Card Shark Reviews

Card Shark is ranked in the 83rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9 / 10.0
Sep 17, 2022

Card Shark is a one-of-a-kind experience, one that has the potential to completely immerse you in the life of a card cheat in ways you'd never expect. Nerial has gaming's equivalent of a pair of aces in Card Shark, and I wouldn't even mind if they'd cheated to get this winning hand. I mean, as they say, cheaters always prosper.

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GameMAG
Top Critic
7 / 10
Jul 17, 2022

Card Shark is a fun little game with plenty of shortcomings and some ways teach you several neat card tricks for loud parties.

Review in Russian | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Jul 14, 2022

Overall, Card Shark is a unique title with an interesting animation style and equally interesting cheating concept; all set far from today's modern world. These elements combine to create a fun and engaging game that will leave a lasting impression.

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7 / 10
Jul 13, 2022

Card Shark is not a conventional cards or casino game - in fact, it's not even a game that fits with the conventions of that world, Card Shark is rather a story of deceit and intrigue in 18th century France as the player moves through gambling halls using a variety of card tricks against an assortment of adversaries. Featuring a fantastic art style that's reminiscent of bandes dessinées, a captivating plot and characters and a series of tricks to learn, Card Shark would be even better if it was longer and featured more card tricks.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

75%
Jul 3, 2022

Card Shark offers a very novel gaming experience even for those tired of regular card games.

Review in Slovak | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jun 23, 2022

Card Shark is a game like no other, brilliantly blending compelling narrative and gameplay based on captivating, fun-to-learn minigames and small puzzles. It is also a title that is always a pleasure to behold and listen to, although it is regrettable to be so plagued by technical problems and bugs that disrupt the experience. If these problems were not so pressing, we could be facing a game that is highly recommendable to almost everyone, but it is still a title with many tricks up its sleeve that will please many players.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

4 / 5.0
Jun 21, 2022

Card Shark is absolutely the most thrilling card game out there, made even more impressive by the fact that you don’t actually do much by way of playing cards. This scintillating sleight of hand title has inadvertently taught me a lot about card tricks, all set to gorgeous Baroque music and stunningly illustrated scenes. The mechanics may feel a little difficult at times due to an onslaught of varied controls, but once you master them, you’ll feel like a card comte(ss) yourself. If you want something enthralling with high production value and even higher stakes, Card Shark can deal you in.

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Unscored
Jun 17, 2022
Card Shark | Review in 3 Minutes - YouTube video thumbnail
9 / 10.0
Jun 14, 2022

Card Shark is an original proposal that mixes player skill with cheating in card games. Your ascent to the top of the French aristocracy is in your hands, never better said.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jun 12, 2022

A fresh card game with incredible art style and unique gameplay ideas.

Review in Russian | Read full review

Recommended
Jun 9, 2022

It reminds me of a story about Ricky Jay, the great and much-missed close-up magician and historian of magic. After a particularly dazzling piece of card control performed for a New Yorker writer, he was asked if there was anyone left in the world who would still play cards with him.

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Jake Su
Top Critic
4.5 / 5.0
Jun 9, 2022

Whatever the path may hold, all that players can and would experience in Card Shark is beautifully put together, with a fascinating narrative matched by a vibrant and outstanding aesthetic, and propped up by wonderfully inventive gameplay that puts the player in the eye of the storm. In fact, it almost feels like the game has everything stacked in its favor, just like the different plots at play in the quiet confines of high society.

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Loved
Jun 8, 2022

It’s easy to imagine another version of Card Shark where every trick becomes far more involved on the input side of things to try creating a more one-to-one imitation of the movements, thereby making every step a more delicate process. And that version might be good too, but that they can feel satisfying to pull off with such simple inputs while still seeming complex is a definite achievement; not only for the way it makes them more easily accessible but the ways it still feels like you’re shuffling the deck or pulling sleight of hand maneuvers.

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8 / 10
Jun 8, 2022

More than anything, Card Shark is an experience. It’s not an exceptionally long game, coming in at eight hours, but it very much suits its length. I wasn’t left unsatisfied, nor did it feel padded. The emphasis on the tricks themselves was oddly compelling as well. By the end of the game I had learned the theory behind a good number of techniques, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted to practice some of these for real.

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86 / 100
Jun 7, 2022

A fresh, high stakes take on card-based videogames, sure to appeal to more than just deck-builders.

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Unscored
Jun 7, 2022

Card Shark is a collection of cheat 'em up mini-games that's clever, beautiful and stylish - but it'll demand 100% of your attention until you've finished it. Playing it like a real person with a life is hard.

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90 / 100
Jun 7, 2022

Card Shark is a real gem of our times. Set in 18th century France, this title fully immerses us in the world of swindlers with a surprising number of tricks, original gameplay, and wonderful graphics. A must for all fans of this type of game.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jun 6, 2022

Card Shark is a game that made me feel daring, and I was glued to my Switch trying to outsmart my opponents. Yes, every once in a while I’d come across a con I didn’t enjoy as much as the others. But considering the assortment of tricks you learn and the way the challenge grows, it still can feel very satisfying.

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8 / 10.0
Jun 6, 2022

Card Shark has an interesting idea and the historical background could make for a fascinating exploration of a period rarely featured in non-strategy titles. It also has a unique presentation, that manages to comment on the era without aiming for accuracy. I wanted to learn more about the context Saint-Germain was operating in and why and how card tricks were created and deployed.

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8 / 10.0
Jun 6, 2022

It’s the most fun you’ll have from a comfortable vantage point of shuffling cards and pouring wine.

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