Red Fables has long been associated with romantic visual novels rich in character art and emotionally driven storytelling. With The Arcana: Dark Tarot & Kings of Madness—launched alongside its sister title, The Arcana: Dark Tarot & Queens of Madness – the studio makes a bold creative pivot. Together, these twin releases signal a clear evolution for the developer, moving beyond traditional “Love Story” visual novels and into a darker, more ambitious fusion of narrative design and tactical deckbuilding gameplay. What we have here isn’t simply another branching romance, but a confident hybrid that blends tarot mysticism, psychological tension, and roguelite strategy into something far more mechanically engaging.
And at its current discounted price of £8.76, it becomes one of the most compelling value propositions on the Nintendo Switch eShop right now.
Tarot Made Flesh
The premise is striking from the outset. The Major Arcana are no longer symbolic cards; they are living, breathing men—dangerous, ambitious, and layered with hidden intent. Each Arcana embodies a tarot archetype, but in the “Kings of Madness” edition, these archetypes skew darker and more aggressive.
This isn’t a pastel romance fantasy. It leans into psychological horror, power dynamics, and occult intrigue. Relationships revolve around dominance, loyalty, ambition, and corruption. The writing carries a heavier tone than Red Fables’ previous catalogue, and it benefits from that maturity.
What makes this compelling isn’t just the aesthetic shift—it’s how deeply the narrative connects to gameplay.
More Than a Visual Novel
Many visual novels rely entirely on dialogue trees and relationship meters. Kings of Madness breaks that mold by introducing tactical roguelite-inspired card combat.
After narrative segments and date-like interactions, you enter combat encounters where you must build and play a deck of Arcana cards. Each Arcana you bond with contributes unique cards reflecting their personality and narrative alignment.
Combat is turn-based and structured around escalating enemy encounters. Strategy matters. You must:
- Build synergy between cards
- Manage timing and hand efficiency
- Adapt to evolving battlefield conditions
This is not button-mashing or passive storytelling. It demands engagement.
And impressively, it never feels like two separate games stitched together. The combat and story feed into each other.
Choice Shapes Power
The standout mechanic is how relationships directly alter your deck.
Your dialogue choices influence how an Arcana evolves. Support their ambitions and their cards may become more aggressive. Encourage loyalty and defensive or synergy-based abilities unlock. Corrupt them, and darker, riskier powers emerge.
These aren’t cosmetic changes. Card stats, abilities, and strategic roles genuinely shift. That gives replayability real weight.
Instead of replaying simply for alternate cutscenes, you replay to test new tactical builds born from different emotional paths.
It’s one of the more cohesive narrative-mechanics integrations seen in recent indie hybrids.
Strategic Depth (Within Scope)
Is this the deepest deckbuilder on the market? No. Veterans of hardcore roguelites like Slay the Spire may find the systems lighter in comparison.
But that’s not necessarily a flaw.
The game balances accessibility and depth well. Newcomers can understand the basics quickly, while more engaged players can experiment with synergy and optimization.
Runs escalate in difficulty gradually. Early encounters are manageable; later ones require genuine planning. Mistakes compound over time, especially if you neglect synergy or take reckless narrative paths.
The combat remains engaging across multiple runs, though enemy variety could have been expanded further to sustain long-term replay.
Aesthetic Excellence
Visually, Kings of Madness is stunning.
The tarot-inspired character design leans heavily into gothic elegance—ornate borders, dramatic lighting, stylized poses. The Arcana feel powerful and distinct.
The UI design reinforces the theme, resembling a ritualistic card layout rather than a generic game interface. Even battles evoke the feeling of laying cards on a mystic table.
The soundtrack complements the mood with brooding orchestral undertones and atmospheric tension. It doesn’t overwhelm; it enhances.
Performance on Switch is smooth in both docked and handheld modes, with clean text rendering and reasonable load times.
Romance with Teeth
Red Fables hasn’t abandoned its roots. Dating mechanics remain central—but they’re sharpened.
These relationships are less about sweet affection and more about power negotiation. Some Arcana demand submission. Others test your resolve. A few attempt manipulation.
Romantic tension intertwines with tactical consequences. Bonding isn’t optional fluff—it’s your route to stronger decks and evolved abilities.
Players expecting a pure romance visual novel should note: combat occupies a significant portion of the experience. But those open to strategy will find the hybrid rewarding.
Value at £8.76
At its original £21.90 price, Kings of Madness was a strong 4/5 experience—bold, stylish, and mechanically inventive.
At £8.76, the equation changes dramatically.
For under £9, you receive:
- A full narrative arc with branching paths
- Roguelite deckbuilding gameplay
- Replayability through evolving Arcana builds
- Strong art direction and thematic cohesion
In today’s market, many smaller indie titles cost similar amounts while offering far less mechanical depth.
The sale price significantly boosts the value proposition, especially for players curious about narrative-strategy hybrids but hesitant at full retail cost.
Minor Shortcomings
The experience isn’t flawless:
- Early runs feel slightly repetitive before deeper synergies unlock
- Enemy variety could be expanded
- Hardcore roguelite fans may desire more complexity
- Some narrative beats lean familiar within dark fantasy tropes
None of these are deal-breakers, especially at the current price point.
Who Should Buy This?
Highly Recommended For:
- Visual novel fans wanting deeper mechanics
- Deckbuilder newcomers
- Players drawn to tarot aesthetics and gothic themes
- Strategy players who enjoy synergy-driven systems
- Anyone browsing the eShop sale looking for high value under £10
Less Ideal For:
- Players seeking pure action gameplay
- Those uninterested in reading-heavy experiences
- Hardcore roguelite purists demanding extreme complexity
Final Verdict
The Arcana: Dark Tarot & Kings of Madness represents a confident evolution for Red Fables. It proves the studio can move beyond traditional visual novel frameworks and successfully merge storytelling with meaningful tactical gameplay.
The integration of choice-driven character evolution into deckbuilding mechanics is the highlight. The aesthetic is cohesive, moody, and striking. The combat, while not genre-defining, is satisfying and strategically engaging.
At its current sale price of £8.76, this is an easy recommendation.
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