There has never been a game—video or tabletop—that has brought me such joy and rage at the same time. That was until I played Console Wars: The Card Game.
A tabletop game from Booth Babe Games, Console Wars has a simple premise: build up four sets of games across at least four unique genres before your opponents. As you build your portfolio, you’ll build up a fan base to protect you from other players looking to inflict damage by taking your fans and games while playing various action cards to do the same to them.
From shooters like Hola and MOOD to family games like Phonic and Pyro and beyond, there is no shortage of game sets for players to build. And depending on the number of players you’re playing with—the game supports anywhere from 2 to 5—each game can take a drastic turn at any point.
Again, it’s a simple premise overall. But what seems simple can turn into 30 minutes of chaos and frustration as friends turn on each other quicker than in a game of Mario Party. It’s a game where the successes are euphoric and the betrayal hurts more than finding out your new puppy doesn’t like you at all.
Console Wars Review – A New Foe Has Appeared
What brought the rage for me with Console Wars was being baptized by fire, as I had the unique experience of spending a number of days playing with the game’s lead designer.
First things first, however. He’s a bully who lures you into thinking you are on the edge of making a great play, or even winning, only to hit you with a combination of plays that leaves you wanting to throw someone over the ledge of a hotel mezzanine.
Through the first five games I played, there was that constant feeling that you were making a mistake with every move you made. Whether it be holding a Cancelled card too long or not paying attention to the cards in the discard pile, there was always something that turned a potential win into a devastating loss.
The most frustrating loss came when knowing I was one play away from my first win. I used a Consolidation card, which allows you to take a full set from another player. Unfortunately, I wasn’t paying attention to the fact that only two of the three Cancelled cards had been played. My move was immediately shut down with the next turn seeing a Copycat card be played, taking a set from me and ending the game.
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That was my string of luck for days. Three sets built and well on my way to a win, and, boom, a misplay that cost me the game, or I got double-teamed by the other players that snatched my victory away.
Rage.
It seemed to take Xbox’s Phil Spencer, while talking to us in a hotel lobby, saying, “You should let him win” after finding out about my struggles, to awaken the beast that was the console warrior.
Two wins later, I was on what some might call a winning streak. And the more I figured out the best plays to make with the cards I had, the more the wins followed.
But that’s how the game goes. There’s the typical RNG that comes from any card game where you are hoping for the right card draw to make a move. But you can’t bank on that. Console Wars is a game with more strategy than luck. Paying attention to your opponent’s hand, remembering the cards that have been played, and knowing the combinations you can play matter more than the next card you draw. If you manage to play your cards right, you can keep a game alive until you get the games you need for your sets.
Play them wrong, and you could find yourself at the mercy of other members of the games industry who are watching you sweat and squirm.
Console Wars Review Verdict
Console Wars: The Card Game is chaotic, strategic, hilarious, and at times, downright cruel—and that’s exactly what makes it so brilliant.
With a deceptively simple premise, Booth Babe Games has created an experience that thrives on tension, tactical depth, and the kind of betrayal that will have friend groups talking long after the game ends. Every card played can shift the tide, and every decision matters. Whether you’re a seasoned card game veteran or just looking for something wildly fun to break out at game night, Console Wars delivers the perfect mix of fun and frustration. It’s rare for a tabletop game to elicit such emotional swings and still leave you itching for the next round.
This isn’t just a great card game; it’s an instant classic.
Console Wars is available now via Amazon for $29.99. A DLC pack with extra cards is also available for $16.99.
5 – Masterpiece
Note: I feel I should make it clear. Lead designer Jon Clarke isn’t an actual bully… just when playing Console Wars.
Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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