First Impressions & Initial Observations from the Digimon Alysion CBT

Digimon Alysion is more than just another mobile card game it’s a well-crafted tribute to strategic depth and collectible joy.

TIG SEA2 weeks ago

17 3 minutes read

Highlights: 3 Strengths and 2 Minor Concerns

The team had the opportunity to join the closed beta test (CBT) for Digimon Alysion, the new online card game based on a beloved franchise. Here are some initial impressions. Keep in mind that since this is based on the CBT, things may change once the game officially launches.

Strength 1 – A Card Game That Truly Captures the Spirit of Digimon

What stands out most is the gameplay system with unique rules that deeply reflects the essence of Digimon. Cards are divided by color, each bringing its own strengths and character. Moreover, each Digimon has a specific “type,” which affects how they use special abilities and interact with “support cards.” But the real highlight is the Digimon evolution system it’s both fun and challenges players’ strategic skills.

Normally, you can play any Digimon on the board almost instantly. However, playing higher evolution stages costs more mana, which creates opportunities for your opponent. If, instead, you evolve your Digimon step by step in sequence, you significantly reduce mana costs letting you save power for other cards. This adds layers of excitement, suspense, and thoughtful planning to each play.

Strength 2 – A Mana System That Reinvents Card Game Mechanics

One of the most memorable aspects is the mana (called Memory) system. Unlike traditional card games where you’re limited to a fixed number of plays or mana per turn, in Digimon Alysion the mana you get depends on your opponent’s actions. For example, if your opponent uses all 5 mana and drops to zero, you get 5 mana in your next turn. Conversely, if you exceed your available mana say, you had 5 but played for 6 you leave your opponent with only 1 mana next turn.

This dynamic approach turns every card play into a strategic decision. One wrong move can allow the opponent to summon a major Digimon immediately and shift the battlefield. That’s the charm of the Memory system it keeps every turn thrilling and deeply tactical.

Strength 3 – The Thrill of Card Collecting That Goes Beyond Just Playing

Digimon Alysion isn’t just a card battle game it’s a collector’s delight. The cards come in various beautiful forms: standard, foil, specialty art, and extremely rare secret variants found only in in-game booster packs. Each session brings the heart-pounding question: “Will I get a special card today?” And when you do, you can proudly show it off in your deck for all to see. The game beautifully brings the joy of physical card collecting into the digital world—and yes, low-key, that might be one of the cleverest ways to pull us into spending more time and maybe money in the game!

Minor Concern 1 – Text Size Feels Tiny on Mobile

One of the most frustrating parts while playing is the small font size. Despite using a 6.12-inch screen (not exactly tiny), reading skill descriptions or card details takes squinting and focus. It makes the game feel better suited for tablets. I hope they eventually release it on PC or consoles too the bigger screen would make reading easier and let us fully appreciate our favorite cards in glorious detail.

Minor Concern 2 – Some Card Descriptions Aren’t Very Clear

Another observation: some in-game card descriptions lack clarity. If you’re someone who reads everything before playing, you might find yourself scratching your head for a while. In my experience, only after assembling a deck and testing the card in action did I truly understand its effect. That’s kind of fun, because it feels like you’re discovering the game’s depth yourself but a local language option would be great for helping players fully understand and immerse themselves.

Final Thought

Digimon Alysion brings fresh, intriguing mechanics to the digital card game genre. With its unique Memory-based mana system, thoughtful evolution mechanics, and addictive card-collecting charm, it feels both familiar and remarkably innovative. While minor readability and clarity issues remain, they don’t overshadow the game’s strong foundation and they even hint at ways it can become more accessible and polished in the future. If the developers strike the right balance in refining these details, this game has the potential to reignite the Digimon fandom—and stand out in the crowded mobile card game landscape.

Digimon Alysion is more than just another mobile card game it’s a well-crafted tribute to strategic depth and collectible joy. Tweak the fonts and streamline the descriptions, and it might just become the next classic.