An unqualified review of the Mistborn Deckbuilding Game

Allow me to start this review by thoroughly disqualifying from the list of folks who should be reviewing new deckbuilding games (or any game at all, for that matter). I haven’t spent much time with Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game, nor do I have an extensive history of playing deckbuilding games. I have next to no experience reviewing games or books at all.

What I do bring to the table is a love for Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn and the story he’s crafted across the Cosmere. I will measure and review Brotherwise Game’s latest collaboration based on this metric.

They nailed it.

Again, I am no expert in deckbuilding games. For all I know, Mistborn is a completely unbalanced mess. What I do know is that after playing a few rounds of the game with my wife, it feels like you're in a Mistborn storyline. From the stunning artwork on each card to how your allomantic powers grow over each turn, Mistborn is a journey to Scadrial that every fan of the Cosmere needs to experience.

Let’s examine art and the play experience from a fan perspective and explore everything that’s on offer.

The art

Training cards give you small bonuses to use during your turn at the cost of burning the corresponding metal, consuming your reserves.

From the stained-glass renditions of the core metals to the stylized depictions of the people and locations of Scadrial, the game’s art is a collector’s dream. Not every card is ripped straight from a scene in the books, but thumbing through the deck feels like turning the pages of the books.

Each metal grants powers related to their allomantic properties.

The visual aesthetic feels right at home with other deckbuilding/trading card games, and knowing Brandon’s love for Magic The Gathering, it's no surprise that the team at Brotherwise brought in artists who can achieve a similar aesthetic. What is unbelievable is that so many artists could contribute to a single project and still have the same collection. Each card, though designed by a number of talented artists with their own visual aesthetic, feels like a single cohesive set.

Tokens and life counters match the stained glass art style found throughout the game.

This is nothing new for trading card games, but don’t underestimate what the team at Brotherwise was up against. Mistborn is a well-established franchise with limited “cannon” artwork but a massive amount of fanmade creations. Only the close partnership Brotherwise has with Sanderson and Dragonsteel could produce something that feels so right within the universe.

Even if you’re not a big fan of card games, anyone well-invested in the Cosmere will find something to love in this collection.

The gameplay

I will reiterate that I am not a highly experienced deckbuilding game player. I can’t really judge how well the game is balanced or if the pacing feels like it's “supposed to.” What I can say is that the few rounds I have played have been a delight.

The basics of the gameplay see you growing in allomantic power, burning metals to activate cards from your deck, gaining allies to fight beside you, and acquiring new cards to grow your deck. If I am being honest, it isn’t a simple game. It can take a bit for you to get a feel for the strategy that best suits your goals, and sometimes, you have to roll with what cards come your way or what opposes your opponent best. I will throw a video down below that covers the game's basics well enough.

Ally cards can enhance your deck by granting powers each time you burn a specific metal.

There are several different ways to play the game, including a versus mode and a solo/co-op mode.

The versus mode involves you taking on the aspect of Vinn, Kelsier, Marsh, or Shan Alarial to defeat the other opponent players at the table. You do this by completing missions, obtaining specific cards from a shared deck, or killing the other players. Each “champion” has a specific play style that they benefit from, giving you certain strengths depending on how you determine you want to win.

Each champion has different strengths and helps shape your play style around the specific metals.

And on that note, you can choose how you want to win. Perhaps you want to wield great allomantic power to tear apart your opponents. Or maybe you would rather outpace your opponents by staving off their attacks while you complete mission cards. Your “champion” character gives you a template, but how you find your path to victory is how you build your deck.

Missions allow you to progress towards beating your player, offering greater rewards to the first to reach specific milestones. Unlock power and sometimes permanent buffs upon completion.

The deck-building aspect of the game comes in as you spend your hard-earned boxings to purchase cards from a central shared deck called the Market. Everyone can see each other's moves since it is a shared part of the game board. Crafty players can balance their own deck-building plans with the acquisitions that stymie their opponents' plans. The cards you obtain help grow your deck and make each turn more and more complex, allowing you to layer exceeding complicated maneuvers as the game progresses.

In solo or co-op mode, instead of playing against human characters, you play against the manifestation of the Lord Ruler’s will. This deck of challenges complicates gameplay and restricts your ability to play the game. You must balance your plans to grow your deck and attack the Lord Rules with the constant pressure his edicts and adversaries (types of cards in his deck) put on you and your companions.

The Lord Ruler can impose his will against you to thwart your potential uprising.

Overall, the solo/co-op mode really sold me on the gameplay concept. I am sure I am not the only 35-year-old with kids who can’t just throw an in-person game night together whenever the fancy strikes me. Being able to play a quick solo game or at least choose to play with or against my wife is a huge perk.

Should you buy it?

If you are invested in the Cosmere, yes.
If you love art and want something cool to populate a shelf or go on display in your house, also yes.
If you are a hardcore deck-building game enthusiast looking for the next big game, sure. Let me know what you think because I have no idea.

I find it very hard not to support a product created with such love and care within Cosmere. Not that I need any convincing, but if this quality is what we can expect from the Cosmere RPG coming in 2025, the hype is most certainly real.