Armello

This digital translation of the board game is lots of fun, although the slow speed of multiplayer and tiny text can ruin the experience. Visually speaking, Armello is downright breathtaking. Looking like something right out of a high-budget animated film, Armello sucks you in immediately with its mood, color, and amazing character design. In fact, it takes a while to appreciate the nuances of the gameplay, since the graphics are so incredible. Thankfully, the four-part prologue/tutorial gives you plenty of time to take in the scenery while you figure out how to play.

Beyond its beauty, Armello succeeds because of its variety. Different heroes have different strengths and personalities, and playing as each of them unlocks new and worthwhile perks. There's a definite sense of humor at work here (cards have tongue-in-cheek titles such as "Game of Thorns"). The turn-based nature of the game gives you plenty of time to consider each move, and the different card types (Item, Spell, and Trickery) let you determine what kind of player you are. Are you the noble type, determined to defeat your opponents through questing and building prestige? Or are you more the kind of player who enjoys sabotaging your rivals at every turn? Armello lets you choose and rewards you with a dynamic, suspenseful game every time you play. Theoretically, the tension would be cranked even higher by taking on real players, but unless you pay careful attention to your pre-match settings (it's especially important to use the turn timer to limit the more sloth-like competitors), you could be in for an agonizingly slow game. Fortunately, the gameplay runs quickly if the AI is accelerated. Another minor issue, especially notable with the Switch version, is that the text is incredibly small on the system's screen. While you can take it with you, it can be hard to read the text on cards or missions because its squeezed into such a small font. Docking the system solves this issue, but it's something to be aware of to avoid eye strain. Despite the occasional stint in the slow lane and the tiny text, this is one of the most fun, most visually distinct strategy games in recent memory.