Price: ~$40.00
Players: 2 to 4
Playtime: 60 minutes
Perfect for: Players who enjoy heavily thematic deck-building experiences, with an element of direct competition.
Video Vortex is a game of mutant film renting mania steeped in a sizeable amount of backstory and lore. Players assume control of a mutated cinephile in a future world, obsessed with a particular 80s/90s genre movies. The mutant works diligently to acquire forms of currency and power to defeat opponents by advancing others’ runtimes and collecting trophies.
To begin Video Vortex, 2 to 4 players choose a character, each of whom has slightly asymmetrical powers and total health values (as measured in minutes, or runtime). A turn begins with individuals drafting a special power that they can use once that round. They then draw four cards from their deck, which they can choose to play by expending energy or discard. Cards played unlock abilities or actions. For just a few examples, cards can: a) advance an opponent’s runtime, which brings them close to defeat; b) heal oneself; c) make the acquiring or playing of cards cost fewer resources; d) curate the player’s deck to make it leaner and more powerful; or e) purchase new cards. Once an individual’s runtime hits the maximum value, they must yield a trophy to the opponent that finished them off. When a player has collected the three types of trophies, they are declared the winner.
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What works in Video Vortex is the themed-based concept and stunning artwork grafted onto the familiar mechanic of deckbuilding. The instruction booklet to the game begins with several pages of “history” chronicling the events within the universe. For those who enjoy immersive environments, the narrative is absolutely delightful. This is complemented by fantastic components, as meticulous care has gone into both the visuals and acumen—the majority of cards are hilarious riffs off movies you would find in the dollar bin, or actions such as “Huff Cleaner” which grant temporary special abilities. And finally, the painting-like illustrations that adorn the cards by Boneface is rich and vibrant.
Players who prefer clarity of rules over theme may not enjoy Video Vortex as much as others. The game has a strong desire to engulf players into its distinct culture, which means that sometimes the nomenclature leads to ambiguous explanations regarding elements of gameplay. Video Vortex’s rulebook does indeed come with a glossary, but it feels almost incomplete give the intricacies involved.
At its core, Video Vortex is a competitive deckbuilding game for people who are familiar with the mechanic. Players who are new to this style would be best starting with a similar title with less complicated rules. With this context, Video Vortex is going to appeal the most to players who will appreciate the system coupled with the story, and don’t mind some direct aggression (as opposed to other deckbuilders that have less interaction where the person with the most points at the end wins).
Video Vortex is a fairly good game with a fantastic theme. Its reliance on story may seem like a barrier to some, but for those who embrace the world-building aspects, there’s more than a lot to enjoy.
Recommended if you like: Transformers Trading Card Game; Hero Realms; Clank! A Deck-Building Adventure
Final Grade: A-
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