Stats:
No. of players: 2
Amount of time to play: 15-60 min (depending on scenario)
Age requirements: 10+
Set-up time: 5-15 min (depending on scenario)

Existenz On the Ruins of Chaos is a hybrid card and board game. Originally a CCG this version of the game comes with four decks ready to play.

Existenz On the Ruins of Chaos Rules Description:

Existenz takes place in a world where an experiment has resulted in the Chaos virus being unleashed. The virus has caused mutations in life forms and destroyed most technology. You play one of four factions that are fighting for survival and domination.

If you have played other CCGs you will be familiar with the basic gameplay of Existenz. You must have specific colored crystals in order to place a Summons on the board. Summons move and attack your foes which also costs crystals. There are five types of Summons, army, beast, berserker, dragon and vessel. You may only have one of each type of Summons on the board at one time.

There are two other card types besides Summons. They are Flux and Catalyst. Flux are instant effects that are played then discarded. Catalysts are effects that stay in play until someone makes you discard them. Again to play these cards you must use crystals of a specific color.

The board is what makes Existenz different from similar card games. It matters where your pieces are on the battlefield. The board is made up of intertwining circles and you may never move or attack on an acute angle.

You can win three different ways. Getting your life base to an end point on the board, killing your opponents’ life base or if an opponent has no cards left to draw.

Quick Review of Existenz On the Ruins of Chaos:

Existenz combines common elements from CCGs (Magic the Gathering in particular) with a board to show unit positions. If you have played Magic you will learn Existenz easily and quickly.

The components in this game are excellent. The rules are exceptional and look great. The way everything looks and goes together is very good.

Existenz On the Ruins of Chaos comes with four different faction decks. Each deck plays differently and offers its own experience. The game is also now a LCG instead of a CCG like originally planned. That makes it much easier on your wallet.

Unfortunately there are a couple things about Existenz that weren’t as good for me. I like the idea of a board adding tactical positioning to a card game. But the restriction on the movement and attacks (no acute angles) feel more like a limitation than a strategic obstacle. This is only aggravated by the fact you can only have five units on the board at any one time.

If you are looking into Existenz I think you should try it out first. You might like it more than I did. This is not to say I disliked it. I just think other card games (LCGs or CCGs) would hit my table first.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 4 out of 6
Luck 5 out of 6
Player Interaction 4 out of 6
Replay Value 4 out of 6
Complexity 3 out of 6
Fun 3 out of 6
Overall 3 out of 6