Infinity Wars: Animated Trading Card Game is an MMO trading card game where players customize their decks from an assortment of factional cards to forge an empire. A robust storyline guides you through the basic controls before you test your skills in competitive PvP matches.

In Infinity Wars: Animated Trading Card Game, players build their deck from a huge library of cards. Master the game’s five factions by completing an extensive campaign—earning cards and new decks upon completion. Your faction determines your style of play, such as attacking your players morale or setting up an impenetrable defense. A simultaneous turn-based system forces players to anticipate their opponent's attacks and prepare their counters in response. Every card is uniquely animated and has special stats and abilities that add a tactical edge to gameplay. The playing field is divided into four zones, each requiring special attention to defeat your opponent. New players need not be wary, an extensive tutorial runs through the basics of the game. Once you’ve mastered the gameplay, a competitive PvP scene is available, where experienced players test their customized decks for rewards and glory.

Full Review

Infinity Wars Review

By Sean Sullivan

Infinity Wars: Animated Trading Card Game peaked my interest when I saw Commander Riker decorating a card cover, firing his phaser at some unseen threat. It was enough for me to add the game to my Steam library. Upon launching I was surprised to find an extensive story and unique gameplay elements that go beyond the standard card game playbook. Unlimited deck combinations lend to a game that’s striving for a competitive eSports scene, as a simultaneous turn mechanic forces players to play mind games with each other—countering cards before they’re in play. A huge library of cards are all animated, breathing life into normally fixed imagery. I was impressed by the scope of Infinity Wars. It's a worthy game for TCG veterans and players looking for something new.

To The Field Of Battle

If you’ve played a TCG before, then Infinity Wars’ mechanics will be familiar, with some slight twists that distinguish it from the rest of the crowd. You choose your faction and draw colorfully animated cards. Upon the beginning of each turn, you're allocated one additional resource point to spend on summoning cards. So the game builds up slowly, until both sides are making the battlefield rain cards in the later stages of a match. The field is divided into four sections: Support Zone, Offense Zone, Defense Zone, and Command Zone. When you begin, you place cards in your support zone, spending resources to do so, and on the following turn you can send your cards to the defense zone or offense zone. Alternatively, cards can be placed in the Command Zone where abilities can be used without being played on the field.

A divided playing field can seem overwhelming but a fully voice-acted tutorial elucidates the game's mechanics. I needed it because the game throws in various options to pursue during battle. Health, Morale, a Trading Shop, and Initiative are equally important and must be monitored to gain the upperhand. The tide of battle can change dramatically in just one turn. Thanks to the game's Simultaneous Turn System, it begins to resemble a game of Chess, where you must always guess your opponent's moves before they make them.

Do I cast my death ray on the Masked Warrior, expecting him to move out of the Support Zone and onto the field? If I’m wrong, I’ll waste my one-hit K.O. card. Plenty of cards are designed to foster a forward thinking playstyle, rather than active tactics. Anticipating my death ray, my opponent activated Prayer of the Dragon, saving his Inspiring Soldier from heat death. Games teeter on calculation and being familiar with the factional cards and their playstyles is a must if you plan to survive.

Cards That Look Good

Right away you’ll notice that every card in the game is fully animated, GIF style. Each one is unique and simple enough not to be overwhelming. The flinging tongue of Skraar’s Young quickly became my favorite—slobbering, appalling, and charming all at once. Other cards, like my tutorial Flame Dawn Footman, slashes his right arm while wielding a pistol in the left against the silhouette of an ancient skirmish.

In contrast, the field of battle looks dated—made up of simple textures with colors correlating to your faction. However, your eyes rarely pay attention to the environment since the card game is what counts. The setting could have been a local park table and I wouldn’t have noticed. Since this game is expected to release on mobile and tablet devices, a less demanding environment is to be expected. When cards clash it often sounds like a textbook dropped in an echo chamber; preceding a bloody slash across the card. It’s a bit dramatic for a TCG. However, I can understand as the storyline demands a somewhat serious undertone—considering cards are symbolic of a multi-universe war.

What Is This? Yu-Gi-Oh?

I can appreciate putting a story into a TCG, particularly one that attempts to be cohesive enough to allow Next Generation characters. In the game, reality became fragmented and splintered into to an infinite number of dimensions, but has been reunited in Infinity Wars—hence the title of the game (I hope Marvel doesn’t sue them once Thanos shows up in Avengers IV). The developers set themselves up nicely by creating an infinite parallel universe story. They can absorb any franchise and make it fit their game world. Unlike other card games, that have to be self-contained or else they risk breaking immersion. Smart move Lightmare; I applaud you.

The story is told in a comic book format—appropriately—with panels pushing along GIF-animated imagery. The voice-acting is okay. One of the tutorial guides sounded a bit weak at times, like the Microsoft Sam version of Morgan Freeman was strapped into an audio booth against his will. Moreover, the acting was B-movie worthy. It’s not a focal point of the game and it adds to Infinity Wars' charm. Plus, a slick, nineties sci-fi beat pushes the intro along as the first two character discuss war, betrayal, and the coming battle.

Getting Wrecked By Pros

Infinity Wars seems designed to enter the competitive eSports scene (and there are plenty of tournaments to enter once you're confident enough). Videos on Lightmare Studios’ YouTube page regularly tout competitive matches between developers. However, advancing to the big boys league can be a daunting task. You need to know each faction and its playstyle, particularly because matchmaking is far from judicious. New players are frequently matched against veterans, with medals adorning their title, while the newbie—like myself—has only just learned how to switch their avatar. I was crushed immediately.

My advice is don’t enter draft picks (Rift Runs) until you’ve obtained a substantial amount of time in the game. If you don’t mind losing—at times an overwhelming loss—then feel free to jump right in. I prefer to dive into the deep end as soon as possible and learn from the adult swim. Otherwise, invest time into the campaign and you’ll have enough experience and currency to spend in the shop, improving your deck and discovering what strategy fits you best.

"Get Your Cards Here!"

Battlefields, avatars, cards, card packs, full decks, and “much, much, more” can be purchased with two currencies: lightmare points and infinity points. However, the game is not pay-to-win. You can earn all of the cards in game by playing the campaign and versing other players. Although, unlocking everything can seem like an arduous grind at first. Nevertheless, every action in the game, regardless of how mundane it may seem, rewards you with free cards and decks. Even though some of those rewards are the basic factional desks, understanding each faction's role is half of strategy. Additionally, it's not hard to build up a collection of cards simply by playing; the game shoves cards down your throat.

If you really want to spend money in the Cash Shop, I recommend picking a battlefield to show off your flair. Premium battlefields include some nice aesthetic perks, such as the Altar of Madness that has a scourge eye staring into the abyss. Some have night and day cycles and faction-themed playing fields. It adds nothing of value to your gameplay beyond being a cosmetic item. We know you have plenty of cash and no idea what to do with it so invest in a battlefield (or MMOs.com).

Final Verdict - Excellent

Infinity Wars is an excellent digital trading card game that stands out from its competitors with smoothly animated art, an in-depth campaign (that functions as a tutorial), and engaging gameplay. It’s added element is prediction and deception, forcing you to enter the mind of your opponent and counter their moves before they’ve made them. The highly competitive PvP scene will keep dedicated players entertained for hours, crafting the perfect deck to humiliate opponents. If you like TCG’s and a well-presented atmosphere, then what are you waiting for?