Is Worlds Beyond Fun, or Should I Be Concerned?

I recently started playing the new card game Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond, and I’m enjoying it. However, after checking Steam, I noticed it has an “Overwhelmingly Negative” review score, which made me question my choice. What’s the issue?

From what I gather, players are quite dissatisfied. The card economy feels constrained, cosmetics from the original game haven’t carried over, and the monetization appears to be more aggressive than reasonable. Longtime fans have cautioned that the initial excitement fades quickly.

This resonates with me personally. I used to be heavily invested in Hearthstone. I’d wake up and start playing a few matches before even getting out of bed. Every spare moment was filled with Hearthstone — I even played on the toilet! Eventually, I quit cold turkey because it consumed too much of my time, money, and mental energy. Since then, I’ve steered clear of card games.

I tried Legends of Runeterra, but it didn’t resonate with me. The Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket felt more like a collecting app than a true collectible card game. I occasionally play Magic: The Gathering in person, but that’s more of a social activity than a regular habit. Nothing has really rekindled that passion.

I was hoping Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond would become my new Hearthstone. I’ve been craving that thrill, and so far, I do enjoy it — the vibrant anime art style, the mechanics, the evolution system, and the unique classes are all appealing. It’s a lot of fun. However, I’m now noticing the red flags others have mentioned, causing me to second-guess my enjoyment.

Perhaps the complaints are justified. Maybe the flaws will become apparent as I progress further. Still, I’ve missed experiencing a card game like this — and if it gives me even a few weeks of enjoyment without draining my energy (or my wallet), I’m willing to roll with it. Let’s see how long this lasts.