Home / Arts and Entertainment / Magic's Designer Unveils Emotion-Based Card Game
Magic's Designer Unveils Emotion-Based Card Game
30 Apr
Summary
- Mark Rosewater's new game, Mood Swings, centers on casting emotions.
- It's a fast-paced TCG designed for quick, accessible gameplay.
- Mood Swings will be exclusively sold via Wizards' Secret Lair platform.
After 28 years in development, Mark Rosewater, the head designer of Magic: The Gathering, has unveiled a new trading card game titled Mood Swings. Rosewater originally conceived the game in 1998, aiming to create a TCG experience that is more universally accessible and less complex than Magic.
Mood Swings is designed as a two-to-four-player game where participants cast emotions at one another. Games are intended to be brief, lasting approximately five to ten minutes, with a goal of reaching three points first. The game features simplified mechanics, no resource system, and cards that explain interactions concisely.
Emotional concepts are central to the game's design, drawing from Rosewater's background and interest in universal human experiences. The game uses a color system for grouping moods, and cards feature repurposed artwork from Magic: The Gathering to evoke a prototype feel.
This new TCG will not be sold in traditional booster packs or preconstructed decks. Instead, Mood Swings will be exclusively available through Wizards' Secret Lair platform as complete 45-card decks priced at $25. Decks will contain a randomized selection from a pool of 133 unique cards, still allowing for deck-building and trading elements.
Mood Swings represents a significant experiment for Wizards of the Coast outside of Magic. Rosewater described the game as a long-held passion project, emphasizing his persistence in bringing it to fruition. Decks are scheduled to become available for purchase starting June 1st.
