Sit down if
You want a deckbuilder with an RPG story and real choices.
Walk away if
You just want quick combat runs.
♠The table
You play one of several characters, each with their own story campaign on the planet Havaria. You take jobs, make friends and enemies, and every choice changes who will help or betray you later.
♥How a hand plays
There are two separate decks: combat and negotiation. Negotiation is a card battle of arguments, where you attack the other side's resolve. Many fights can be avoided by talking. Allies, grudges and money all matter.
♣Where luck comes in
Draws vary, but you have strong control: removal, upgrades and avoiding fights. Story choices matter more than luck.
The luck meter is our estimate of how much a typical run depends on chance. It is not part of the score. How we estimate it.
♦Look & sound
Hand-drawn comic style with lots of character, with good voice snippets and music.
♠Value & PC
Several campaigns plus a brawl mode for pure deckbuilding. Verified on Steam Deck.
Winning hand
- Two-deck system is unique
- Choices and relationships matter
- Lots of content
Bad beats
- Slower pace than other deckbuilders
- Story repeats across runs
The score sheet
- Strategy depth 25%
- 88
- Luck design 20%
- 80
- Replay 20%
- 84
- Style 15%
- 82
- Value 20%
- 86
88 × 25% + 80 × 20% + 84 × 20% + 82 × 15% + 86 × 20% = 84.30 → 84
The house verdict
Verdict
Griftlands is the most narrative deckbuilder at our table. Its negotiation deck is a brilliant idea, and its world of grifters is a pleasure to explore.
By the Game Vista Guide editorial desk · Updated 5 Oct 2026 · How we score · Report an error
