have been waiting for a console release on this since the game was released on PC a long time ago. FINALLY! I am a forever fan of Hearthstone and this one is good enough and different enough to give me 2 card game addictions!..Also a CHEAP asking price for the game since I have probably put about 3k into Hearthstone at this point lol.
  6. osobo
    Sep 1, 2021
    8
    Shadowverse: Champion's Battle pretty much copies Pokemon's Sword/Shield playbook. You are a student on a journey to win a competition and you play battles and collect stuff along the way. Only, I think Shadowverse does it better. The core card game has been around for years on mobile and PC and as such is very deep and refined at the same time. The JRPG that has been built around it has aShadowverse: Champion's Battle pretty much copies Pokemon's Sword/Shield playbook. You are a student on a journey to win a competition and you play battles and collect stuff along the way. Only, I think Shadowverse does it better. The core card game has been around for years on mobile and PC and as such is very deep and refined at the same time. The JRPG that has been built around it has a high production value and provides enough context for my games to make me care about winning or losing. Online gameplay is still picking up steam and it's still possible to be matched against opponents who have access to cards that you cannot get because they progressed further into the story. I hope the ranks fill out more and matches get more even. Otherwise, this is a very solid game and a definite recommendation.… Expand
  7. Polarisao
    Nov 19, 2021
    9
    So much fun
    Easy to learn for anyone starting out Love the game, just been grinding and I appreciate the weekly free cards the company gifts us. If you didn't know go on their twitter or Google it as some websites list out the full list of redeemable gifts. I recently got the game in October and was able redeem games months before so it should still work.
  8. Nanashi95
    Aug 20, 2021
    8
    I was actually surprised how well this game is made and how much production value it has. This is definitely not a cheap license game.
    This is basically a full JRPG with trading card duels instead of some sort of combat system. Beside the main story, you can roam freely in the world, accept side missions, talk to NPCs and challenge most of them and of course build or upgrade you deck. And    I was actually surprised how well this game is made and how much production value it has. This is definitely not a cheap license game.
    This is basically a full JRPG with trading card duels instead of some sort of combat system. Beside the main story, you can roam freely in the world, accept side missions, talk to NPCs and challenge most of them and of course build or upgrade you deck. And building and upgrading your deck is a lot of fun and motivating. If you like other card games like Yu-Gi-Oh, you will like the card duels here as well.
    I admit that I haven’t seen very much of the anime, so I didn’t really know the characters beforehand. But in the game, they are mostly likeable and it’s fun interacting with them.

    However, the game is not perfect. On the one hand it looks really good for a game like this. But this comes at the cost of the performance. The framerate can dip at some points and the areas are rather small and separated with annoying loading screens.
    And although it’s mostly fun, the game can get a bit monotonous.    … Expand
  9. PMG-Writer
    Aug 29, 2021
    7
    The people responsible at Marvelous Europe have put a lot of effort into "Shadowverse: Champion's Battle" a lot of effort. This way, newcomers and pros alike can show off their skills. The story is a nice touch and there are always interesting characters. The controls are very easy to use and you can use your cards in a flash. The graphics and sound are also good. However, only fans of theThe people responsible at Marvelous Europe have put a lot of effort into "Shadowverse: Champion's Battle" a lot of effort. This way, newcomers and pros alike can show off their skills. The story is a nice touch and there are always interesting characters. The controls are very easy to use and you can use your cards in a flash. The graphics and sound are also good. However, only fans of the genre or the franchise will get into it, but you should still take a look at "Shadowverse: Champion's Battle".… Expand
  10. Askeel
    Aug 20, 2021
    10
    If you played hearthstone the abilities and effects are very similar, a definite yes for fans of card games
  11. SmartMario1
    Sep 2, 2021
    9
    I now have about 50 hours in the game and I'm still very much enjoying it. The game is very well made and as someone who has never played the free to play "original" version, it was very fun discovering all the cards and it was always exciting when a new set became available.

    That said, this game is only enjoyable to me because I like a good light-hearted cliché story and I like playing    I now have about 50 hours in the game and I'm still very much enjoying it. The game is very well made and as someone who has never played the free to play "original" version, it was very fun discovering all the cards and it was always exciting when a new set became available.

    That said, this game is only enjoyable to me because I like a good light-hearted cliché story and I like playing the matches. This game is nothing groundbreaking and does suffer some frame drops in the overworld, but over all it's a very fun experience    … Expand
  12. TripMX
    Sep 4, 2021
    9
    INTRODUCTION
    Welcome to Shadowverse: Champion's battle, a new CCG (Collectible Card Game) based on the anime spinoff of the original Shadowverse (Mobile/PC) game that released back in 2016. As a player of the original Shadowverse, I was extremely excited when Shadowverse: Champion's Battle was announced for the Nintendo Switch! Now, with the game finally released in the West, I've made    INTRODUCTION
    Welcome to Shadowverse: Champion's battle, a new CCG (Collectible Card Game) based on the anime spinoff of the original Shadowverse (Mobile/PC) game that released back in 2016. As a player of the original Shadowverse, I was extremely excited when Shadowverse: Champion's Battle was announced for the Nintendo Switch! Now, with the game finally released in the West, I've made the promised purchase and played the heck out of it! As of the time and date of this review, I've already completed the game's story and have over 130 hours of playtime in. I haven't written a review for a game in well over a decade, but THIS game is so damn good, I just HAD to write a review for it! Now without further ado, here is my review for Shadowverse: Champion's Battle! :D

