Review: Deck of Haunts – A Chilling Mix of Cards and Curses

Deck of Haunts is a roguelike deckbuilder with a clever twist: instead of playing as a hero or villain, you are the haunted house. The game casts you as the malicious spirit of a mansion, silently shaping your lair to ensnare unsuspecting intruders. Each run unfolds over a day-night cycle. By day, you construct rooms, upgrade pathways, and set traps—carefully placing furniture, cursed objects, and structural elements to funnel guests toward their doom. At night, the real fun begins.

When darkness falls, your deck comes into play. You unleash spectral abilities and sinister tricks—draining sanity, summoning apparitions, sealing exits, or inflicting direct damage. The cards represent everything from creeping shadows to vengeful spirits, and timing them right is key to survival. The invaders range from ghost-hunters to clueless explorers, each with different strengths, behaviors, and levels of resistance. Your ultimate goal is to protect the Heart Room, the source of your power. Let it fall, and your reign ends.

As you successfully repel intruders, you collect essence—a resource used to unlock new cards, expand your haunted estate, and evolve your tactics. No two runs are the same, thanks to procedurally generated layouts and randomized card draws. The atmosphere blends strategy and horror with a bit of dark humor, making each session feel like a creepy, calculated game of cat and mouse.

It’s a refreshingly original take on the genre, giving you not just control over the deck but the entire house it haunts.

Strengths

• Unique Concept with a Strong Sense of Atmosphere

  Deck of Haunts flips the typical deckbuilder on its head by casting you as the haunted mansion itself. It’s a fresh premise that feels both playful and sinister, immersing you in a setting that’s as much about ambiance as it is about tactics. The concept alone sets it apart, but the execution reinforces it with smart design choices and mood-driven mechanics.

  A Satisfying Mix of Strategy, Layout Control, and Horror

  You don’t just play cards—you architect fear. Each run involves building your mansion’s layout to manipulate the intruders’ movement, then layering on tactical card play to disrupt, terrify, or destroy them. Balancing raw damage with fear-based effects and trap synergy creates a loop that’s consistently engaging and more strategic than it first appears.

  Strong Visual Style and Sound Design

  Visually, the game leans into eerie elegance. Card art features striking imagery—raven silhouettes, shattered mirrors, bloodied footprints—all crisp and evocative without being overly gory. The sound design is subtle but effective: creaking floorboards, distant whispers, and sudden stings build tension without relying on a heavy soundtrack. It’s immersive, restrained, and tonally sharp.

  

Shortcomings

• RNG Can Undermine Progress

  Several reviewers point out that the game leans heavily on randomness, which can make runs feel inconsistent. Early progression, in particular, can be slow or uneven depending on your initial card draw. Some decks feel underpowered or lack synergy, leading to frustration in the early hours before stronger combinations become available. This unpredictability adds replay value, but it can also impact pacing.

• Light on Story and Strategic Depth

  While the core concept is strong, Deck of Haunts lacks an overarching narrative or long-term progression system. Game over screens come quickly and without much context, which can make losses feel abrupt and disconnected. Players looking for a deeper management layer, lore-rich setting, or persistent upgrades may find the experience a little thin outside of individual runs.

• Minor Technical Issues

  Though not game-breaking, some users and reviewers have encountered occasional crashes, text display bugs, and interface glitches. These are relatively rare and don’t seriously affect gameplay, but they do contribute to an overall feeling that the game could use a bit more polish.

 Who It’s For

Don’t play if:

• You need a rich story or traditional progression.

• You dislike randomness in roguelike deckbuilders.

• You prefer character-driven or narrative-focused games.

Do play if:

• You enjoy strategic deckbuilders with a darker twist.

• Living out a horror-house roleplay sounds compelling.

• You don’t mind light polish and a bit of unpredictability.

Final Verdict

Deck of Haunts nails a distinctive vision: the thrill of being a supernatural landlord turning fear into power. The core loop—build, haunt, expand—is rewarding even through its wrinkles. While it could use more polish and stronger progression, the atmosphere and gameplay hooks are gripping enough to warrant several plays.

If you’re a fan of deckbuilding roguelikes looking for a creepy setting and smart combat flexibility, this one’s worth picking up—especially with its strong visuals and chilling tone.

If you’re on PC, it’s ready to play now for 19.99$ via Steam – supporting Windows and Steam Deck. Console editions are due later this year for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch.