This is a series of posts where I play 100 boardgames.
Game: Dungeon Poker
Designer: Tuukka Joki
Year: 2025
Country: Finland
Publisher: Osakeyhtiö Pelikeisari Oy
When I was a child, I loved Knightmare Chess. It added cards to chess, transforming the game into a chaotic melee where the circumstances could change at any moment. I’ve never been good at chess, and that may have played a part in why I liked all the randomness. Knightmare Chess changes the fundamental philosophy of chess, which has traditionally been seen as one of the classic completely deterministic games where luck has no role. Once a random draw of the cards and secret hands are introduced, your ability to predict how the game is going to turn out is significantly impacted.
Dungeon Poker is a variation of Texas hold ’em poker with added character classes, encounters, monsters and treasure, all of which affect the basic functioning of the game. The core idea is strong, resulting in a chaotic but entertaining poker game where the circumstances may change dramatically as a result of a special power. Each player has a character with different abilities and winning rounds provides items which may bring their own changes. The winner of our game had an armor which can always be used as a pair of eights if needed.
A Finnish indie card game, Dungeon Poker has a lot going for it. Unfortunately it’s severely damaged by the fact that it features AI art combined with truly execrable graphic design, making it one of the most visually offensive card or boardgames I’ve ever played. Which is a shame, because without the AI crap and with better visual design it could have been a contender.