Cartomancy Anthology

메이저 아르카나 타로 카드들 각각을 소재로 삼아 탄생한 단편 인디게임 모음집 0. The Fool 부터 21. The World 까지, 총 22 종류의 메이저 아르카나 타로 카드를 소재로 한 인디 게임들을 즐길 수 있는 게임이다. 합작 / 단편 게임 모음집이라 그런가 장편 게임을 하는 것과는 다른 맛이 있는데, 마치 단편 소설집을 읽을 때 짧은 소설들을 읽으면서 여러 가지 아이디어들을 맛보는 재미, 다르게 비유하자면 초밥집을 가서 오늘의 초밥을 시킨 후 다양한 종류의 초밥을 한 점씩 먹으며 서로 다른 맛의 초밥을 맛 보는 재미와 비슷한 맛이다. 즉, 하나의 우물을 깊게 파고들며 하나의 게임에 빠져드는 게 아니라, 여러 가지 독특한 게임들을 짧게짧게 찍먹하는 게 다양한 미디어 (소설, 게임, 전시회 등등) 에서 나오는 합작의 매력이라고 생각한다. 물론, 이러한 합작이 매력적이려면 가장 중요한 건, 합작 안 각각의 참여작들이 충분히 개성 넘쳐야 하며, 다른 작품들과 같은 테마를 공유한다 하더라도 그 테마를 다르게 해석하면서 서로 다른 경험을 제공해야 한다는 점이다. 그런 면에서 Cartomancy Anthology 는 충분히 그 점을 잘 지켰다. 일단, 타로카드라는 테마 자체를 게임별로 해석한 형태가 완전히 달랐으며, 굳이 카드 그 자체를 게임 내 구현해 두지 않고 해당 카드의 의미 또는 카드의 이름 그 자체에만 중점을 두고 자유롭게 만들어 간 게임들이 대다수여서 "이거 게임마다 억지로 타로카드 넣는 연출 나오는 거 아니야?" 라는 걱정을 할 필요가 없었다. 여기에 더해, 게임별로 비주얼 및 게임플레이가 극단적으로 다르게 표현되어 있어서 시각적으로도 지루할 틈이 없었다. 실제로 22종의 게임을 맛보면서 서로 비슷하다고 생각한 게임은 전혀 없었고, (밑에서 약간 적겠지만) 만족도가 평균 이하였던 게임들도 비주얼이 심심하거나 게임의 개성이 밋밋하다고 생각이 들지는 않았다. 다만, 이러한 단편 게임 모음집은 단편 소설집을 읽을 때와 비슷한 단점이 있는데, 바로 하나하나의 게임을 떼어놓고 보면 잘 만든 무료 게임에서 벗어나 보이지 않아 보여서 "과연 이게 제 값을 하느냐?" 라는 질문이 들 것이라는 점이다. 실제로 Cartomancy Anthology 를 하면서 모든 게임이 만족스러웠고 완성도가 높았다는 거짓말은 하지 않겠다. 많은 게임들이 아이디어는 좋은데 갑작스레 끝내거나, 비주얼은 좋지만 게임플레이가 따라가지 않는다는 느낌을 받았고, 몇몇 게임들은 이 두 경우에도 들지 못해서 플레이 하는 데 든 시간이 아까울 정도였다. 하지만, 그렇지 않은 게임들 - 비주얼이 취향을 저격했거나, 게임플레이 면에서 충분히 매력적이었던 단편 게임들 - 은 해당 게임만의 독특한 면들을 보여주었고, 몇몇 게임들은 "이거 잘만 확장해서 개별적으로 출시했으면 좋았을 텐데 ...... " 라는 생각까지 들게 했으니 말이다. 또한, Cartomancy Anthology 는 나같이 스팀의 구석을 들추면서 뭔가 독특한 게임이 없을까? 라고 고민하는 사람들에게는 한 번 맛보기 좋은 합작이라고 생각한다. 무언가 괜찮아 보이는 게임을 찾았을 때 기대감과 실제로 그 게임을 해 보면서 이거 할만하네 ! 