Duelyst is shutting down for good next month

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Duelyst is shutting down for good next monthClear the deck

Clear the deck

Card-shuffling strategyDuelystis powering down next month. Such is the way of free online games, sadly. Biddingfarewell to Duelystin an announcement on Friday, developers Counterplay Games are “saddened to announce” that all servers will officially close on February 27th at 11pm (3pm PST). If you’ve ever wanted to give it a shot - and from the reception it got in the RPS treehouse, you really should - that’s four weeks to give Duelyst one last bash.As of the announcement, Counterplay have suspended all sales of Diamonds - Duelyst’s virtual currency - and are offering refunds to players who picked ‘em up between December 21st and January 24th. If you’ve still got a few kicking Diamonds around though, they’ll go much further in the game’s dying month, with Diamond Orb bundles now going for 1% of the asking price.Seeking to stand out in a post-Hearthstoneworld, Duelyst smashed a traditional CCG into more methodical tactical battling. Drawing cards placed them on a grid-based battlefield, bringing positioning and planning into all those juicy CCG synergies. Mattflippin’ loved Duelystwhen he reviewed it back in 2016, boldly claiming that “almost everythingHearthstonedoes, Duelyst does better.” We even named it one of ourbest free gamesto pick up in 2019, and one of thebest multiplayer games, period.But being smart isn’t the same as being sustainable. Counterplay don’t explain exactly why they’re pulling the plug now, but it seems like Duelyst has been in a slow decline for some time now. Fair play to it, Duelyst lasted longer than many, launching way back in the hazy mire of 2016. Sadly, it’s probably just a case of no longer keeping the lights on at home.Looking for a new tactical card-shuffler, then? RoguelikeNowhere Prophetcarries some light strategy into a roguelike deckbuilder, even ifMatt wasn’t too hot on it. It may also be worth keeping an eye onWarhammer Underworlds: Online, an upcoming adaptation of Games Workshop’s grim monster chess.I’ve hated every game of it I’ve ever played, but my partner assures me it’s very good,actually.

As of the announcement, Counterplay have suspended all sales of Diamonds - Duelyst’s virtual currency - and are offering refunds to players who picked ‘em up between December 21st and January 24th. If you’ve still got a few kicking Diamonds around though, they’ll go much further in the game’s dying month, with Diamond Orb bundles now going for 1% of the asking price.

Seeking to stand out in a post-Hearthstoneworld, Duelyst smashed a traditional CCG into more methodical tactical battling. Drawing cards placed them on a grid-based battlefield, bringing positioning and planning into all those juicy CCG synergies. Mattflippin’ loved Duelystwhen he reviewed it back in 2016, boldly claiming that “almost everythingHearthstonedoes, Duelyst does better.” We even named it one of ourbest free gamesto pick up in 2019, and one of thebest multiplayer games, period.

But being smart isn’t the same as being sustainable. Counterplay don’t explain exactly why they’re pulling the plug now, but it seems like Duelyst has been in a slow decline for some time now. Fair play to it, Duelyst lasted longer than many, launching way back in the hazy mire of 2016. Sadly, it’s probably just a case of no longer keeping the lights on at home.

Looking for a new tactical card-shuffler, then? RoguelikeNowhere Prophetcarries some light strategy into a roguelike deckbuilder, even ifMatt wasn’t too hot on it. It may also be worth keeping an eye onWarhammer Underworlds: Online, an upcoming adaptation of Games Workshop’s grim monster chess.

I’ve hated every game of it I’ve ever played, but my partner assures me it’s very good,actually.