Why Deck Building Anime Board Games Are So Popular
Anime board games have the perfect combination of fun and strategy — making them some of the most popular multiplayer games on the market.
Anime deck building games are a whole different beast.
In deck building games, players start with a small deck of beginner cards and add new ones to their hand as they move through the game. Players take turns pulling cards from a central pool, building their decks around different characters and themes. The ultimate goal is to build the strongest deck and use the deck to beat your opponents.
Anyone looking for a fun and fast-paced gaming experience will find no shortage of anime-themed deck builders to choose from.
Want to find an exciting new deck building game to add to your collection? Read on!
The Best Deck Building Anime Board Games of 2022
Heart of Crown
Heart of Crown is an exhilarating deck-building game designed for 2-4 players. In this game, you play as a powerful figure in a conflict-ridden empire. Your goal is to claim the throne as quickly as you can to reunite the kingdom and return the realm to its prior peace and glory.
There are multiple steps you must follow to accomplish this harrowing feat. You must nominate a princess for the title, earn the support of your royal subjects, clash with rival candidates for the throne, and use your skills and prowess to get your princess her rightful position as ruler of the kingdom.
Each player begins the game with the same deck of cards. You will build your personal deck by collecting and playing cards according to your unique strategy. This will earn you Succession Points throughout the game. These points represent the support of your subjects and other influential figures in the empire.
The first player to earn 20 Succession Points ascends the throne and wins the game!
Kamigami Battles: Rise of the Old Ones
Kamigami Battles: Rise of the Old Ones is another fantastic deck-building game for 2-6 players. In this game, you take on the role of one of the Great Old Ones — a God of the Cthulhu Mythos. You will recruit Disciples and Warriors to join you in your battle against the enemy gods trying to conquer your domain.
You can play this game in one of two modes: Team Match and Free-For-All. In Team Match mode, you partner up with another player to take on your opponents in battle. In Free-For-All mode, everyone fights each other at the same time.
Regardless of your choice of playing mode, your goal stays the same: defeat all the enemy gods. Each god has a pool of life force called energy. You can win the game by reducing a god to zero energy, or by being the first player to attain 25 energy.
To accomplish this goal, you will draw cards from your deck to boost your stats or attack an enemy god. Another tool at your disposal are Powers. These are special abilities that give you an advantage over other players during the game. Lastly, you have Domain Cards. These cards give you access to additional abilities according to the different domains they control.
With the right skillset and strategy, you can seal the evil gods away for good!
Tanto Cuore
Last but certainly not least is Tanto Cuore — yet another thrilling deck-building game that deserves a spot in your collection.
You play as the Lord of a Mansion and hire maids of various skill sets to fill your house (card deck) with the goal of becoming the most powerful Master of the House in the game.
The objective of the game is simple: earn the most Victory Points by acquiring and employing different maid cards. Certain card combinations give you different strategies that you can use against your opponents in your gameplay. Each turn offers an opportunity to hire more maids and use their powers and skills to your advantage.
But don’t forget about your opponents — they can make your maids sick or give them bad habits, which will lower your Victory Points in the long run and hurt your chances of winning.
At the end of the game, the player with the most Victory Points is deemed the ‘perfect master’ and wins!
The Most Exciting Deck Building Anime Board Games Coming in 2023
Tanto Cuore: Memento Mori — Twilight Manor
The Twilight Manor has sat dormant for decades.
According to local legend, it was abandoned by its previous inhabitants, who swore resident ghosts were haunting them. No one knows for certain what transpired within these old walls, but the hauntings have left the property untouched — and possibly cursed.
Now, Twilight Manor belongs to you.
It is up to you and your Twilight Sisters to breathe new life into your ancestral home. You must take care to avoid ghosts, rush to repair dilapidated rooms, and sit in on seances to help you accomplish your goals. However, the spirits that linger in these halls are not so eager to play along...
Memento Mori - Twilight Manor is the haunting sixth installment in the Tanto Cuore franchise.
Like other games in the Tanto Cuore franchise, you serve as the Lord of a Mansion and hire staff to assist you while you build your deck. This game features a haunted mansion, some new maids, and some you may recognize — though they aren’t exactly how you remember them.
As the new owner of Twilight Manor, you are responsible for employing Maids and Butlers to help you collect combinations of symbols to accomplish Finishing a Room. With the help of Madame Damnable and her seances, you and your staff must keep ghosts at bay and tackle the great fortunes and ill fates that await you.
Bananya: The Card Game
Bananya is an adorable kitty who’s always wanted to become a chocolate-covered banana so that everyone will love him. Bananya may not achieve his dreams of becoming a famous chocolate banana just yet, but he knows his friends will always be there to support him on his journey.
Bananya: The Card Game brings this journey to life — and to win, you must collect 10 unique Bananyas.
Each player begins with 7 cards with the remaining cards forming a draw pile. Before you can start the game, you must flip over the box lid to create a litter box for all the played cards. You can draw a card from the pile and play it right away, or grab a discarded card from the litter box and wait a turn to use it.
Every turn earns you one action point, giving you the opportunity to play a card. If any card forces you or another player to discard a card, you must comply. This will slow down your journey to collecting all of Bananya’s friends.
The game continues until someone collects 10 different Bananyas and calls out ‘Nya!’
Closing Considerations
Anime deck building games are the perfect combination of anime and traditional game play.
Each game on this list features the fun of friendly competition, the skill and strategy of board games, and the exciting elements of anime — all packaged together for your enjoyment. So skilled players, anime enthusiasts, and beginner board gamers alike are sure to find one that they’ll love.
We hope you had fun exploring these exciting games — and if you want to learn more about any of the titles featured on this list or other games coming in 2023, be sure to check out our website!
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