Hand of Fate

 Xbox One
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. GameSpot
    Feb 26, 2015
    70
    The game absorbs you in three ways at once, by invoking both the loot-gathering vibe of an action RPG, the deck-fiddling fun of a CCG, and the "I'm feeling lucky this time!" aspirations of games of chance. It's a powerful one-two-three punch, though you need to be prepared: sometimes those punches land with unexpected pain.
  2. IGN
    Feb 20, 2015
    70
    Isolated technical glitches, an overly generous dealer, and simple combat dampen some of the fun, but the novelty of the design is usually strong enough to pull up the slack.

Awards & Rankings

38
#38 Best Xbox One Game of 2015
65
#65 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2015
59
#59 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2015

User Reviews

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User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 57 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 57
  3. Negative: 6 out of 57
  1. Borgrumm
    Feb 21, 2015
    0
    DO NOT buy this on Xbox One. It seems like a great game, and it might be worth it on other systems, but on the Xbox One, when you enter aDO NOT buy this on Xbox One. It seems like a great game, and it might be worth it on other systems, but on the Xbox One, when you enter a battle with more than 4-5 enemies (which happens a lot), it slows down to less than a frame per second. It becomes literally unplayable right at the point where it starts really getting good.… Full Review »
  2. MCPO
    Feb 24, 2015
    8
    Hand of Fate is a strange but excellent amalgamation of card, action, RPG, and rogue-like gaming. Although it's far from perfect, it has thatHand of Fate is a strange but excellent amalgamation of card, action, RPG, and rogue-like gaming. Although it's far from perfect, it has that addictive play-just-one-more-time quality about it. A single round might take you 5 minutes or 50, depending on a little luck and strategy. But once you get the hang of it, you'll be hard-pressed not to jump into another game. And another. And another.

    In a nutshell, you play a card game where the cards form levels that your scary mercenary must traverse. Included are some par-for-the-course RPG elements -- i.e. equipped items, health levels, food, gold, etc. The basic object is to move from one level to another by finding the exit cards. Each step along the way can be filled with traps and pitfalls or with new equippable items and treasure. To complicate matters, you also face off against enemies of various types, including bosses, in 3rd person melee action that is reminiscent of a game like Ryse or Batman Arkham Asylum.

    The narrator of the game doubles as the Gamemaster, dictating play with commentary that is perfectly timed with wit or snark or ominous foreshadowing of what lies ahead. Generally, it's excellent voice work and really draws you into the tabletop aspect.

    The combat portion of the game is also dictated by the cards randomly drawn from the Gamemaster's deck. These cards determine both the kinds of enemies and their numbers. You're then whisked away to do battle in one of maybe 20 or 30 different arenas of varying sizes. The melee combat is simple and fun. But not perfect.

    Let's get the bad stuff out of the way. The battle arenas take place from a semi-fixed view that follows closely behind the player. The problem here is that it never rotates, so you can't see what is taking place on a large portion of the battlefield. Instead, you have to rely on a little green indicator warning you of an incoming projectile attack. It makes for more than a few frustrating moments of timing your blocks. Also, I found myself sometimes getting caught in a corner of one of the arenas due to static objects which were difficult to see interfering with my movement.

    Technically speaking, the game takes a major frame-rate hit on screens where cards are being shuffled and dealt by the Gamemaster. It's nothing that really affects gameplay, as it never occurs in the crucial fighting portion of the game, but it's strange that Defiant Development didn't iron this out before launch, as this game is certainly not putting the Xbox One through its paces.

    Another annoyance is that the tabletop and the played cards are hard to read from the game's fixed first-person view. The seraph text font is too small, at least for these eyes. It would have been optimal to have included the ability to toggle a top-down view. As it is, the cards are only readable or even recognizable when the game view temporarily switches to the aforementioned top-down view to show the placing of a card on the table.

    One final, small issue is that Hand of Fate is light on options. There are no online ranking boards, a rarity in games these days, which seems like a missed opportunity to extend the life of the title.

    Graphically, Hands of Fate is no showstopper for the Xbox One. I've seen better on my 360. Having said that, I really like the art style. One example is how the playing cards are implemented into the introductions of the fighting sequences -- it's brilliant, but I'll leave that for you to check out for yourself. Needless to say, you're not buying this game for its 1080p, 60 fps, cutting-edge good looks.

    The team behind Hand of Fate has a potential cult hit on their Hands. It's a serious time waster with a fresh mix of fun gameplay elements that all come together nicely. Still, I can't help but get the feeling that this was a test project for something much bigger and bolder. Hand of Fate 2, perhaps? If so, deal me in.    … Full Review »
  3. HonestBill
    Feb 26, 2015
    8
    Coming from a huge Diablo fan, this game is fantastic! The game play is very well balanced and very polished, you have to remember that thisComing from a huge Diablo fan, this game is fantastic! The game play is very well balanced and very polished, you have to remember that this game revolves around risk and luck. It's not 100% reliant on either of the two, you set the risk/reward ratio when you set your deck up. You shape your adventure. For example: if you want a higher chance to find a Frost Blade Sword add 3 Frost Blade cards into your deck.

    Graphics: 9/10
    - Framerate drops (not during combat)

    Gameplay: 10/10
    - Original and Unique

    Story: 9/10

    Price: $20USD - Very fairly priced - this game almost feels like a AAA game.

    This game is already amazingly fun to play and I would have no issue paying 5-10 dollars for a decently sized expansion DLC.

    To all you Diablo fans and dungeon hunters - this game is a must! The card game aspect may seem boring but you will forget you're playing a card game.    … Full Review »
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