Disney Lorcana is the Disney trading card game form Ravensburger. Designed by Ryan Miller and Steve Warner, there have been several sets of Lorcana over the past year, to the point where we’re starting to get a nice range of cards built up. No review copy was provided; my wife and I grabbed a few starter decks over the summer and have played a lot of this game. There are affiliate links at the end of this review.
Disney Lorcana is a trading card game (TCG) that has quickly captured the hearts of both Disney fans and TCG enthusiasts. Fundamentally, this is a family-friendly and approachable TCG that combines the magic of Disney with strategic gameplay. The game is designed to be accessible to new players while offering enough depth to satisfy seasoned TCG players. This is not Magic: The Gathering. It’s not as complex as Magic, and it isn’t weighted down by decades of rule development and cards.
The primary objective in Lorcana is to earn 20 lore points before your opponent. Players use a 60-card deck filled with character, item, and action cards. The game introduces a unique mechanic called the inkwell, where certain cards can be sacrificed to generate “ink,” which is used to play other cards.
The inkwell requires players to make strategic decisions about which cards to sacrifice, adding a layer of complexity and thought to each match. Do you sacrifice cheaper, less effective cards at the expense of not being able to bring as much onto the board? Do you play reactively and sacrifice creatures that are less effective against your opponent’s deck? When is it better not to put ink down, and keep your cards instead?
Most cards are character cards. These are all of your favourite Disney characters, rendered in beautiful, new artwork. Once on the board, characters can either quest to earn lore or challenge opponents’ characters in combat, creating a balance between offensive and defensive strategies.
There are ways to play cards beyond the standard pay ‘n play. Some cards can be played by “singing” them with characters of certain power levels (Gaston is good at this!), and others can shift into more powerful versions. This allows you to replace a cheaper version of a character for a more expensive one in exchange for a discpunt on thr more expensive card’s cost. I like that it adds a few more options, keeping things interesting and engaging.
The production quality of Disney Lorcana is excellent. The artwork is vibrant and beautifully captures the essence of beloved Disney characters. The starter decks are well-designed, making it easy for new players to jump in and start playing. They are definitely not created equal, but they’re interesting. I really like the Amethyst and Steel deck from the Rise of the Floodborn set. The Merlin and Madam Mim shenanigans are just so much fun.
I think there are a lot of strong selling points for this game. First and foremost, it’s easy to learn for newcomers, with simple yet engaging mechanics. Despite this, it still offers enough complexity to keep experienced players engaged, as can be seen by the developing competitive scene. The high production values are also a major plus. I’ve never really associated Ravensburger with really high production quality, but they’ve knocked this out of the park.
There are some issues with the game, though. For big TCG fans, there’s still a somewhat small card pool; as a new game, the variety of cards is currently limited, but this is expected to grow with future expansions. Hopefully we’ll see the game have enough staying power to really develop. There’s also some potential for power imbalance and some powerful cards might dominate the game. The slightly shallow card pool is a factor here, but the inkwell mechanic helps mitigate this a bit.
Disney Lorcana is a fantastic trading card game; though it is a young one. It successfully blends the charm of Disney with strategic gameplay, making it a hit for both families and TCG fans. Whether you’re a Disney superfan or a seasoned TCG player, Lorcana offers a magical and engaging experience. I’d really recommend grabbing a couple of starter decks (have a hunt; they can be found quite cheaply) and giving it a go. Does it have the depth of Magic: The Gathering? No. It doesn’t need it, though. Not all games have to be all things to all players, and I’d hope that there’s space for a lighter game. Time will tell if Lorcana gets the chance to develops in the way it deserves to.
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