Wildcard: A Wild Mix of MOBA, TCG, and Football Flair

After years in development since 2018, Wildcard is finally here in Steam Early Access. Built by Playful Studios, Wildcard is what happens when a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) meets a trading card game (TCG), then picks up a bit of football energy for good measure.

You and your partner team up in 2v2 matches, summoning creatures, unleashing champion abilities, and playing powerful Wildcards to destroy your opponent’s tower. Sounds wild? It is, and that’s the charm.

Gameplay Overview

At its core, Wildcard combines real-time combat with deck-building strategy. It's the MOBA with a lot of twists.

Your objective? Destroy the opposing defense before they destroy yours.

Each match feels like a tug-of-war between tactical planning and fast-paced execution. You’ll need to:

• Summon monsters using your loadout deck.
• Control your champion with unique abilities.
• Compete to get Wildcards that can instantly change the tide of battle.

This dynamic creates a constant back-and-forth where skill, deck synergy, and timing matter just as much as mechanical mastery.

Champions: Choose Your Hero, Master Their Playstyle

There are currently six Champions available in Early Access:

1. Ragna: High offense, great for aggressive players.
2. Bolgar: A tanky bruiser who can hold the front line.
3. Lily: Swift and agile with support-oriented abilities.
4. Locke: A well-rounded pick with balanced stats.
5. Neva: A high-difficulty champion for players who love technical mastery.
6. Gane: Newest champion that was released during the Early Access launch.

Each Champion has distinct stats for Health, Damage Per Second (DPS), and Movement Speed. There's a difficulty rating set from 1 to 3 to help inform players which characters are the hardest to play. The more you play, the more you’ll realize that picking the right Champion for your team composition makes or breaks your strategy.

Deck Building and Loadouts: Customize Your Strategy

Before each match, you build a loadout deck with:

• 10 Summons (your monsters)
• 3 Wildcards

Buying and unlocking Packs gives you more cards to mix and match. It’s this system that brings TCG-style variety into Wildcard. No two decks feel quite the same, and experimenting is half the fun.

Want a fast, swarm-heavy setup? Build around low-cost summons. Prefer big plays and clutch moments? Slot in Wildcards that can swing a losing match back in your favor.

Battle Pass and Progression

Like most modern games, Wildcard comes with a Seasonal Battle Pass. Grinding through it rewards you with:

• Exclusive card unlocks
• Champion & Summon skins
• Other cosmetic and utility bonuses

The progression loop feels rewarding enough to keep you coming back, especially if you enjoy unlocking new decks or flexing flashy skins.

Web3 Integration: Subtle, Not Overbearing

Wildcard includes Web3 integration, but not in the way most blockchain games do. The Web3 element exists outside the core gameplay.

The initial vision is stated in their Wildpaper, which outlines how community ownership may evolve. It’s more about the broader ecosystem and governance via a decentralized organization that will manage in-game economies and tournaments.

If you’re wary of crypto-heavy mechanics, don’t worry, the Web3 aspect doesn’t affect the main gameplay at all. You can play Wildcard purely as a traditional competitive title.

The Devs had already announced Thousands Network, which is accessible now. However, there isn't any promotion about this platform if you had only interacted with the game on Steam. I'm still looking forward to how they will integrate this with Steam. Currently there's no way for you to connect your Steam account to this platform yet.

Early Access Feedback

Visuals, Performance, and First Impressions

Visually, Wildcard stands out with its colorful, stylized art and clean UI that doesn’t overwhelm. Performance on PC is stable, though optimization can always improve as more players jump in.

From my early hours, the gameplay loop is fun. Every match feels different, thanks to deck customization and real-time decision-making. It’s got that “just one more round” energy that’s rare to find in hybrid genres.

What Needs Work

But for all its innovation, Wildcard’s Early Access build isn’t perfect. Here’s what I feel needs improvement:

1. Controller Support: With many PC players now preferring gamepads especially for Steam Big Picture, the lack of controller support feels like a missed opportunity.
2. Split-Screen Co-op: Considering it’s a 2v2 co-op game, local split-screen would make this perfect for couch sessions or Steam Remote Play.
3. Ranked Matchmaking: A proper ranked system is essential for a game with eSports ambitions. Casual matches are fun, but competitive players need something to grind for.
4. Web3 Integration: If web3 integration existed, make it clear how players can participate. We need simple instructions on how Wildcard players from Steam can participate in the Thousands Network.

Despite these issues, the foundation is strong, and the potential is undeniable. The devs seem active and responsive, which is always a good sign during Early Access.

Is Wildcard Worth Playing in Early Access?

Wildcard is one of those games that could quietly grow into something big. The combination of card-driven combat, real-time team strategy, and its unique take on eSports could make it a hit once the full release lands.

✅ Innovative mix of MOBA and TCG mechanics
✅ Strategic depth through deck building
✅ Promising future for co-op and eSports fans
❌ No controller or local co-op support
❌ Lacks ranked matchmaking
❌ Early Access balance tweaks still ongoing
❌ Web3 integration isn't shown

If you like competitive games that reward creativity and coordination, Wildcard is worth your time. Play Wildcard now on Steam Early Access and start crafting your first deck.