This game was generously provided to TheDailyGamepad.net for free by the developers/publishers. On behalf of TheDailyGamepad.net, I’d like to thank them for the opportunity to review and share this game in this video.
| Developer | Mi’pu’mi Games GmbH |
| Publisher | Skystone Games |
| Release Date | Demo Release: Nov 4, 2025 Full Game: Coming Soon in 2026 |
| Genre | Roguelike Strategy |
| Platform(s) | PC |
| Where to Wishlist | Steam |
Black Jacket is an upcoming roguelike card game that blends blackjack-inspired mechanics with deck-building strategy and a surprisingly moody underworld setting. After revisiting the demo on stream, it quickly became clear that this isn’t just “blackjack with extra steps”—it’s a smart, risky, and occasionally unhinged card game that rewards bold decisions and strategic thinking.
The game opens with a strong narrative hook: you wake up in the underworld with no memory, no name, and a lot of restless souls watching your every move. A mysterious ferryman offers you a chance to return to life—for a price. From there, the game wastes no time throwing you into its core mechanic: a blackjack-style card battle where the goal is to get as close to 21 as possible without busting.
At its core, Black Jacket plays with familiar rules. Draw cards, aim for 21, don’t go over. Aces smartly adjust between 1 and 11, and a natural blackjack (an ace plus a 10-value card) beats everything else. But where the game really shines is in how it twists those familiar rules. Cards can be awakened (upgraded), burned (removed or sacrificed), or sleeved (hidden to manipulate bets), and table slots introduce effects that raise stakes, drain coins, or force uncomfortable decisions. It’s blackjack, but meaner—and way more interesting.
Each win earns coins that feed into a progression system, letting players upgrade their deck in shops between rounds. These shops are where the roguelike elements really kick in: you can buy new cards, awaken existing ones, rearrange your deck, or even mess with your opponent’s cards. Choosing which card suits appear during a run adds another layer of strategy, making each journey feel distinct. Boss encounters shake things up further, introducing curses and tougher opponents that demand smarter play and a bit of luck.
Of course, not every decision goes smoothly. Risk-taking is encouraged, but punished just as often, and knowing when to pass versus pushing your luck becomes a constant mental tug-of-war. Burning cards feels powerful but dangerous, awakening cards can dramatically change outcomes, and sometimes the safest move is simply walking away—though that’s easier said than done when the stakes keep climbing.
What really sells Black Jacket, though, is how fun it is to play and watch. Unexpected losses, clutch wins, and “well, that went terribly” moments are baked into the experience, making it perfect for streaming and highly replayable. The art style, atmosphere, and steady drip of new mechanics keep things feeling fresh, even when the game is actively testing your patience.
The demo itself feels promising, offering a solid slice of what the full release aims to be. While it does come with a learning curve—especially if you step away and come back later—the depth and variety make it worth sticking with. It’s clear that Black Jacket is aiming to carve out its own space among card-based roguelikes, and based on this preview, it’s doing a lot right.
If you enjoy card games with real stakes, roguelikes that thrive on risk, and systems that reward both clever planning and reckless confidence, Black Jacket is absolutely one to keep an eye on. It’s shaping up to be a stylish, challenging, and surprisingly funny descent into the underworld—and one well worth wishlisting ahead of its full release.
First playthrough of Black Jacket back in December 2025.
