Card Shark Reviews

Card Shark is ranked in the 83rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
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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8.5 / 10.0
Jun 2, 2022

Card Shark is certainly one of the most unique and interesting titles of the year, the son of a completely crazy concept that works divinely from the first to the last second of gameplay.

Review in Italian | Read full review

5.5 / 10.0
Jun 2, 2022

Card Shark succeeds at establishing wild stakes within its wonderfully weird take on 18th century France. It serves up a memorable cast, a story that rewrites history in a fantastical way, all the while arming the player with tricks of the trade that'd make Penn and Teller blush. For a game that's more about playing your opponent than your cards, Card Shark is a memorable adventure.

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7 / 10.0
Jun 3, 2022

A lack of a compelling story hurt the time I spent with the game's cast, even though I adore the game's art and how much every scene leaves me wanting more. More time with the mechanics and a greater emphasis on the place and people of 1700s France could've helped Card Shark a great deal in my eyes, but I still admire it for what it is. I just think that much like the game's countless tricks, the best possible execution of its ideas needed a bit more confidence.

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7 / 10.0
Jun 2, 2022

Card Shark’s story, art design, and soundtrack alone make the game a worthwhile experience. What begins as a classic rags-to-riches story quickly evolves into something far more interesting, full of intrigue and betrayal. Progressing the story by cheating the pants off a bunch of pre-revolutionary French dandies in cards is a truly unique and satisfying premise, and it’s largely pulled off well apart from a few imprecise controls. Otherwise, the gameplay might be a little too one-note to hold your engagement for the entire runtime of the game.

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7.5 / 10.0
Jun 1, 2022

Solid card trick gameplay and some great quasi-historical presentation helps alleviate Card Shark's occasionally obtuse level design.

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4.5 / 5.0
Jun 2, 2022

In fact it's that humble acknowledging of what it's demanding of the player - let alone all the fine details to keep track of - that Card Shark successfully side-steps as a result.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jun 2, 2022

Card Shark is unique, layered and an absolute must.

Review in Italian | Read full review

8.2 / 10.0
Jun 2, 2022

Card shark is more like a visual novel combined with a bunch of mini-games. The exquisite graphics style and witty writing make me very satisfied. Even if there are some compromises in gameplay, Card shark is still an excellent work.

Review in Chinese | Read full review

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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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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8 / 10.0
Jun 4, 2022

Every aspect of Card Shark is polished to a mirror sheen. It is one of the most original ideas ever realized recent years and it is executed with extreme confidence and panache. Anyone who is a fan of adventure games will find Card Shark to be an enthralling journey.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jun 1, 2022

The characters are fun and inviting with just a hint of devilish mischief up their sleeves, including the speechless protagonist. There's a richness to the storytelling in both form and execution and that's definitely a highlight in a more uncommon narrative mechanic. Cards on the table: This game is great.

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72 / 100
Jun 1, 2022

Despite some pacing issues and uneven difficulty, Card Shark offers some very original card manipulation gameplay in a charming historical setting.

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8 / 10.0
Jun 2, 2022

Card Shark is an interesting little game. At its heart, it is more of a card-themed visual novel with some educational elements, but it presents the entire experience in an enjoyable package that avoids overstaying its welcome. A few nagging bugs and glitches caught my attention, and nothing ruined the game, but hopefully at least one issue will be patched soon. Either way, it's a fun experience. Just don't try to take the techniques to Las Vegas ….

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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 12, 2022

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

Review in Russian | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Jun 1, 2022
Card Shark (ACTUAL Review) video thumbnail
8.5 / 10.0
Jun 1, 2022

Card Shark is a truly unique experience that shouldn’t be slept on. This is the game for those who don’t like card games. The developers have made a very fun experience that builds on itself fluidly in a way that many other games don’t seem to get right.

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Jun 2, 2022

Card Shark is occasionally ace, flush with good ideas, and has plenty of heart. It won’t always deal you the best hand, but if such a unique concept suit(e)s your needs, you may be able to turn a blind eye to the moments where it flops, and go all-in, rather than letting it get lost in the shuffle.

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