Shards of Order initially gives the impression that it may simply be another game inspired by Darkest Dungeon. The dark hand-painted artwork, grim atmosphere, and side-view combat certainly point in that direction. Fortunately, the similarities become much more superficial once the adventure begins.
While the opening story takes a little time to find its footing, the world becomes a little more entertaining and engaging as you go along. The writing proved stronger than expected, balancing the darker themes with well-placed humor as the journey progressed.
Combat is where Shards of Order truly distinguishes itself.
Rather than relying on traditional alternating turns, every action consumes time. Enemies each have their own countdown before acting, while every card played advances the timeline by one or more time units. This creates a constant balancing act between taking powerful actions and giving enemies opportunities to strike.
Deck construction adds another clever layer. Each party member contributes their own collection of cards, meaning each individual party member directly influences both deck size and available strategies. A poor draw can leave one hero waiting for the right opportunity while another unexpectedly becomes the centerpiece of the battle, forcing players to adapt instead of executing the same plan every encounter.
That combination of timing mechanics and deck management creates a combat system that feels both familiar and refreshingly different from other deck-building RPGs.
With five hours played on stream Shards of Order exceeded expectations and quickly proved itself to be far more than a lookalike. Whether on or off stream, this is one adventure that deserves additional time. And the low price of the game helps it stand out as well.
Shards of Order is therefore recorded as Alive.
The cards remain in play. Even if it has to happen off stream.
Pronouncement: Still alive.