Our Dinn review, what we have to say about the simultaneous action trading card game. Players enter the 2 player showdown with their own custom deck filled with heroes, equipment cards and actions. Each person only has three points of health and one bad battle could destroy them. At the same time, players pick a hero, and then two different adjustments to that hero. These are revealed in steps so each player can adjust and pivot in a way that is going to give you the right edge. Games are quicker and much more in the moment than some of the others in the field, though you still are getting a very strategic and satisfying experience.
We took a look across fun, replayability, player interaction, quality and art & style to come up with the overall score for our Dinn review. See the breakdown by category below.
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– CATEGORY BREAKDOWN –
Fun (7 out of 10)
For the fun section of the Dinn review, we award a great 7 out of 10. This is an interesting take on putting together a deck that is going to give you the possibility of intricately stacked combos. In the game, players enter the game with their own deck. As a TCG, these decks will change and evolve over time, but the base game does come with starter decks and everything you need to have some satisfying games right away. Turns are simple, you reveal a hero, then a bonus for them and then a final second bonus. Your goal is to win this very contained showdown between heroes. Everything you do has the chance to trigger a variety of changes that could give you an edge. Heros are worth 1 – 3 hearts and if you lose you remove that many hearts. Players only have three so games are very quick, but still give you all the freedom in the world to make some satifying moves.
The quick play, simultaneous actions, refreshing mechanics and multiple paths to victory do make for a fun experience. The way a game like this could fail is if you ever found yourself in a situation where you had no control. Maybe you see a hero drop on the other side and then you throw your hands up in defeat because you couldn’t even hang with that kind of power. That is never the case here, every action taken has an equal chance to be your best friend or worst enemy depending on what you do with it.
Replayability (6 out of 10)
For the replayability section of the Dinn review, we award a solid 6 out of 10. Everything is customizable and will make for a brand new experience every time you play. This is certainly the case with any game in the constantly evolving world of TCGs but Dinn has been done a decent job of being an experience that can hang with the best of them. That being said, play is much more contained than some other titles that have to create these larger than one turn machines or assault teams, and that can get a little worn.
Since games are so lighting quick, they are exciting and that will keep you coming back. Things being so interchangeable may mean that the combo that won you the last game will lose it for you on the next. A card is not anything on its own, so this freedom and flexibility makes it easy to play using the same cards over and over. And the good thing about TCGs, new cards are constantly added to the fold. It is almost like when they designed this game, they took all this into account and made sure to create something that worked.
Player Interaction (7 out of 10)
For the player interaction section of the Dinn review, we award a great 7 out of 10. Most trading card games are two player showdown games that don’t neccesarily reauire you to be the best, just better than your opponent. These types of games require good player interaction to suceed. Dinn is no different but where it does differ is that players actions happen more simultaneously. Instead of players taking turns one at a time, here players make one part of a decision at the same time as their opponent and how they handle it triggers how you are going to make the rest of your decision.
Rounds are fairly simple and play out the same way each time but what does change is the stacks of actions and effects that are are going to edge out a higher power total between heroes. You have a hand of cards and from that each player picks a hero. Heroes are flipped up at the same time and from there you get to give them two advantages, one at a time, in the same simultaneous way. You can’t do your own thing. Play is designed to be very close with many possibilities to either give yourself a slight edge now or give up and prepare for the future. If you look at the field, this type of gameplay is certinly above average when it comes to player interaction.
Quality (9 out of 10)
For the quality section of the Dinn review, we award a very high 9 out of 10. This is a Trading Card Game (TCG) meaning there are many card options for your to acquire and customize a personal deck that you will bring into the game. Popular titles in the world are the likes of Magic the Gathering and Pokemon in their physical forms, or digital like Hearthstone. These types of games have lots of competition because they take a bigger investment from you to be able to hang in games. Dinn is able to create a new and exciting gameplay within this world and that says alot. Games are less each player doing their own thing on a quest for victory and more simultaneous stacks of actions that each player need to adjust and react to in real time.
There is also a hidden game within Din TCG. In addition to the wonderful card game at the surface, there is also a puzzle game hidden inside. It is completely separate, and you don’t need to touch it at all, but if you want to dive more into the story and if you enjoy puzzle, this is a fantastic and continuously expanding way to do it. At the bottom of cards are clues that point you to digital content and have you solving mysteries. New booster packs come out are positioned as new seasons that continue the story of this unique world.
Art & Style (8 out of 10)
For the art & style section of the Dinn review, we award a fantastic 8 out of 10. The card art has its own unique style. All the card art is beautiful and in a style fitting of this world that has been created. The flavor and detail that has been put into every aspect of this title is truly wonderful. The fact that everything can exist together in a coherent and ever-continuing story. The typography and iconography of each card has its own look that fits the game and is never just a rehashing of something else.
You are submerged into a beautiful world that is unlike anything else and for that, the designers and artists of this game should be proud. This seems like a tremendous effort to create something new in the space that can continue on. Art and style have been prioritized and it shows.
– IN CLOSING –
Dinn Review | Board Game Halv
Dinn is a new and unique trading card game that is unlike anything currently in the field. Instead of players each going off and doing their own thing, this title is all based on simultaneous actions that require constant reaction and deeply strategic stacking. Not only is it a great quickfire showdown, but the also happens to be an elaborate and separate puzzle game within that has its own smart mechanics and gives depth to the story in a way that no other tabletop game has done before. This has been our Dinn review, we hope you enjoyed it!
Product In-Stock: InStock
7.4
See the full explanation of the judging criteria here.
