Review: Pairs & Perils (PC)

Gimmicks in video games can be a tricky business. While they can lead to some of the most innovative and exciting gameplay experiences, there’s always the risk of focusing so much on that shiny new idea that everything else fades into the background. That’s the situation with “Pairs & Perils,” a PC game that, while fun, illustrates this issue quite well.

At its core, “Pairs & Perils” is a straightforward matching game. Players dive into a dungeon filled with a random lineup of enemies, each with their own unique abilities. Your job is to match cards on a board, which will dictate how your party attacks or conjures spells. If you match correctly, your characters spring into action. Get it wrong, though, and your opponent gains an advantage, inching closer to launching their own attack once their turn timer runs out. This simple setup is engaging enough at first, but as you play, it becomes clear that the mechanics overshadow everything else. In fact, my real issues with the game don’t stem from these basic mechanics at all.

As a roguelite game, “Pairs & Perils” taps into a genre famous for swinging between spectacular and subpar with few in-betweens. I’ve seen many titles in this genre deliver either an incredible experience or fall flat, largely due to factors outside the core mechanics. The biggest culprit here? The narrative—or rather, the glaring lack of one.

When it comes to games that emphasize action, like arcade games or shooters, a deep story might not be necessary. In those instances, you often just need a minimal context to keep you engaged in the chaos. But in strategy games or platformers, where you undertake a quest, knowing why you’re doing it matters. You don’t need a saga-level narrative, just enough to keep you invested and give your journey purpose. Unfortunately, “Pairs & Perils” doesn’t even attempt to give you this context.

Jumping into “Pairs & Perils” for the first time, I expected a brief introduction—something to explain who I was or why I was in this dungeon. Instead, I found myself on a familiar roguelite map, then plunged into the game without any sense of why I was flipping these cards. It might seem trivial, but motivation drives players to keep coming back. Without it, the allure of the game diminishes, even if it’s enjoyable in short bursts.

Another hiccup in “Pairs & Perils” lies in the pace of the game. When cards are dealt, you have a very limited time to memorize them before they flip, and this window feels a tad too brief. Early on, with fewer cards, it’s manageable, but as the board fills, that small window becomes increasingly crucial—and frustrating. Plus, it’s not just your cards on the board. Trap cards lurk there as well, ready to punish distracted players. Juggling your focus between avoiding these traps and remembering card locations enhances the challenge but also complicates the fun.

The game’s rhythm also suffers due to its reliance on memory. After successfully matching a set number of cards, new ones appear, and you get another short span to memorize these newcomers. I found myself in a cycle of remembering only the newest pairs, ignoring the strategy of using my entire board effectively.

Then, there’s the element of strategy in battles. Knowing your foe’s next move should be key, but since your attention is locked on memorizing the card layout, strategic planning falls by the wayside. You’re not so much outsmarting your opponent as you are racing against your own memory capacity, which waters down what could be compelling battle mechanics.

Now, it’s not all dreary. Mechanically, “Pairs & Perils” is solid. The matching and deck-building mechanics work smoothly, and you’ll find the standard roguelite elements—unlocking new cards and abilities, upgrading characters, all the expected moves in the genre. The controls are responsive, and while the graphics aren’t groundbreaking, they serve their purpose well.

In summary, “Pairs & Perils” is a roguelite CCG with an intriguing idea at its center. But the novelty of its gimmick is weighed down by execution flaws, impacting the overall experience. It’s one of those games that’s fun in short doses and light on the wallet, yet it falls short of being truly standout. While you might enjoy playing it if you’re a genre enthusiast, it won’t top the list of must-plays. If the developers add some depth—particularly in the storytelling department—it might just transition from a decent game to a noteworthy one. But as it stands, “Pairs & Perils” is more of a passing interest than a must-have in a crowded genre landscape.

This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.

So, what’s the final verdict? The game holds its own with a 6.5/10 for execution. While the core mechanic is enjoyable, there’s plenty of room for improvement to push “Pairs & Perils” out of the okay territory and into greatness.