Across the Obelisk

Deck-building games have been popular among tabletop games for some time, but combining them with more traditional role-playing video games is a much more recent idea. Across the Obelisk is another game that tries its hand at the developing formula, stacking the deck with a few interesting concepts. One of the game's biggest selling points is its co-op feature, which supports up to four players joining forces in public and private game sessions. Players try to work together as a party to chain actions together effectively. The turn-based combat and party-based decision-making does a pretty good job of bringing a tabletop gaming feel to the online experience. While matches are easy enough to set up and jump into, like many co-op games, the fun lives and dies by who you find yourself teamed up with. While some random matches were fine for a quick play, there were also plenty of times that other random party members made sessions feel more frustrating than fun. It's definitely better if you can get some friends together for private adventures.

Whether you play solo or with friends, Across the Obelisk does have a lot to offer. There are more than 500 cards available to find, craft, or upgrade, giving a lot of variety in how you choose to play. The procedurally generated sessions mean that every playthrough, while familiar, is uniquely different. That said, there are still a lot of places where you'll draw the low card. For starters, the balance of the game is frustrating. One minute, enemies aren't particularly difficult but still take a long time to defeat. The next, the party members get wiped out in one shot. There's also a lot of trial and error when using cards, as the game doesn't always do a good job of explaining how they work, particularly the effect some cards might have on others. In spite of this, when it plays its cards right, Across the Obelisk manages to be a good fantasy adventure best shared with friends.