If you were a computer user in the late 2000s, chances are you’re familiar with the name Bloons. This colorful game series was a gaming staple of the era, boasting five main games and numerous updates released between 2007 and 2009. It began as a simple browser-based puzzle game focused on popping balloons but quickly evolved into a surprisingly deep tower defense game that remains popular to this day. Now, the Bloons series is about to change once again with the arrival of Bloons Card Storm. This time, developer Ninja Kiwi is reimagining their iconic game as a deck-building strategy game. This might seem like a drastic shift on paper, but in practice, it works surprisingly well.
I had the opportunity to play through some early levels of Bloons Card Storm, and despite needing some time to adjust, I can already see the potential for it to become a mobile hit. Bloons Card Storm isn’t drastically different from Bloons Tower Defense; it utilizes the same core elements, simply rearranged into a new format. Players still need to protect a “tower” from incoming balloons by strategically deploying dart-shooting monkeys and tack shooters. However, this time, the action is a two-way affair. Each level is a duel between monkeys who take turns playing cards to fortify their defenses and launch balloon attacks.
As a card game, it shares similarities with games like Hearthstone. Each turn, you’re given a set amount of mana to spend on cards, with the mana pool increasing by one each turn. Each card has a specific cost, so early game strategies involve placing basic balloons that inflict minimal damage or deploying basic dart monkeys that deal limited damage. Similar to Hearthstone, your monkey hero has special offensive abilities that can be activated during your turn. These abilities can range from unleashing an arrow storm on your opponent’s balloons to other devastating attacks.
However, Bloons Card Storm adds unique twists to this familiar formula. Each balloon on the field has a countdown timer indicating when it will attack. A simple balloon might attack in a turn or two, while a high-damage balloon like a MOAB could take several turns. You must carefully manage these timers to avoid taking damage, strategically deploying defenses to whittle down their health. You have the choice to manually attack your opponent’s balloons by dragging and aiming or let your defenses auto-attack when enemy balloons enter your side of the field. Conversely, you’ll need to fortify your own balloons and play strategically to overwhelm your opponent with damage or spread their defenses thin.
It took me a while to grasp the intricacies of the game. It requires a lot of battlefield management to keep track of the incoming balloons. You’ll need to make quick decisions about which balloons to target first, when to attack, and whether to invest mana in summoning more balloons or focusing on defense. These strategic choices create a surprisingly deep gameplay experience.
While I’ve only scratched the surface of Bloons Card Storm on PC, I can already see its potential as a mobile game. The dragging controls and quick matches are perfectly suited for a phone screen. The Bloons games have always been known for their intuitive controls, pleasing aesthetics, and ability to serve as enjoyable time-wasters. I can easily see Bloons Card Storm becoming a go-to game for anyone looking for a quick, engaging experience. And when I say “anyone,” I mean myself – I’m already looking forward to playing it.
Bloons Card Storm is scheduled to launch later this year for iOS, Android, and PC.
