Dire Decks: The Growth of the Deck-Builder Genre

Deck-builder games have existed in gaming for quite a while, but a recent resurgence thanks to titles such as Balatro and Slay the Spire has inspired a sort of renaissance within the genre. These games thrive on replayability as every playthrough allows you to construct a unique deck of cards with different abilities. With deck construction comes experimentation and with experimentation often comes great gameplay.

Dire Decks is a fine example of what makes this genre so intriguing when breaking it down to its simplest elements. Released in February of 2023, Dire Decks is a game that combines typical deck-builder mechanics with those of an arcade shooter game. You play as a blue character that is trying to survive wave after wave of orange projectiles. Although these base mechanics of shooting different cards at approaching enemies seem simple, the game becomes highly strategic with each coming wave.

Each card that you play has a different ability and shoots a different style of bullet at the incoming projectiles. Some can pierce, some can turn the attacking bullets against each other, and some bounce off walls. Not only do you have to select which cards to add to your deck, but you also have to consider that certain cards have a different rate of cooldown. This added layer creates a nice strategic balance that can lead to tense situations and quick decisions.

After a few waves of enemies, you also gain access to certain power-ups that also change the game’s dynamic. There are options to shoot an extra bullet, reduce recharge times, and freeze the incoming projectiles. They’re very simple to understand, but every decision you make in a given playthrough is something that makes that particular game loop unique. It’s a rare balance that a lot of games struggle to achieve, so it’s impressive to see an indie title like this strike it so masterfully.

While the card selection in the game can be controlled with either the mouse or the keyboard, I found the keyboard to be much more useful for making snap decisions and firing projectiles at a higher rate. Graphically, the game is as simple as it gets with projectiles being orange circles and our main character being represented by a blue oval. However, that simplicity just adds to the charm as there is no distracting user interface or narrative to follow. It’s just gameplay, and that’s one of its greatest strengths. One small weakness is that the game lacks music, but it’s certainly not a dealbreaker. A chiptune score would be nice, but the game functions perfectly well without it.

Despite its simplicity, Dire Decks is one of the finest examples of the potential of the deck-builder genre out there. Every card you add to your deck changes your gameplay experience, making those small decisions feel especially weighty. Although it’s currently only available on Itch.io, it has all the makings of an addicting mobile game due to its well-paced gameplay loop and replayability. The developer kindanice hasn’t released an update since 2023, but the game’s innovation in the deck-building genre could pave the way for future titles. There are many genres that deck-building mechanics could also blend well with, and Dire Decks is a perfect example of how to execute such a combination.