Double Skunk (Early Access) – First Impressions

Card games and roguelites have been fused together so many times that it takes something genuinely different to stand out. Double Skunk manages that by building its entire experience around cribbage, a classic card game that many modern players may have never even touched. The result is an unusual Early Access title that feels both familiar and refreshingly original.

Developed by a solo creator, Double Skunk combines traditional cribbage with roguelite progression, power-ups, consumable cards, and a campaign ladder of increasingly challenging rivals. While it certainly caters to existing cribbage fans, its built-in tutorials and coaching system make it surprisingly approachable for newcomers as well.

At its core, you're still playing cribbage. The objective isn't to reinvent the rules but to enhance them through a roguelite framework. Between matches you'll acquire power-ups that modify scoring, discover consumables that can disrupt your opponents, and gradually build a stronger run as you climb through the campaign. Power-ups can dramatically alter how valuable specific card combinations become, encouraging experimentation rather than relying on the same strategy every game.

What makes Double Skunk interesting is how naturally these additions fit into the traditional card game. It never feels like gimmicks have been bolted on for the sake of being a roguelite. Instead, the extra layers create meaningful choices that add unpredictability to every match. Deciding when to use a rare consumable or which scoring bonus to chase becomes just as important as the card play itself.

The campaign, known as the Long Tally, features numerous rivals spread across multiple regions before opening into an endless mode called the Beyond. The structure gives players clear progression while maintaining the replayability expected from the genre. Weekly challenge runs, where every player receives the same setup and competes for leaderboard positions, should also help maintain interest once the main climb is complete.

Online multiplayer is already included in Early Access, allowing matches against friends or quick matchmaking. That's an impressive amount of content for a launch version and gives Double Skunk more longevity than many Early Access card games.

The presentation is clean and functional, making it easy to read cards and track scores even during more chaotic turns. Voice acting is included across multiple languages, which adds a welcome amount of personality to the various rivals you encounter.

That said, the game's Early Access status is apparent. Even the developer openly acknowledges that some screens remain fairly plain and that portions of the campaign could use additional polish. While nothing feels unfinished to the point of being distracting, there are definitely areas where stronger visuals and more flair would elevate the experience.

The biggest question mark currently is balance. With dozens of modifiers and scoring combinations interacting throughout a run, some builds inevitably feel stronger than others. The developer has stated that much of the balancing still relies on gathering player feedback, which is one of the primary reasons the game entered Early Access.

Story enthusiasts may also be left wanting more. There is a campaign structure and a collection of rivals to face, but narrative depth currently takes a back seat to the card-playing mechanics. Even the developer has described the campaign story as relatively thin in its current form.

Pros

• Unique cribbage-meets-roguelite concept

• Deep strategic gameplay with meaningful power-ups

• Weekly challenges and online multiplayer add longevity

• Excellent onboarding for newcomers

Cons

• Story content is currently quite light

• Some menus and screens feel unfinished

• Balance tweaks are still needed during Early Access

Double Skunk is one of those rare card games that feels distinctly different from the endless stream of deckbuilding roguelites available today. By building around cribbage rather than traditional fantasy combat, it carves out its own niche while still delivering the addictive "one more run" loop the genre thrives on.

There's still balancing work to be done, and the presentation and story could use further refinement, but the foundation is surprisingly strong. If you're already a cribbage fan, this feels like an easy recommendation. If you've never played cribbage before, Double Skunk might end up being one of the most engaging ways to learn.