Super Battle Mon Review

Super Battle Mon is a smaller scale TCG whose whole conceit is that it is easy and quick to play. Positioned as a game that even the most inexperienced players could pick up and play, the simple mechanics and small deck size mean you don’t even need a table to play. When I spoke to the developer, he told me that the game was in some ways meant to replicate that feeling of playing card games at the playground with your friends. I think it’s safe to say that has been achieved.

Product: Super Battle Mon

Developer: Coffee Cat Board Games

Price: $5 for a single booster, $75 for full standard set.

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I’m not sure what other people’s experiences were with card games like Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokemon in elementary school, but for me it kind of felt like a game full of wonder, where anything could happen, and someone always had at least one card you’ve never seen before. Thankfully, Super Battle Mon does not replicate the rules complexity of those titles, so there will be no need for playground arguments over what actually is supposed to happen turn to turn.

Decks are 7 cards total, and there are 90 Super Battle Mon to collect. Cards do not have an associated rarity, meaning each Mon is just as likely to appear in a pack as any other. This is quite unlike most TCGs where the best cards are often harder to come by, pushing players to buy more packs for an opportunity to find them. Instead, there are holographic versions and alt-color versions that you can collect for bling. 

The entire deck makes up your starting hand, so there’s never any chance of a “bad” hand — completely eliminating any sort of randomness on that end. Instead, the most complexity comes from player interactions. How will your opponent play, how will that affect your hand or plans, and what can you do to come out on top — these are all questions TCG players are familiar with and that remain a core part of Super Battle Mon.

Cards have a very simple design, which is beneficial for visibility.

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The goal is to end up with the most Mons on the board, using your cards to cheat in your own Mons or to disrupt your opponents hand and plan. Each turn starts with players placing a card face-down, flipping it, resolving abilities, and then comparing power. The player with the lowest powered Mon loses the turn and has to discard a card. This will persist until both players can’t play any more cards, and the player with the most Mons in play wins.

From an aesthetic perspective, the cards seem to focus on readability, with large, thick text, distinct icons, and simple creature designs. Card art features a single image of the Mon, with background colors matching their type (e.g. fire, grass, water, and dark, or any mix of those types).That simplicity certainly makes it easy to tell which card is which, but I do find that it also comes off a bit flat. It gives off the air that these things aren’t unique — they’re just another one in the set or series. 

Individual games are fast and fun, and once you get a handle on the already simple ruleset, you can really fly through a battle in a matter of minutes. This is really useful as an introductory game for young children or inexperienced gamers. I mostly played with those inexperienced types, and all of them seemed to get the game almost immediately. Of course, there is still room for mind games and strategizing, but the skill floor is certainly lowered when compared to other TCGs on the market.

Verdict

Super Battle Mon fulfills its core objective of being a simpler, more streamlined TCG that is perfect for beginners or for playing when you don’t have a lot of time. The basic rulesets mean that anyone can realistically pick it up and play, opening it up to an underserved audience in the space. This does come with some drawbacks, of course. That simplicity means the avenues of strategy and expression are quite limited. I found myself ready to move on after only a few matches at any given time, as there’s just not enough meat on the game to keep more seasoned card players on the hook. Despite this, it’s a solid game with clear objectives, nice card stock, and good vibes. Definitely worth a look for anyone eyeing a title with a low barrier to entry.

Image Credits: Coffee Cat Board Games

Disclosure: We received a free review copy of this product from the publisher.