Mr. Magpie’s Harmless Card Game
At face value, Mr. Magpie’s Harmless Card Game presents itself as a quirky little deck-flipping challenge. You’re seated at a dimly lit table, face to face with the mysterious and unsettling Mr. Magpie. The rules are simple: flip cards, collect cash, and try not to die. The goal? Hit $999 before midnight. Easy enough — until your luck starts running out and your nerves start fraying.
This is no relaxing solitaire session. The game walks a fine line between psychological tension and mechanical simplicity. And it walks it with a crooked grin.
Risk is the real currency here
The core loop revolves around flipping cards from a grid — some are harmless payouts, others hide cruel penalties that can ruin your run in seconds. Each decision weighs heavy. Should you push forward and risk the next card, or play it safe and cash out early?
To stack the odds in your favor, you can invest your winnings into perks. These modifiers change how you interact with the deck — maybe you get a peek at hidden cards, or influence what gets drawn next. But every perk costs time and money, and every second wasted brings you closer to the final chime.
Despite its minimalist setup, the game captures that true roguelike energy: tight tension, irreversible decisions, and a constant balancing act between greed and survival.
Dark style, sharp edge
Visually, the game embraces a low-fi, shadow-drenched look that enhances its eerie tone. Mr. Magpie himself, though polite, never feels fully trustworthy — which is perfect. The mood is never over-the-top, but there’s a creeping discomfort that builds with every card you flip.
Sound design is equally lean and effective — subtle ambiance, mechanical clicks, and unsettling stingers that spike when you least want them to. It’s not horror in the jump-scare sense, but it definitely puts a cold hand on your shoulder and leaves it there the whole session.
Verdict
Mr. Magpie’s Harmless Card Game is a smart, claustrophobic little roguelike that doesn’t need flashy effects to mess with your head. Its rules are simple, but its atmosphere and design choices make it feel much bigger — and stranger — than the sum of its parts. Anyone who enjoys gambling with invisible odds and quiet psychological pressure will find a lot to love (or fear) here.
Credits
- Person: Matthew Brelsford
- Also Person: Ezra Szanton
- Puppet People: Shane Denhardt & Kiril Pashev of Evil Villain Games
- Sound Person: Chris Bolte
- Support and Love People: Everyone at Tiny Mass Games, PVGD, and Boston GameDev
