Burn With Me, a new demon card game, is now available on PC. The game distinguishes itself with a hand-drawn art style where the most prominent visual element, aside from the demonic themes, is artist Eva Manuilovich's own right hand. This hand is incorporated into gameplay, dealing cards and reacting to player success.
The core gameplay loop involves players taking on the role of occult university students performing forbidden sorcery. Each level requires players to strategically place five creature cards around a pentagram to gather spiritual energy. Success relies not just on base card values but also on exploiting modifiers and adjacency effects. For instance, some cards gain bonuses when placed next to a specific number of other cards, while others are enhanced by being played in isolation.
The demo showcases a range of synergistic possibilities, such as a pufferfish card whose value fluctuates with each play, impacting adjacent octopus cards that permanently boost their neighbors' values. Players are encouraged to play their strongest cards early to maximize the benefit of a mechanic that allows drawing a new card by incinerating a random one from their hand. A sanity vial offers a way to store excess points from successful rounds, creating a reserve for later use.
While the game features a narrative element, with each chapter delving into a specific student's psyche over about a dozen battles, it is presented as a more contained experience than some other deckbuilders. Steam reviews suggest a playtime of around six to eight hours, positioning Burn With Me as a finite alternative to titles like Balatro. Those interested in games with unique hand-based mechanics may also want to explore Lucid Blocks.