Mahokenshi Reviews
If you found Slay the Spire's oppressiveness off-putting, Mahokenshi's easier and dressed up in a pretty kimono.
Mahokenshi has some good moments of spontaneous creativity, but this Japanese mythology-themed deckbuilder is more gruelling than it is great.
An interesting deck-building card game with not much content and boring maps to explore. Basic gameplay is nice and the four heroes are different enough to let players experiment a bit.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.
Mahokenshi has no “endless” mode or anything of the like, and completing each mission and related side objective grants the game a decided and achievable end-state. One would expect that, with good sales, additional quests and modes (and mods) may eventually be added, all of which would inject some more needed bang for its buck. As it stands, Mahokenshi is still a great, session-based deckbuilder, and worth wading through its few snags.
Mahokenshi will test every logical and strategic bone in your body. A mix of deck builders and board games, Mahokenshi pushes the player to try different strategies, and the game is not shy about smacking down your pitiful attempts until you get it right. Come prepared for a unique experience, and put on your toughest armor, and you may get hours of enjoyment from this one. Just don't take it personally when you find yourself face down in the mud.
Mahokenshi challenges both newcomers and seasoned players alike.
Mahokenshi is a fun game. It contains a healthy amount of tabletop strategy, an addictive deck-building component, and a dash of RPG elements to keep some motivation going. Its gameplay is challenging and brutal at times but in the end, it works more than it doesn’t.
Mahokenshi is a fun deck-building tactics game that prioritises smart gameplay. Coming up with winning strategies and experimenting on the battlefield is enjoyable, and finding card synergies gives you a real feeling of accomplishment. Great care was taken with the visuals and audio to deliver an experience that really immerses you in the welfare of the Celestial Islands. Unfortunately, the characters aren't properly balanced and there's a clear favourite in terms of strategy, with not enough in-built incentives to explore the other characters. But if you are alright with a short adventure and are willing to complete every objective you see, you will have a good time with Mahokenshi while it lasts.
Those that love Mahokenshi will adore the fully realised blend of deck-building and digital board game, but will forget the threadbare mythological Southeast Asian theming.
Mahokenshi is a visually eye-catching and mechanically solid entry into the big world of deckbuilder games and brings in a mixture of elements that will appeal to not just card/deckbuilder fans, but people who also enjoy board games.
A beautiful, stylized world that really hits on the mythology and hooks you in.
Mahokenshi has a cool concept and plenty of high moments. It lacks that special something to separate a good deck builder from a great deck builder. It's too slow, too repetitive, and a touch too easy. Even taking that into account, you'll still get hours of gameplay out of the loop, and if that works for you, it's easy to see it becoming a niche favorite. With the deck builder market so crowded, Mahokenshi doesn't stand out as much as it should, but it's still a well-made game.
I really couldn’t fault Mahokenshi. For me, it sits firmly in the midground of deck builder titles. It isn’t difficult to pick up and the mechanics are easily understood. At the same time, it is also not as in-depth as some of the other titles currently on the market. This makes it really easy to pick up and enjoy from the start, it is pretty much self-explanatory after the tutorial. It provides various gameplay elements and customisation if that’s what you are looking for, but it’s also just a pickup-and-play. I award Mahokenshi a Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Mahokenshi offers well executed tactical card battles, but it's a bit of a shame that the game is a bit light on content and only offers one campaign.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
It's an uncomfortable and paradoxical feeling, in my case (I like that it's a closed game, but I'd also like it to be infinite), but I have a feeling it's also a good sign: I won't be uninstalling Slay the Spire, that's for sure, but I can imagine playing Mahokenshi until Steam's hour counter reaches three figures as soon as the context is right.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
A game structured by collecting the major features of popular genres such as TRPG and deck buildings. While each stage is a little bit too long and the deck building feature has a room for development, the game offers a unique experience that is differentiated in similar genres.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Overall, Mahokenshi is a great deck building strategy game with easy to grasp gameplay, decent enough plot and beautiful artworks. The cards are varied enough to keep the ball rolling―the more time you spend on the map, the more powerful cards you get with challenging enemies. I would see, Mahokenshi might be a good stress inducer rather than a buster, as you’ll have to think carefully at every step. That said, prepare to die a lot!
Mahokenshi is an innovative mix of genres - deckbuilding, X4 and RPG - which offers a good challenge and several hours of fun.
Review in Italian | Read full review