라고 느낄 때 - 어떻게 보면 탐험하고 발견하는 재미와 비슷하다 - 그 기분을 새로운 단편 게임을 맛보는 내내 느낄 수 있었으며, (물론 게임이 별로였을 때의 실망감도 느낄 수 있지만) 플레이타임이 긴 게임 꺼내기는 피곤할 때 단편작들을 하루에 몇 개씩 즐기는 용도로도 꽤 좋은 게임이다. 결론적으로, 합작에 참여한 각 게임 모두를 추천할 만큼 완벽한 모음집은 아니지만, 그래도 각각의 게임 별 확연하게 드러나는 개성 및 색다른 경험을 준 점이 꽤 마음에 들어서 추천. 개인적으로 정가에 사기는 (나처럼 스팀에서 초현실적으로 보이는 게임들 막 줏어먹는 사람이 아닌 이상) 좀 비싸서, 당장 해보고 싶지 않은 이상은 어느 정도 할인할 때 구매하는 걸 권장한다. 여담) 여기서부터는 각각 게임별로 느꼈던 만족도를 상중하 단계로 간단하게 적은 내용이다. 각 게임별 스포는 거의 없고, 그냥 느꼈던 점들을 기록 목적으로 매우 간략하게 끼적인 것이다. 0. The Fool - 하 - 한 왕자가 왕위의 의미를 찾기 위해 여행을 떠나는 일종의 키네틱 노벨. 그림체는 마음에 들었으나, 내용이 별 영양가 없어서 뒷맛은 별로. 1. The Magician - 중 - 일종의 키네틱 노벨에 최소한의 게임플레이를 섞은 게임. 스토리는 독특하다 하기에는 모호하게 서술되어 있지만, 비주얼이나 사운드가 게임의 분위기를 확실히 잡아주는 게 정말 마음에 들었기 때문에 전체적으로는 만족. 2. The High Priestess - 상 - 이 합작에서 몇 안되는 퍼즐이 주인 게임인데, 난이도가 적당하고 비주얼이 귀여워서 전체적으로 만족스러웠다. 사실 퍼즐보다 길 찾는 게 길치 입장에서 공포였다 ....... 3. The Empress - 상 - 역시 퍼즐이 주인 게임이지만, 난이도가 그리 어렵지 않다. 온실 배경과 식물을 이용한 독특한 퍼즐 메커니즘이 마음에 든 게임. 4. The Emperor - 상 - 비주얼 노벨 형식에 나름 생각이 필요한 게임플레이, 그리고 여운이 남는 결말을 보여줘서 만족. 5. The Hierophant - 중 - 워킹 시뮬레이터 급의 직선형 진행 및 텍스트 기반 게임인데, 내용은 갑작스럽게 끝날지 몰라도 손그림체로 간단하면서 투박하게 표현한 비주얼이랑 사운드가 취향저격이라 만족도 자체는 평균이었다. 참고로, 이 게임 만든 사람 트위터에 들어가 보면 (본인이 그린) 다른 아름다운 일러스트들도 볼 수 있다. 6. The Lovers - 상 - 파티에서 댄싱 미니게임들을 즐기면 되는 게임. 세계관 및 주인공 주위 인물들과 대화하며 얻을 수 있는 정보가 꽤 독특한데, 그럼에도 불구하고 게임이 전체적으로 전달하는 감성은 현실적이고 따뜻한 게 마음에 들었다. 7. The Chariot - 중 - 미니게임을 진행하면서 텍스트를 읽어야 해서 멀티태스킹 안되면 좀 고생할 수 있다. 스토리는 그럭저럭이지만 그래도 비주얼은 괜찮아서 뒷맛은 나쁘지 않았던 게임. 8. Strength - 하 - 아케이드식 미니게임이라 이 합작에서 유일하게 엔딩이라 할 게 없다. 카툰 형식의 비주얼은 나쁘지 않은데, 미니게임이 재미없어서 별로 ..... 