Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden - everything you need to know

The next game in the Voice of Cards series is a standalone adventure featuring spirits, monsters and the high seas. Also cards.

By Duncan Heaney

Tags: Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden,Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars

It’s time to reveal the ace up our sleeve: a new Voice of Cards is out today!

Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden is a new standalone RPG from the minds behind NieR and Drakengard!

We’re sure you eager to get all the details, so let's dive right in:

What is Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden about?

The game is set on a remote chain of islands in a beautiful blue ocean, on which ancient spirits reside. These islands been protected for generations by the Order of Maidens and their guardian attendants, who have extended the lives of the spirits to keep their islands afloat.

However, one of these islands finds itself without a maiden, and thus fated for destruction. But one young resident refuses to let his island die. He joins with Laty, a young woman who failed to become a maiden of the isle, and a self-proclaimed ‘spirit’ (that looks a bit like a soft toy), and sets out to sea to discover the myths and legends of the islands in a whole new Voice of Cards story.

So wait - I don’t have to have played the last Voice of Cards game?

Nope. It’s a completely standalone adventure, with its own characters and story. It shares the same distinctive card-based aesthetic as the earlier game, but otherwise it’s very much its own thing.

Of course, Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is worth playing - purely because it’s a very good game. Plus you may be able to find some fun connections between them. But if you want to jump into the series with this latest entry, there’s nothing stopping you.

Great - so who are the characters?

Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden is full of memorable personalities. Here’s a brief introduction to just some of them:

Barren (the protagonist)

Barren is a young navigator. He cannot accept the impending end of his home island - because of that, he’s not given to smiling or laughter.

Laty

This young woman failed to become a maiden and laid down on the shores of Omega Isle - the home of Barren, and protected only by him.

For some reason, she’s lost her voice.

Lac

Although this creature resembles a stuffed animal, it calls itself a spirit. Whether its appearance is its true form, or it’s just wearing some kind of costume is yet to be established.

Philia

The Azure Maiden is fun-loving, ever-smiling and gifted at witty banter. Everyone around her finds themselves with a smile on their face.

Hyd

Philia’s attendant and lover is calm and given to perfectionism. His steely demeanour is rarely interrupted by a smile.

What kind of game is Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden?

At its core, Voice of Cards is a series of RPGs, featuring interesting worlds, fascinating characters and tactical turn-based combat.

It combines elements of tabletop roleplaying with a unique visual aesthetic, where everything in the world - from seas and dungeons to equipment and armor - are portrayed by beautifully illustrated cards.

The story will send you across the world in search of the four maidens of the islands.

You’ll traverse the great sea…

…explore the Heroes’ Dominion…

…and wade through the dangerous wetlands.

As you explore the world, cards will flip over, revealing scenery, characters, monsters… and more than a few unexpected surprises.

During the story, you’ll be presented with various decisions. The choices you make can make events play out in different ways

It all feels incredibly tactile, and leads to an RPG that’s always compelling, but lets you enjoy it at your own pace.

What about when it’s time to fight?

Sooner or later, you’ll encounter something or someone that wants you to meet a swift end. Then it’s time to battle!

Up to four characters can fight together: Barren and Laty, plus a maiden and her attendant. If you’re not accompanied by a pair of maiden and attendant, Lac will join the party in their place.

The turn-based battle system takes inspiration from tabletop RPGs. The number in the red circle is the character’s HP. Next to that on the left is their attack power, and on the right is their defence.

Those shiny stones in the top left are ‘gems’. You get one each turn and they’re consumed when you use your skills. Different skills require a different number of gems - above we can see Laty using one gem to cast Thunderbolt.

And this game is by the creators of NieR and Drakengard, right?

Yep. If you’re a fan of either or both of those series then you’ll be excited by the talent involved in this one:

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)

I love NieR! Is there a way to get more NieR into the game?

What an oddly specific request, but yes! A NieR:Automata-themed bundle is available at launch in the US, which includes Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden and NieR-inspired DLC, including:

Puppet’s Costume - An additional design for Barren, Laty and Lac that mirror the style of NieR:Automata.**
YoRHa Emblem - Replaces the design on the backs of the cards with the YoRHa emblem.**
2B Avatar - A 2B-inspired design for the player avatar, which can be used on the world map.
The Copied City Board - A Copied City-themed battle board and gem box.**
Machine Lifeform Table - A machine-lifeform-themed design for the game table.**
Resistance Jukebox - Allows you to change the music to tracks themed after NieR:Automata (note that the music will not change in some sections).**
Automata Dice - A Pod-themed design for your dice (available in North America and Asia only).**

This bundle also includes the ‘Pixel Art’ set, which lets you change the appearance of characters and enemies into beautiful pixel art.

The items sold in this set will also be available for individual purchase after the game release.

*Please note that the Copied City Board content does not include dice DLC

**The appearance will not change in some sections.

How do I play Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden?

Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden is out now digitally for for Nintendo Switch, PS4 and PC.

Anyone who purchases the game before March 7, 2022, will get the Wheel of Fortune pattern, which changes the image you’ll see on the back of cards, and the Ocean Tile Table, which adds an appealing nautical design to the game table.

To stay up to date with news and information about the game, make sure you follow Square Enix on social media:

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