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Dance of Cards Review

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More Than Just Poker

Poker has been thrust under the spotlights of the video game world thanks to the recent breakout hit, Balatro. Tweaking the ever popular and enduring card game was a stroke of genius, as the compulsive gameplay won over legions of fans. Dance of Cards is here with a different approach, but hoping to prove just as impactful.

You start out playing as a young chap called Martin, who longs to build a better life in the New World. This promise of a more prosperous career for him and his magic act sees the group pack up and set sail for pastures new, but they are not alone.

Dance of Cards Review 1
Are you ready for the Dance of Cards!?

It quickly becomes apparent that all is not what it seems aboard the good ship Magnific, as the true intentions of the captain and crew are soon revealed. You and the other fifteen passengers are thrown into a deadly game of survival which centres around the poker table each evening, whilst also trying to find answers during the day. 

What’s more, is that you can find yourself involved in a Death Gamble situation depending on how things play out. This is quite literally a matter of life and death, as two teams nominate a player to battle it out in a mini-game, which is a scenario that wouldn’t feel out of place in an episode of Squid Game.

Whether it’s betting on the horses like at the arcade or playing an altered version of Russian roulette, these simple games of chance are a great way of ratcheting up the tension given that the consequences of failure are pretty much as bad as it gets.

Learning the Ropes and Understanding the Odds

Anyhow, as I say Dance of Cards is a game centred around the wonderful game of Poker. Have no fear as you’ll have the opportunity to learn the ropes before being flung into the action proper, making sure you are ready for the road ahead.

The poker games themselves are pretty slick in terms of presentation, and you will be furnished with the winning odds to help you make your decisions; something which is ideal for newbies and veterans alike. However, after so many rounds the player with the least chips will be eliminated so keep a close eye on your stack.

Dance of Cards is no straightforward card game. This is a tactical gambling RPG, thanks to the numerous factors which will significantly alter the course of each poker game you play. One of these is Stress which builds naturally as you play the game, and once a player reaches maximum stress levels, the impact can be pretty catastrophic to their chances. Actions come with additional consequences, such as losing chips and revealing cards which can make winning hands extremely difficult.

The biggest impact on any poker game you play in Dance of Cards are talents, which can be used at any point, as long as the player has enough talent points available. Your main man Martin, for example, has the ability to swap one of his cards with an opponent’s in a move called “Switcheroo”. This, when played at the right time, will allow you to steal the pot right under the nose of the other players at the table.

Dance of Cards Review 2
Poker – but with a twist

Beyond the Poker Table

There are loads of different talents to discover including the ability to hide a player’s cards from view, influence which action they will take and even something as simple as pinching some cash directly from them. Each and every one can be extremely effective when played at the right moment. In fact, it may have been a little naughty of me, but once I had built a big enough chip stack thanks to my talents I would often repeatedly fold simply to avoid elimination.

Various status effects will also blight you as you play, often as a result of talents being used. These can also affect your main stats, those being luck and composure which again will alter the course of the game. Try as you might, there will always be plenty to scupper your best laid plans in Dance of Cards.

Items and gear can be purchased for your party members, which will boost stats and increase the ability to use your talents in each game. You’ll earn cash for winning poker games as well as successfully navigating death gambles too.

As you will be well aware, Poker is a game of skill to a degree, but ultimately you’ll need luck on your side to be successful. There were a fair few occasions when unlikely hands would come off for my opponents on the river (the last card revealed), much to my frustration. 

This was without me falling foul of any talents or other banana skins too. The balance in Dance of Cards felt off at some junctures, with my opponents hitting the best possible hand just when they needed to. Compared to the amount of hands where they just had junk, or an inferior hand to me, the outcomes didn’t feel random. At one point it took me a good five attempts to survive a poker game and come out on top. I’m fully aware of the amount of factors which are designed to purposely direct the outcome of the game, but even so there were many times where it felt my opponents had an inflated advantage.

Dance of Cards isn’t all poker games however. In between the evening showdowns (and other ad hoc games) you will need to investigate as to why you find yourself in a living nightmare. Through snooping around the ship as well as chatting to your fellow passengers the mysteries behind events in Dance of Cards will begin to unravel. Moments of calm also present opportunities to build trust with the others on the ship, often learning much more about them and their backstory in the process. Choosing who to speak to is made a little easier thanks to the map which keeps track of everyone’s movements.

Dance of Cards Review 3
Understanding the stress

A Unique and Engaging Twist on Poker that Will Keep You Coming Back for More

Dance of Cards features regular save points and I would strongly advise using them, because at times it’s a brutal game. Despite having several ways of influencing each game of poker to go in your favour, you are never fully in control of the outcome. Oh, and at the end of the main game you are presented with the ultimate gamble…

By the time I reached the end of Dance of Cards, I was ready. This wasn’t because I wasn’t enjoying myself, however there are only so many ways you can dress up playing poker, and so long I can keep playing it. Thankfully then, and just in time, things are shaken up a little post endgame. 

There are a variety of modes to get stuck into including tournaments, a classic poker mode that does away with the modifiers and a “Bon Voyage” option that dials down the death, replacing it with different casino tables to tackle instead. If you have the appetite for more, Dance of Cards offers plenty of reasons to keep coming back.

Dance of Cards is a deeply enjoyable take on the iconic game of poker, which avoids folding under the pressure of its own ambition.


Dance of Cards: A High-Stakes Gamble Where Your Life is on the Line – https://www.thexboxhub.com/dance-of-cards-a-high-stakes-gamble-where-your-life-is-on-the-line/

Play the Dance of Cards on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/dance-of-cards/9njn8cqq1rs6


SUMMARY

Pros:
  • Tells a story filled with intrigue
  • Talents provide a brilliant twist on a classic game
  • Good variety of post end game modes included
  • Moody soundtrack
Cons:
  • Outcomes feel disproportionately weighted against you at times
  • Runs out of steam towards the end
Info:
  • Massive thanks for the free copy of the game, Pineapple Works
  • Formats - Xbox Series X|S (review), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
  • Not Available on Game Pass Day One
  • Release date | Price - 23 January 2025 | £8.39
Darren Edwards
Darren Edwards
I have been playing games since a very early age, thanks to my Dad's encouragement. I've been an Xbox gamer since the very beginning, the Master Chief is to thank for that. I'm also a big Nintendo geek, and my other half is a PlayStation nut. I'll play pretty much anything in any genre (although FIFA and COD maybe pushing it).
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<b>Pros:</b> <ul> <li>Tells a story filled with intrigue</li> <li>Talents provide a brilliant twist on a classic game</li> <li>Good variety of post end game modes included</li> <li>Moody soundtrack</li> </ul> <b>Cons:</b> <ul> <li>Outcomes feel disproportionately weighted against you at times</li> <li>Runs out of steam towards the end</li> </ul> <b>Info:</b> <ul> <li>Massive thanks for the free copy of the game, Pineapple Works</li> <li>Formats - Xbox Series X|S (review), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch <li>Not Available on Game Pass Day One <li>Release date | Price - 23 January 2025 | £8.39</li> </ul>Dance of Cards Review
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