Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Arcana places you firmly in the shoes of Rooks, a young boy destined to wield the power of magical cards and stand against the evil Galneon. The game’s structure revolves around a central village hub where you prepare for your next journey—visiting shops for gear upgrades, consulting a fortune teller for hints, or managing your party’s inventory. From this hub, you select destinations on a world map; while free movement is absent, the clear pathing keeps the experience focused and streamlined.

Once you venture into a dungeon, exploration takes center stage. Each dungeon features distinct layouts—from mossy caverns to ancient ruins—and hides valuable cards, treasures, and occasionally rare summons. Random turn-based encounters punctuate your progress, meaning every step forward carries a risk. In battle, you choose actions such as “Attack,” “Magic,” or “Defend” from a straightforward menu, with each decision carrying weight against foes whose elemental affinities can either bolster or hamper your strategy.

The core twist in Arcana’s gameplay is its card mechanic. Every character and monster is represented as a stylized card, and Rooks can collect elemental summons—fire, water, earth, and more—to call into battle. You can only summon one elemental type at a time, encouraging tactical swaps between runs. As you defeat enemies, Rooks and his allies earn experience points, gradually improving health pools, magic strength, and speed. Party management also comes into play when you recruit up to two additional characters, each bringing unique strengths that complement or contrast with your summoned element.

Graphics

Unlike many first-person RPGs that opt for fully modeled characters, Arcana leans into a card-centric visual design. Every combatant appears as a richly illustrated card with bold borders and distinct elemental symbols. This approach gives battles a tabletop feel, as though you’re shuffling through your deck when selecting a summon or swapping party members.

Dungeon environments strike a balance between moody atmosphere and readability. Textured stone walls, flickering torchlight, and subtle particle effects lend each corridor personality, while the skybox on overworld segments shifts from dawn’s pastel glow to a starry night. Although the graphics aren’t cutting-edge by modern standards, the art direction shines through in the monster card portraits—each design brims with character and clearly communicates elemental strengths and weaknesses.

UI elements remain clean and functional throughout. Health, magic, and status indicators are displayed alongside card art without cluttering the screen. Menus for equipment and fortune-telling sessions in town use the same card theme, reinforcing the game’s identity. Minor frame drops can appear if too many particle effects trigger simultaneously, but these moments are rare and don’t significantly hinder the overall presentation.

Story

Arcana’s narrative hooks you immediately: Rooks is the sole hope to thwart Galneon’s dark ambitions. Early quests guide you through birthplace nostalgia before revealing that sinister forces have begun to corrupt once-peaceful dungeons. NPCs share cryptic prophecies in the fortune teller’s tent, hinting at trials you must overcome—creating a sense of purpose beyond monster grinding.

As you explore, the story unfolds through cutscenes rendered as lavish card panels and spoken dialogue. Two companions can join Rooks’s journey, each with personal motivations tied to the world’s elemental balance. Their banter adds depth to otherwise straightforward dungeon runs, and side quests in the village illuminate regional lore—why this ruin fell into darkness, or how particular elemental spirits once lived in harmony with mankind.

The pacing of Arcana’s tale combines linear mission structure with optional lore dives. While the main quest drives the confrontation with Galneon forward at a steady clip, optional side stories reward thorough explorers with new summons or enhanced card abilities. The final act offers a satisfying culmination of both gameplay and story threads, though veterans of the genre may predict some twists before they arrive.

Overall Experience

Arcana delivers a charming blend of dungeon crawling, card-based combat, and classic RPG progression. Its approachable turn-based battles and straightforward world map navigation make it accessible for newcomers, while the elemental summon system and party customization present strategic depth for veterans. The card visuals tie every facet of the game together into a cohesive artistic theme.

Your mileage may vary depending on tolerance for random encounters and occasional backtracking between dungeons and hub. However, the village’s shops, fortune teller, and character banter help break up the grind. With a typical playthrough clocking in around 20–25 hours—including side quests—it offers respectable value without overstaying its welcome.

For players seeking a cozy, card-themed RPG adventure with classic turn-based battles, Arcana is well worth the journey. Its endearing protagonist, inventive summon mechanics, and atmospheric dungeons combine into an experience that’s both familiar and fresh—ideal for anyone looking to embrace a new hero’s quest against dark magic.

Retro Replay Score

7.3/10