Queen’s Blood: The Ultimate Card Game Experience of 2023 in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

I’ve never truly been fond of card games, whether in real life or in gaming. Besides collecting Pokémon cards on the school playground, I used to play Gin Rummy with my grandfather, but he taught me such quirky Devonshire rules that I could probably never play with anyone else. The unfamiliar game of Uno during Christmas is about my limit.

However, everything shifted in 2024 as I devoted a significant amount of time to digital card games, primarily on my phone. For many, Balatro has been a revelation this year, transforming poker hands into an engaging roguelike. It wasn’t until its mobile release in September, though, that it truly resonated with me. I’ve always found poker challenging—partly because I have a terrible poker face and I can never seem to remember the hierarchy of hands—but Balatro had me nearly losing my winning streak on several occasions.

Balatro is an array of simple rules that just work, but once I discovered a successful strategy that effortlessly clicked—unveil the checkered deck and go all-in on flushes—my enthusiasm began to dwindle. Then Pokémon TCG Pocket swooped in at just the right moment. Its digital cards are beautiful, and exploring beyond their borders is a stroke of genius. More than anything, it seems to have awakened my superstitious tendencies: how often do I shuffle the card packs before opening? Which Shock Choose position do I select? And if I peel open a pack in a perfect straight line, will I have a chance of finding a shiny? The initial thrill has worn off, however, as the actual card game is repetitive, and I find myself just opening packs mindlessly, hoping for anything but another Ponyta.

No, there’s another card game that truly captured my attention this year: Queen’s Blood. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is indeed a card game with a world-saving RPG attached as a minor side quest. And from the first moment I played it, I knew it was perfect for me.

In fact, there’s a rich tradition of card games within the Final Fantasy series. Final Fantasy 8 featured the iconic Triple Triad, later adapted for the MMORPG Final Fantasy 14, while Final Fantasy 9 showcased the notorious Tetra Master. Yet, none of these engaged me like Queen’s Blood did. Perhaps, with Rebirth being a remake, its core premise was less crucial to my enjoyment. Instead, I was eager to explore the world, meet its inhabitants, and soak in the atmosphere of each of its expansive cities and regions. I was simply eager to play Queen’s Blood.

It’s a straightforward concept. Played on a 3 x 9 grid, players clash by placing cards alternately from opposing sides, aiming to fill it with the highest scoring cards. Cards feature a Tetris-like shape that dictates where future cards can be placed, and I quickly discovered a very easy tactic in placing cards to block opponents.

The game is accompanied by an infectious jazz soundtrack: the soothing lounge piano of card selection makes way for a Big Band fanfare as the game begins brilliantly. And as Cloud approaches victory, the drums crescendo into an insistent, chaotic clamor until triumph. Much like that track, the game itself builds in complexity as you traverse the world, acquiring new cards with strategic abilities. I yearned to collect them all, to become the best there ever was. And not a Ponyta in sight.

You see, Queen’s Blood isn’t merely about filling the board as quickly as possible, as I initially assumed. Early games were enjoyable but shallow, and I easily won. Later, new cards are introduced that enhance others in accordance with more intricate Tetris shapes until ultimately cards that sabotage others appear. Suddenly, a new layer of strategy emerges as filling the board with the most powerful cards isn’t enough; you also need to dismantle your opponent’s cards to disrupt their strategy while improving your own options for fresh placements. Then deck management becomes more critical, balancing high and low power cards, with cards to enhance, diminish, or destroy. It’s like Shock Snap with Final Fantasy characters.

What I particularly enjoy is the puzzle mode—much like the Remake trilogy itself, it’s a clever way to reinterpret the game. Here, rather than a live opponent, you’re given specific cards and a set style of moves to achieve victory, compelling you to think differently. For instance, I distinctly remember being assigned a set of cards with shapes aiming backward instead of forward, prompting me to completely rethink my tactical approach across the board. And as destruct cards were introduced, I had to meticulously determine targets.