The Queen's Blood card game is Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's best addition and the RPG's greatest distraction

GamesRPGFinal Fantasy 7 RebirthThe Queen’s Blood card game is Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s best addition and the RPG’s greatest distractionWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesRPGFinal Fantasy 7 RebirthThe Queen’s Blood card game is Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s best addition and the RPG’s greatest distractionWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Square Enix) I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve played the Queen’s Blood card game inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth. After many, many matches, I still can’t get enough, which says a lot about how enjoyable it is all on its own. Chances are, if I’m not playing the piano or exploring the world, I’m spending my time trying to beat another opponent in a round of cards. If ever I come across a new Queen’s Blood challenger, I need to stop whatever it is I’m doing to settle down for another match. I’ve always been a big fan of mini-games that get creative with the established features or elements of the fictional setting they’re playable in. Not unlike Gwent inThe Witcher 3, Orlog inAssassin’s Creed Valhalla, or Triple Triad in Final Fantasy 8, Queen’s Blood is a brilliantly realized mini-game that fits right into the world of Final Fantasy 7. My love for the game not only speaks to how well crafted and conceptualized it is, but just how effectively Rebirth introduces it to you, and then continually encourages you to keep playing. I’d go as far as to say Queen’s Blood is the best new addition inSquare Enix’s follow-up, and I already wish it was a game I could play in real life. Placing pawns (Image credit: Square Enix) Queen’s Blood is one of the first mini-games you get to try out in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and it’s woven into Odd Job side quests and the various regions you visit throughout the RPG. With a practice round initially to teach you the ropes, it’s not long before you can take on other players in the town of Kalm. Just like Gwent in the Witcher 3, you’ll earn yourself new cards with every victory, and also rise up through the ranks to take on tougher opponents if you put in the effort to play. While this incentivizes every match, there’s even an overarching story thread attached to the mini-game that I was surprised to discover as I kept on playing more and more. Play me a song(Image credit: Square Enix)Perfect scoring the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth piano mini-game is giving me a greater rush than any RPG boss battle Play me a song (Image credit: Square Enix)Perfect scoring the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth piano mini-game is giving me a greater rush than any RPG boss battle (Image credit: Square Enix) Perfect scoring the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth piano mini-game is giving me a greater rush than any RPG boss battle If that description sounds a bit convoluted, you’ll be glad to know it’s actually pretty easy to get the hang of in-game thanks to Rebirth’s tutorials. Plus, you’ll have ample opportunities to keep trying it out early on, which really helped my confidence grow quite quickly – with matches in Kalm and a very sweet Odd Job side quest that will let you put your growing deck to use. It gets increasingly tricky later on as other players lay down their own impressive deck builds, but the challenge and strategy of the excellently crafted card game just makes it that much more enjoyable. (Image credit: Square Enix) I was absolutely obsessed with Gwent when I first joined Geralt of Rivia for his latest adventure in 2015, and Queen’s Blood has sunk its card-shaped claws into me in much the same way. With cards that feature characters and enemies that you encounter out in the world at large, winning a new card and trying it out in another match is always pretty exciting. From ones that can destroy opposing cards to those that increase the value of adjacent cards on your own side, the more you have in your deck, the more you can play around and try out new tactics. And just like Gwent, there’s even a tournament to test our mettle against other Queen’s Blood players consecutively. When I actually reached the chapter with the tournament, I had many matches behind me, and I was actually very excited to use my new found skills to conquer a greater challenge. Of course, Queen’s Blood isn’t the first memorable card game to feature in the Final Fantasy series. Triple Triad came earlier, which was created for the original Final Fantasy 8 release – it even later got an updated refresh to appear in Final Fantasy 14. But as one of the constant highlights of my time in the latest game, Queen’s Blood is easily the best new addition introduced in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and writing about it has only reawakened my itch to go back and play it. Better go find another opponent to take on. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is at its best when it embraces its goofy side. 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heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”