    STORY (9/10)
    In terms of story, Shadowverse: Champion's Battle is wholly different from the original Shadowverse; the comparison is pretty much like day and night. While the original Shadowverse takes place in a grim world on the brink of utter annihilation, Shadowverse: Champion's Battle's setting takes place in a large city filled with a myriad of people who are all aware that a card game called "Shadowverse" exists and is played by many. You, the protagonist are a student of a prestigious academy filled with energetic adolescents who also play Shadowverse for fun. Along the way, you will meet several interesting and unique people, including some unforgettable friends. The story is quite entertaining, and even has a touch of plot twists in your journey to the top. Overall, considering that Cygames (the developer) put an entire interactive fleshed out story in a CCG game, I have to say that a great deal of effort and care was put into this game. Another thing I'd like to point out is how well the concept of each card craft is touched upon, which really brings out the essence of Shadowverse for all players.

    GRAPHICS (9/10)
    The graphics in Shadowverse: Champion's Battle are quite gorgeous and very much compliments the anime art style it was aiming for. Character models and portraits are excellent throughout, and the game's menu interface is also very beautifully crafted, giving off a very premium look and feel to the game. During battles, graphical and special effects can objectively even outshine the original Shadowverse's; this is most evident when evolving follower cards or playing certain Legendary/Mythical cards. In this game, when evolving, depending on the craft you're using, the evolve animation effects will change to suit the respective craft; it's little touches like these that I also really appreciate. Cards are beautifully drawn and very clearly displayed just as they are in the original Shadowverse. My only gripe about graphics is that nearly all of the signs, placards, and billboards outside have a "blatantly smeared" look to them....it's as if it was done on purpose, which I find odd, because the text can actually be made out if you try to read it, but it's smeared. I think the city would look a whole lot better if that smear effect wasn't used.....my guess is that this was intentionally done by the devs as to maintain decent performance on the Nintendo Switch, otherwise, it'd just be a waste of clarity.

    SOUND (10/10)
    The sound and music in the game is great! While there aren't any spectacular new tracks in the game, most of the battle tracks are pretty much slightly remixed (if my ears are hearing right) versions of the original Shadowverse's, which fans will instantly recognize. As for voice acting, in the Western release of the game, both English and Japanese voices are selectable. For my initial playthrough, I've been using the English voice acting, which is actually really good by anime standards! Character voices all sound quite unique and distinctly clear in all cases; emotion is also clearly conveyed quite well. Sound and battle SFX are all pretty much in line with the original Shadowverse's, which are also great. Hats off to the English voice cast!

    CONTROLS (7/10)
    While there isn't much to say about controls in this game, I have but one gripe, and that is while traversing the city outside of battles, moving around can feel a bit stiff. You will be traveling around quite a lot during the story, and you'll definitely feel it. If this wasn't an issue (for me at least), then controls would get a 10/10.

    FUN FACTOR / REPLAYABILITY (10/10)
    Haha, Shadowverse: Champion's Battle is easily one of the most fun games I've EVER played on the Nintendo Switch, and also one of the best CCG games available today! The battle system is always exciting and filled with possibilities, especially later in the game. Not only that, unlike the original Shadowverse, Shadowverse: Champion's Battle can be played both ONLINE (with a Nintendo Switch Online account) and OFFLINE, and I find this to be a HUGE PLUS!! Being able to play Shadowverse literally anytime and anywhere is like a dream come true!    … Expand
  13. Elenis
    Sep 6, 2021
    10
    I've spent over 100 hours playing Shadowverse: Champion's Battle! And you know what? I didn't get tired of the game, and even on the contrary, it seems to me that I have developed an addiction to this game! :-P If abbreviations CCG, TCG, MTG mean anything to you, do yourself a favor and try this game, I think you will be pleasantly surprised!
  14. Shiroouka
    Oct 19, 2021
    10
    I'm giving 10 points because there are some people that stupid enough for giving 0 point because "this game is too hard on chapter bla bla bla".

    This game is solid, the story is a little bit cliche but good enough to make me keep playing. I played a. Lot of shadowverse game in phone and the experience is more or less the same, not a washed up game or simplified one, it really giving you    I'm giving 10 points because there are some people that stupid enough for giving 0 point because "this game is too hard on chapter bla bla bla".

    This game is solid, the story is a little bit cliche but good enough to make me keep playing. I played a. Lot of shadowverse game in phone and the experience is more or less the same, not a washed up game or simplified one, it really giving you the full experience of the game. My personal score is 9.5/10    … Expand
  15. Spered
    Feb 28, 2023
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's not bad, but I still don't recommend it.
    What didn't convince me about the game?
    - Anonymous main character.
    - Too many "Master" characters around the map. This is a rank seen as a peak, where most professional players manage to reach such a rank, and then some children or random npc (with no history or anything) around the map are at their same level.
    - Ridiculous final boss. There is only one GM in the game, definitely a cool duelist, well no. The final boss is a cheater. Sure the fight has a twist, but it's ridiculous that the creator of the game takes advantage of these things to win. Beatable, but still the worst ending the game could do. Leon could very well be the final boss of the Shadow Arena and I was never going to complain, cheats made sense at least.
    - The whole club must necessarily win, the same goes for the "Masters".
    - Poorly balanced, classes that are much stronger than others.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

38
#38 Best Switch Game of 2021
62
#62 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Oct 7, 2021
    80
    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]
  2. SpazioGames
    Sep 15, 2021
    80
    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.
    Read full review
  3. Universo Nintendo
    Sep 4, 2021
    85
    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.
    Read full review
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