9. The Hermit - 상 - 사진과 추억이라는 매체를 잘 섞어낸 게임. 스토리의 기승전결이 확실하지는 않지만 그래도 이를 표현하는 방식이 마음에 들었다. 10. Wheel of Fortune - 상 - 그저 호박머리가 되어 낚시를 하면 되는 힐링 게임. 미끼 시스템이 독특했으며 마녀 NPC 에게 특정 생선을 보여주면 나오는 대화도 귀여워서 결국 도감 100% 할 때까지 플레이하였다. 11. Justice - 중 - 거짓말을 궤뚷는 예언자 및 이를 표현하는 게임플레이 방식은 참신하였으나, 정작 게임을 하다보면 난해한 면이 있어서 막히는 부분이 한둘이 아니었다. 그래도 아이디어 및 비주얼은 취향에 맞아서 불만족스러운 게임은 아니었다. 12. The Hanged Man - 상 - 게임 컨셉이 "고객을 만족시키기 위해 극한까지 노력을 쏟아붇는 상점주인" 컨셉이라는 것 + 기괴한 비주얼에서 이미 합격. 엔딩이 허무하게 느껴질 수도 있긴 한데, 그럼에도 불구하고 캐릭터의 고뇌를 표현하는 방식이나 음울한 사운드가 충분히 만족스러웠다. 13. Death - 상 - 해당 단편게임을 만든 개발자는 예전에 비추천을 남겼던 0N0W (초현실적 워킹 시뮬레이터) 를 만든 사람인데, 그래서 그런가 그 게임에서도 보이던 색감 배치가 보였다. 다행히 그 게임보다는 눈이 덜 아파서 전체적으로 만족스러운 경험이었다. 14. Temperance - 중 - 포션을 만드는 미니게임들 여러 개를 성공하면 되는 게임. 스토리는 그저 그런데 미니게임 아이디어 자체는 괜찮아서 모음집 중 중박은 친 게임이라 생각한다. 15. The Devil - 하 - 숲 속에서 벗어나는 한 아이의 이야기 ....... 인데 이게 키네틱 노벨인지 아니면 내가 게임플레이 요소를 못 찾은 건지 헷갈리는 게임. 뭔가 있을 법하다가 바로 엔딩이 나서 찝찝한 게임이었다. 16. The Tower - 하 - 고층의 탑 속 음울한 배경의 키네틱 노벨. 분위기나 배경 조성은 괜찮은데, 스토리가 별로 인상깊지 않아서 뒷맛은 별로였다. 17. The Star - 상 - 부숴진 존재를 복원하는 이야기. 직선형이고 단순한 게임플레이를 지니긴 했으나, 비주얼 및 초현실적인 오브젝트 배치가 정말 취향 적격이라 개인적으로 이 합작 중 제일 인상적이고 마음에 들었던 게임이다. 18. The Moon - 중 - 일종의 퍼즐 어드벤처 게임인데, 물의 높이를 이용한 퍼즐 메커니즘이 괜찮아서 게임플레이는 마음에 들었다. 다만 스토리나 비주얼은 좀 심심해서 아쉬운 게임. 19. The Sun - 중 - 태양을 조종해서 사람들에게 긍정적인 기운을 심어주는 리듬 슈팅 게임. 비주얼이나 아이디어는 좋은데 갑작스레 끝나고 게임플레이의 깊이가 적어서 아쉬웠던 게임. 20. Judgement - 하 - 사후세계와 같은 곳에서 영혼을 수확하며 이야기를 들어주는 비주얼 노벨. 사실 이 게임 내 결말을 보려고 3회차까지 플레이했는데, 분명히 잘 한 거 같은데 똑같이 부정적인 결말이 나오는 걸 보고 빡종. 21. The World - 하 - 아이디어는 그럭저럭인데, 게임 진행이 안 되는 버그가 걸려서 결국 중도하차. 비주얼 노벨 형식의 게임인데도 텍스트가 잘려서 보이는 문제점도 있었다.

