Combat Monsters (2013)

Overview

Combat Monsters is a strategic collectible card game where players gather thousands of cards, construct powerful decks, and engage in challenging battles. Players can test their skills against intelligent AI opponents in the campaign and skirmish modes, or compete with others using cross-platform multiplayer servers. The game allows players to strive for the top 100 ranking for monthly rewards or enjoy a variety of specialized game modes purely for entertainment.

Gameplay

Players begin by selecting a starter deck and progressing through an extensive single-player campaign to expand their collection and strengthen their forces. Deck composition is flexible: you can focus on melee-heavy Warriors, enhance your lineup with supporting Archers, or include powerful Mages for impactful spells. Additional deck enhancements include weapons, armor, instant spells, and more. Careful planning and timing are essential to deploy the right cards at crucial moments.

Battles require tactical precision, as the primary objective is to defeat the opponent’s Hero before they destroy yours. Board positioning is critical for claiming bonus tiles and outmaneuvering enemies. Many Monsters possess special abilities such as Teleportation, Meteor Shower, and Heal, which can turn the tide of battle when used strategically.

Key Features

Card Gaming Evolved

Combat Monsters merges traditional collectible card mechanics with action-oriented, turn-based strategy gameplay. Deck building is just the beginning; players must actively maneuver their pieces on the board and engage in tactical combat reminiscent of role-playing games.

Strategic Deck Customization

The game offers comprehensive deck-building options, allowing multiple customized decks for different modes. This encourages the development of specialized strategies, providing both depth and variety in gameplay.

Extensive Multiplayer

Designed primarily for multiplayer engagement, Combat Monsters delivers a variety of online modes including tense 1v1 duels, chaotic 6-player free-for-alls, and other formats. Players can choose between real-time or asynchronous matches. An automated ranking system ensures balanced challenges regardless of player experience.

Massive Content

With over 3,000 cards, including more than 1,600 unique combat monsters, the game offers an immense variety of abilities, upgrades, and racial traits. Players can continuously expand and refine their decks, maintaining engagement through strategic gameplay. Combat Monsters supports cross-platform play on iOS, Android, and other devices. Internet access to Rubicon's game server is required to compete across platforms. Once registered, players can seamlessly switch between supported devices without losing progress.

Development

Developed over 24 man-years by a BAFTA-nominated studio, Combat Monsters has released five major expansions, with more content planned for future updates. The community is supported through an official forum, providing game tips, replays, tournaments, and discussions among players.

Combat Monsters is a thrilling card game that successfully blends strategy with RPG elements. With over 3,000 cards to collect, a variety of monsters to command, and plenty of strategic depth, it’s a great choice for fans of turn-based tactics and deck-building. The game encourages careful planning and thoughtful use of abilities, making each battle feel rewarding and tense.

However, the game’s primary strength is also its weakness. The complexity of deck-building and strategic gameplay can be overwhelming for newcomers, and the multiplayer aspect may be frustrating for those who struggle to find a balanced challenge. That said, if you’re a fan of strategic card games and enjoy the thrill of multiplayer competition, Combat Monsters is definitely worth your time.