Genkai: Primal Awakening is a hybrid between a deckbuilder and a TRPG. The player begins each run by selecting one of three creatures with varying attributes. The player can add some defeated enemies to their party (to a total of three at once) while also accruing cards that can be used to enhance their attributes.

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A deckbuilding type of game, but a little different

The gameplay loop is a lot different than you’d expect from a Slay the Spire-type game. The player still receives a certain number of cards per turn and a set amount of energy to play them. However, these cards serve an exclusively supportive function – granting defense, boosting attack power, or banking ammunition for special attacks.

Independent of the cards and energy, each creature can move and attack each turn, using either a standard attack or one of two specials fueled by other cards.

It will take some time to get used to the system as it is a sharp divergence from most other deckbuilders. I personally find it less elegant than some other hybrid games such as Nitro Kid, though it has some similar advantages: Namely, less dependence on luck combared to straightforward deckbuilders.

If you’re familiar with this style of game at all, you can guess that Genkai: Primal Awakening is a pretty unforgiving game. Healing is rare and it’s hard to avoid taking damage. As with any such game, learning the little tricks – such as switching out heavily damaged creatures for fresh ones when possible – is critical to advancing through the game.

All of this is based on the randomly generated single player campaign. Genkai will eventually have more of a multiplayer focus, but the multiplayer modes weren’t available when I tested the game.

Replayability is the key for Genkai: Primal Awakening

The major upside for Genkai: Primal Awakening is the same as for any deckbuilder or other roguelike game: Replayability. Even with only the standard single player modes, the game can be played for an indefinite period of time with numerous different strategies. If you find that you have a knack for Genkai, you could easily use it to generate months of content.

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Drew Johnston

ANDREW JOHNSTON is a teacher, writer and journalist based out of mainland Asia. He is a regular contributor to Superjump Magazine, where he specializes in independent video games and the gaming culture of East Asia. He has published short fiction in 30 markets and anthologies including Daily Science Fiction, Nature: Futures and the Laughing at Shadows Anthology.