A mystery box of 22 indie games ranging from 5 minutes to about 1 hour in length - most of them have a narrative twist or a unique take on the gameplay deconstruction. Almost every game here has a theme of self-discovery, introspection, or self-reflection, even when the game is not a visual novel (most of them are), there is generally a story being told as you play. You don't get to choose the order in which you discover the games, but you can skip them once you see the title artwork. With that in mind, the game hub gives you a reading with the tarot deck, in my example, I believe it says "you will play all the bad games first". I guess you could say most of these have a feel of a student project, but I would argue that some of them come from very talented individuals that were pushing their creative limits - perhaps 8 games or so, very thought-provoking, very immersive experiences. Ironically, I do recognize some of my favorite developers here who made more substantial games, but this package does not have their best work, perhaps something they made prior to getting all that dev experience. But I guess it's all part of the journey, most devs don't make high art on a first try, what I see here are a lot of great ideas, that are not fully realized, in some cases. Now, $25 for these, I don't regret paying for it, but I am not going to go detective mode and count how many of these can be found on the internet for nothing, it's not very relevant to me, I support small games when they deserve it anyway. Even with some awful and potentially broken games here, I think the good half pulls it together, granted these are very small experiences, something you generally would not pay more than $1 to 5 per game individually, so it's very much a package for indie rats like myself that see every brick as a yellow block of cheese. I assume all of the hub art is original to the actual package, given the art style, so if nothing else, it's a nice presentation, like a big gift of mystery indie games, you just don't know what you going to get, maybe it will be unique, maybe it will be very compelling, or just absolutely awful and unplayable. [h1] Pros: [/h1] (+) While nearly half of these games are probably not even worth my time, the better half really sold it on the heartwarming and creative adventures. Individually they are nothing too special, just some really sweet games here and there, nothing huge, just something to kill a few hours, with a few compelling themes. (+) I did enjoy the hub presentation with the cards, like opening a gift on xmas, I guess I just like opening loot boxes.... ummm, that came out wrong, I just like that feeling of not knowing where the game will take me, and you just don't see as much of it unless you dig in the darkest corners of indie gaming. [h1] Feedback: [/h1] [u] Nitpicks[/u] - a few of these games have strange interactions or maybe bugs (hard to tell), but it's unclear how to advance. Also, I wish you had achievements for finishing games as well. [b] Overall Thoughts (as a whole package): 7/10 [/b] I actually love buying game packs specifically with a single hub, it kinda reminds me of when we would get demos on the CDs, I just like that feeling of discovery, otherwise, I would never try some of these games. I would say maybe 60% of the games were relevant to me, most of them are very simple, but some have very compelling stories. Not sure about $25, if you love small indie games, you probably will find something you like, maybe get it on sale, whatever feels more comfortable. [code]For more niche, obscure and underrated games: http://store.steampowered.com/curator/31294838-Hidden-Gem-Discovery/ [/code]

I came in expecting a collection of games, and what I got was a collection of games, fiction, interactive art, experiments, and sometimes just... vibes. While some games---or experiences I guess---are more technically impressive, polished, or even just longer than others they overall embody a messy, emotional, beautiful, meaningful, and often queer experience. As the kids say, it's hashtag relatable. I ended up playing every game in one sitting and only learned afterwards that the intention was for the player to do a pull or spread once a day or so. I don't regret it but I also don't recommend it, though I can see myself getting frustrated if I did that because some games are much longer than others and it would mean that while I would spend 5 minutes in one session another would take a half hour. Instead of reviewing each individual game, I'll just list my five favorites and why I like them without spoilers: Hierophant. Empress, Emperor, Magician, and Tower. Hierophant won me over with a very unique and beautiful art style, though the story also helped a lot. Empress and Emperor were both just Really Solid Games with great mechanics and execution, and while I could honestly see them as "full length" games they were also just perfect in length and didn't overstay their welcome, plus, once again, they both told great stories. Magician and Tower were probably the least interactive of the bunch but they stand out in art, audio, and especially the stories. So yeah, many of these games tell great stories. There were a few that were lighter on the fiction (especially one that's an arcade score chaser) but even they had worldbuilding and themes and vibes. Overall these games all want to tell you a tale, and I found that almost all of them succeed. There were some issues I had with this anthology, though. I felt that a few games were a bit longer than they needed to be and overstayed their welcome. I encountered some technical issues: most noticeably I could not run one of the games and another had a gamebreaking bug that made it impossible for me to progress. This leads me to another issue I had with some of the games: it makes sense that most games are short enough that they don't provide a save/continue feature, it is frustrating when a medium sized game doesn't have it so if someone had gone wrong I had to replay the whole thing. Out of the 22 games I finished (or "finished" in the case of the endless games) all but 6 of them. As mentioned before, 2 games I couldn't play / didn't finish due to bugs. There were 2 that I gave up on because the in game explanations weren't really enough for me to figure out the game, and 2 that I quit halfway due to difficulty. I do plan on going back to the bugged game and 2 of the others because I really enjoyed the time I had with them. So overall I've enjoyed 19/22 games in this anthology (and maybe 20 once I see if I can fix the can't start game problem) which is a VERY GOOD ratio. Like, when was the last time I even enjoyed more than 3/8 games in a bundle? Oh also you can pet a capybara in one of the games.

