Dragon Eclipse is a game that tries to mix deck-building with monster collecting and it’s full of interesting ideas. However, the game feels unfinished. It’s fun in short bursts, but some problems with polish and balance might frustrate players who are used to more well-made games.

Still, the game’s creative mechanics make it worth trying for people who enjoy new twists on familiar genres, and it sits at only $12.99 on Steam as of writing this (even less if you can grab it on sale).

What’s Good

The best part of Dragon Eclipse is how it changes the usual deck-building formula. Instead of cards directly attacking enemies, your cards give commands to creatures called “Misslings.” These Misslings have their own moves, powers, and stats. This makes building your team just as important as picking your cards.

The game is especially fun when you discover strong combos between Misslings. For example, you can pair a Missling that draws extra cards with another that gets stronger when your hand is full. Or you can focus on powering up a volcanic frog with huge attack potential, even though it has weak defenses. These strategies are satisfying to figure out.

Relics also add depth to the strategy. Relics are items that give permanent boosts during a run, but you have to assign them to specific Misslings. This forces you to spread your upgrades across the team instead of putting everything into one creature. Evolving Misslings adds another layer to the game, as they only evolve when they’re given enough relics. Balancing upgrades and evolution keeps the gameplay interesting.

There’s also some replay value. After each run, you unlock new Misslings, cards, and trainers. Hatching eggs and evolving Misslings has a Pokémon-like charm that makes you want to keep playing.

What’s Not Good

The game has big problems with how it plays. Basic things like moving cards, building your team, or using the menus feel clunky and awkward. The controls aren’t always clear, and there isn’t enough feedback to let you know if you’re doing something right. Even simple tasks, like dragging cards, can be confusing at times.

Combat is another weak point. The way attacks resolve is hard to follow because the order switches depending on where the creatures are standing. Your eyes have to jump around the screen to keep up, which feels messy and unorganized.

The game is also arguably too easy. Even on the hardest mode, the final boss is simple to beat, and most battles don’t force you to think hard. Defensive strategies work too well, letting you win by dragging out fights instead of using clever tactics. Plus, most of your strategy is decided at the start of the run when you pick your Misslings. After that, there isn’t much room to adjust or try new ideas.

Final Verdict

Dragon Eclipse is a creative game that does some things really well, but it has too many flaws to be great right now. Its ideas are fresh, and figuring out strong Missling combos is fun. However, the lack of polish, weak challenge, and clunky controls hold it back.

If you don’t mind rough edges and want to try something new, it’s worth playing for a few hours. But for people looking for a deep or long-lasting experience, it might not satisfy. With updates and improvements, this game could become something special. For now, it’s just a fun little experiment.