CardsGrid

High Level Explanation

CardsGrid is a co-op tactics card game that I am developing solo. Much of its mechanical inspiration comes from D&D’s grid-based combat, but instead of spell slots and dice, players use cards—their decks representing their character builds. Currently, all the art you see is a work in progress and purely for prototyping. Like any game project, CardsGrid is the result of many iterations, where I create new features based on player feedback and remove elements that aren’t working or don’t fit the game.

Coop Specific Mechanics

CardsGrid is designed primarily for co-op play. Since co-op card games are relatively rare, I’ve had to get creative with problem-solving around UI and encouraging player coordination.

A recent example is a mechanic where players gain extra energy for starting their turn near their co-op ally. The GIF below shows both players within each other’s light radius, granting the active player +1 additional energy.

An early prototype feature is the card rewards system. Unlike most modern deck builders where players receive card rewards only at the end of an encounter, CardsGrid lets players earn card rewards during the encounter by cooperating with their co-op partner. The clip below shows that if both players have damaged an enemy unit before it dies, each player receives a card reward.

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