Full disclosure, I was involved in the making of one of the games. That being said, The Cartomancy Anthology is a really unique experience that gives you an interactive tarot experience. It is too much to review each game individually, but they are all distinct artistic visions worth experiencing. The game starts by asking what kind of tarot reading you want, and once you choose you get the option to play one of the games based on your tarot reading. Playing some of the other games has been a blast. If you have any interest in tarot or want a huge collection of artistic indie games to play through. This is a great game to pick up!

A charming anthology that captures the best of the indie spirit.

I love this game with my whole heart and a half!!!

由22个不同游戏开发小团队制作的22个游戏 组合起来的独立游戏合集，每个游戏对应塔罗牌的一张牌(查了下，是22张大阿尔卡那牌)；每个团队都围绕各自的塔罗牌去做了一款游戏，然后通过游戏让玩家去思考所要表达的东西、或者思考人生，这也贴合塔罗牌占卜。 游戏是先抽卡，抽单卡或者抽三张卡，三张卡会代表过去现在和未来；抽完卡之后会在卡的两边给出小游戏的故事、游戏标签和作者团队，可以决定是否玩这个游戏。抽卡环节是模拟的现实塔罗牌占卜，但似乎没有人解读。 其实这游戏就是一个创意合集，每个小游戏的画风、玩法都不一样，当然游戏的质量难免参差不齐。不过游戏的神秘感还是很强的，除了塔罗牌这个概念外，更多的是在打开某个游戏时的那种期待感，然后也会很好奇单调枯燥的游戏外表下是否会藏一些更深层次的东西，比如说meta元素。

Cartomancy Anthology is a beautiful compilation of 22 games connected to each of the Major Arcana cards and allows for further continued use in single card or past, present, future three card pulls. Overall, the deck is very inclusive (lots of LGBTQA+ and pronoun affirming narratives) and beautiful for daily mindfulness and self-reflection. Overall: 4.5/10 Individual game ratings: The Fool: The Fool is about opportunity, potential, and new beginnings which didn't feel as though it was translated well into the game. Overall the storyline and changing allegiance felt altogether unimportant and uninteresting (though the dog, Soliloquy, somewhat made up for it.) 3.5/10 The Magician: This is one of the more beautiful games with a genuinely beautiful narrative as well, while short that really pulls from the meaning of the card even though it is primarily visual. 5.5/10 The High Priestess: This game contains many dot based puzzles that you must complete in order to perform tarot readings for the people of the town before making your way to the High Priestess. While the writing wasn't particularly engaging and felt somewhat unmemorable, the puzzles were challenging, and the game played on the traditional intuition meaning of the card. 4.5/10 The Emperor: One of my favorite games in the collection both in managing to encompass the meaning behind the Emperor card and in the artistry and gameplay, I really enjoyed exploring the world after awakening from my reality in order to serve a dish based off of a combination of emotions themed around each of the day's meditation poems to this powerful divine masculine energy to determine whether or not I would be worthy of being sent back to my reality. 6/10 The Empress: This is a straightforward, yet somewhat challenging puzzle game using gardening to grow and weed out flowers. Overall, the card represents birth, nurturing, and maternal femininity. While the game showcased this through growing sunflowers, the main storyline was one of manipulation and collecting glass shards which didn't tie in with the theme. 4/10 The Hierophant: This game really didn't have much at all to do with the prompt tarot card signifying religion, learning, teaching, and collective groups. This is one of the more lackluster games of Angela He's and feels like it was just pulled from something she was already working on rather than inspired specifically for this anthology. 4/10 The Lovers: I really appreciate the emphasis on self-love and shadow work with this card rather than using others to dance through life and fill an internal void. 5/10 The Chariot: The Chariot game was one of the longer games that, again, was really more visual than anything as you move past obstacles that slightly slow you down if you hit them and collect other objects (fossils and gemstones) that are seemingly meaningless at the end as you ride off on a path in your chariot towards an impending storm. 4/10 Strength: This game is about getting annoying letters in your inbox and taking our your frustration on them by punching them. This short temper is actually the opposite of what the strength card represents: strong will. Also, the actions for punching for each of the hands is a bit delayed and overall not consistently receptive which makes it nearly unplayable. 2/10 The Hermit: This card is all about self-reflection and internal work, so it's fitting that the game takes you through the main character's memories linked by photographs. The message is very clever and beautiful despite the execution being somewhat juvenile. 