Okay, so what’s Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars?

YOKO TARO and the brilliant staff behind the NieR and Drakengard series are back! Here’s everything you need to know about their incredible new card-based RPG!
By Duncan Heaney

Here’s the short version of this blog. Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is a new card-based RPG from YOKO TARO and the mad geniuses behind the NieR and Drakengard series.

For some of you that’s probably all you need to know - you’ve already played the demo and bought the game. For everyone else, you may be wondering: what is this game and why do I sound so excited about it?

Voice of Cards trailer

What is Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars?

The game’s a unique, brand-new RPG adventure told entirely through the medium of… cards.

Yes, you read that right.

Voice of Cards screenshot

Set in a world shrouded in mystery, you join the protagonist, as he sets off on a journey to defeat the Dragon that threatens the land and its people... and maybe earn an immense reward in the process.

Fortunately for the protagonist (and you), he won’t have to do it alone. He’s joined by a memorably eclectic group of companions, including Mar, a monster who’s very attached to him, and Melanie, a black witch who nurses no small grudge against the Dragon.

Voice of Cards terrain made out of cards

When we say the tale is told entirely through cards, we mean it. Every element of the game, including the characters you meet, battles you fight, even the equipment you buy or collect, are depicted as cards, with astonishingly beautiful illustrations.

Over the course of the adventure, you’ll make decisions and take part in turn-based battles across both field and dungeons that unfold on a board, in the style of a traditional tabletop RPG, complete with skills and dice rolls.

It all adds up to an experience that’s fun, unique and incredibly compelling - it’s hard to put those virtual cards down. But perhaps that shouldn’t be surprising, considering the team behind it.

Alright, so who is making it?

The team behind Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is a veritable who’s who of the industry.

It’s been developed by the creative talent behind the NieR and Drakengard series, including:

  • YOKO TARO - Creative Director (Drakengard, NieR series)
  • Yosuke Saito - Executive Producer (NieR series)
  • Keiichi Okabe - Music Director (Drakengard 3, NieR series)
  • Kimihiko Fujisaka - Character Designer (Drakengard series)

In a recent PlayStation Blog, YOKO TARO discussed the game, and he explained:

“The job of a creative director is to have younger members create lots of different things and then say things like, ‘that’s pretty good, isn’t it?’, while sitting back on a cushy sofa. But recently, I haven’t really had a chance to sit on that sofa. It’s all because of this work. Work is loathsome, work is loathsome, work is loathsome!!”

In hindsight, we should probably stop asking him for quotes. You can check out the blog for his full comment.

Voice of Cards Emil avatar

Did you say NieR? I love NieR!

Then you’ll also like the special bundle set*, which includes the game, the Pixel Art Set DLC, which swaps all character and enemy illustrations to gorgeous pixel art, and seven more pieces of DLC themed after NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…! The bundle set DLC includes:

  • Dress of the Bereft - Swaps the costumes of the Protagonist, Mar and Melanie to the design of NieR Replicant™ ver.1.22474487139…

  • Emil’s Pattern - Swaps the reverse card design to one that resembles Emil’s clothing

  • Emil Avatar - Swaps the player’s avatar to a design that resembles Emil

  • Emil Dice - Switches the dice to a design adorned with Emil’s face

Voice of Cards NieR DLC
  • Grimoire Weiss Board - Swaps the battle board and accessories to designs patterned after everyone’s favorite pompous tome, Grimoire Weiss

  • Library Desk - Swaps the table design to resemble a certain library’s stonework

  • Devola’s Music - Swaps the general background music to a soundtrack that bring to mind the journeys of a certain young man who fought to save his sister

*The items sold in this set are also available to purchase individually.

How do I get the Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars demo?

We can describe the game all the live long day, but the easiest way for you to understand it is to try it yourself. Which you can do with the free demo!

The demo is available on the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store and Steam today, and acts as a prologue to the adventure. The events actually take place prior to the beginning of the full game, so you’ll get a taste of how it works, and let your eyes soak bathe in all that beautiful artwork, without having to worry about spoilers or having to replay content.

How can I play the full game?

Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is out now digitally for PS4, Nintendo Switch and Steam!

For more information on Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars, make sure you follow Square Enix on social media:

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