Hand of Fate Reviews

Hand of Fate is ranked in the 75th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
May 17, 2015

The 'Hand of Fate' game from Defiant Development blends roguelike, deck-building, hack-and-slash, and tabletop elements for an extraordinarily unique journey.

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7 / 10
Apr 28, 2015

Hand of Fate wears its inspiration on its sleeve, but its deck has a few new surprises. Those looking for something new will find something to like here, but diehard dungeon crawlers might be better off waiting for the next edition.

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8.8 / 10.0
Apr 9, 2015

Hand of Fate is a devastatingly addictive adventure game that mixes card collecting with fast-paced third-person action and board games. Although full of disparate ideas, the game is never confusing. It has a few technical issues and I would have preferred a way to continue, but none of that should keep you from experiencing Hand of Fate.

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GameGrin
Top Critic
5.5 / 10.0
Mar 19, 2015

A good idea, which comes out as a bore due to repetition. Could further development improve this game further?

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8 / 10
Mar 18, 2015

Hand of Fate is an entertaining adventure that will impress tabletop fans and action RPG fans alike. The combat is solid, although a bit on the simple side, but the game provides a deeper challenge about halfway through the game. Earning tokens even when you lose helps with progression and every new card you gain can mean the difference.

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GBAtemp
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Mar 11, 2015

It's not a bad game, but it's not the greatest either. It needed to really sit down and choose an identity and then excel in those areas. It was just average in all categories it tried reaching out to. Features solid gameplay and a very thematic story experience, but pales in comparison to other games of its type and playset.

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8 / 10
Mar 11, 2015

These gripes are incredibly minor though when you evaluate the rest of the game. Defiant has done a fantastic job of marrying together two very different flavours of game, presenting it a stylish package that feels one part adventure book, one part action brawler. The potential for expansions and sequels further down the line is immediately apparent so, hopefully, this won't be the last time we're dealt into Hand of Fate.

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8.5 / 10.0
Mar 7, 2015

With an incredible card-based dungeon delving system, RPG elements displayed through your deck, and an experience that gets significantly more challenging each time you play – Hand of Fate is game that well worth your time.

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8.5 / 10.0
Mar 7, 2015

Aside from some problematic resource balancing and some unavoidable repetition, Hand of Fate is a clever game of risks and rewards that is well worth getting dealt into.

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Drew Leachman
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Mar 5, 2015

With a rough play time of 11 hours for the full story mode and an endless mode that can last even longer, for 20 bucks it's a pretty great deal for adventure fans and RPG players. I highly suggest picking Hand of Fate up.

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8.5 / 10.0
Mar 3, 2015

For those that have played deck-building games or Dungeons & Dragons will know, sometimes it just comes down to the luck of the draw or the roll of the die. Some may find the game easy while others may just rage quit due to the unfairness of the draw. Those who stick with it will find a great combat system and well thought out mechanics that should have you coming back for hours on end.

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7 / 10.0
Mar 3, 2015

Hand of Fate is a fresh take on the rogue-lite genre that starts off flush with unique ideas, but by the final few hands it's out of trump cards.

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75 / 100
Mar 2, 2015

While Hand of Fate can get aggravating, the novelty and personality oozing through it is undeniably alluring.  The game's simple but satisfying combat and risk versus reward card game will have you coming back for one more hand, waiting for your luck to turn around.

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Feb 27, 2015

Brilliant decision making, horrible brawling. Hand of Fate fails to hit a straight flush like it hopes.

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Feb 26, 2015

'Hand of Fate' is the kind of deviously addictive game that doesn't come along very often. It is innovative, easy to learn, and rewarding. It is also complex and punishing, but keep in mind that you'll never lose any of your cards permanently - if the dealer defeats you, you only lose progress against the current boss, and can restart anytime. The deck-building is fiendish fun, and all those hours spent fighting in the 'Arkham' games pays real dividends here. The real-time combat lets the player make their own luck in many situations. At launch, 'Hand of Fate' has some noticeable problems on the technical side, but is still a great play, especially for card fans disappointed by this year's Magic.

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Feb 25, 2015

Hand of Fate is a shining example of what ID@Xbox can bring to the console. The game's ability to provide the same gameplay over and over again, while still making every encounter feel fresh and challenging, is what makes the experience completely addictive. I was so sucked into the game that I literally got off my couch and sat cross-legged in front of the TV so that I could concentrate more. For those who thrash through the game's Story mode, the never-ending Endless mode provides an extra challenge to see just how far you can go. I have a distinct feeling that this game will remain installed on many consoles for a long time.

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7 / 10
Feb 25, 2015

Hand of Fate blends various elements of role-playing games and card games into a single, satisfying romp.

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Digitally Downloaded
Matt S.
Top Critic
Feb 25, 2015

These gripes don't hurt the overall value of Hand of Fate though. It is a massively atmospheric title with an invigorating, original set of mechanics. It's the kind of creativity we like to see from indie game developers, and shame on the Australian Government for stifling that.

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9 / 10.0
Feb 25, 2015

Whether you're sitting down for a quick coffee break adventure, or an all-night binge, Hand of Fate delivers in spades.

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Unscored
Feb 24, 2015

What makes Hand of Fate so very special is that it does very successfully bring one very human emotion to bear: hatred. I'm gonna give you what for, Australian Raistlin.

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