4.5/10 The Wheel of Fortune: The Wheel of Fortune card traditionally asks that you remain optimistic and have faith in the universe, destiny, and luck to take care of situations in the best way possible to allow you to be on your most abundant path. I really appreciated the use of various semi-luck related (a combination of random weather, time of day, use of lure, and a timed skill bar for rarity) varieties of fish waiting to be caught, cataloged, and given to the town grandma to help her and those in need. A really genuinely charming game while a lot of spirit. 6/10 Justice: While this is one of the more mature storylines that clearly follows the theme of the card, the musical mechanics when acting as an all-seeing oracle seeking truth are very finicky and it overall felt very draining completing the story. 4/10 The Hanged Man: While the tarot card is traditionally about sacrifice and feeling stuck in a situation and the need for patience, this game takes that to a whole other level by often requiring you, the cashier, to sacrifice some of your own organs when you can't guess what combination of items the customer wants in order to make quota for the day and guarantee customer satisfaction, because, after all, the customer is always right. 5.5/10 Death: While I can appreciate the message about change and letting go that heavily relates to the theme of this card, the monochrome visuals and ability to only move forward being the entirety of the "game" made it more of a visual meta-experience than anything. 4/10 Temperance: The card of temperance is about finding balance and moderation and is a card of peace and patience. Fittingly, the game involves making potions that you have to balance with the right ingredients in order to acquire ingredients for yourself to make a potion that will create a lasting legacy. The concept, gameplay, and pettable capybara making this a really cute game to play. 5/10 The Devil: This game is also really more of a visual novel that doesn't really have much to do with the tarot card which is all about control, limitations, restrictions, and the shadow self. In fact, the game doesn't really have much if anything to say at all. 2/10 The Tower: This game is more of a horror based short story explaining the inevitable fall of the tower and destruction, change, and chaos encompassed in the Tower card. 3/10 The Star: The Star is a card of renewed hope and faith and a sign of blessings. The game, on the other hand, is less hope and faith filled, and more about the journey of shapes and water and their desire to be understood hidden amongst lengthy text that tries too hard to be profound and philosophical and just ends up being pretentious. 3/10 The Moon: This game reminds me a lot of Arise: A Simple Story in terms of the water manipulation and glowing orb collection elements that help give the ebb and flow of the tide in relation to the moon rather than focusing on the misunderstanding, illusion, deception, intuition, imagination, and spiritual elements of the card. Overall, it's a relaxing puzzle game. 4.5/10 The Sun: This is a cute little game where you play as a little sun with sun rays for lives as you jump around different islands following the beat to help shoot away all of the dark infected inhabitants. This card is traditionally one of positivity, optimism, freedom, and fun and the game does exude that. While there's no really story and the controls aren't the most responsive, the game is cute and one of the more visually pleasing games in the collection. 4.5/10 Judgment: Taking a cool twist on what the Judgment card is supposed to mean, you play as Rhad who has been transformed into a scarecrow awaiting judgment in the Garden after dying and must judge others while he waits to find out his fate. Overall it's a really wholesome game that plays a lot like Death and Taxes, but with the ability to have more intimate conversations with the fruits and vegetables you might plant in the garden before making your decision. This card is all about new beginnings, choices, redemption, and renewal so the narrative feels very fitting. 6.5/10 The World: This final card is one of completion, but ultimately the game is draining to complete and many of the mechanics special effects simply don't appear to work. You play Eon who was split into 4 animals each with different skills. 2.5/10

Full disclosure: I contributed to one of the games in this anthology. But even if I hadn't been involved: the sheer breadth of the interesting ideas being expressed all in one package is a sight to behold, and I love that projects like this are allowed to exist. There is a great variety of games, each wholly unique and expressive, and each is so fun to "read" like a tarot card or just to play on its own. With 22 games all in one package, it's hard to talk about each of them individually in a short review. But there is definitely a lot to love, and a LOT of talent being unconstrained in how weird and creative they can be. I wholly recommend you check it out!

A great collection of beautiful games. Will play every one of them :)