Lace up your boots and get ready to throw it back to a retro era of soccer (or football, for our international fans), NUTMEG!, developed by Sumo Digital and published by Secret Mode, is an upcoming deckbuilding soccer game that brings players back to the heyday of the sport, utilizing old-school tactics and deckbuilding mechanics to create a unique soccer experience. I recently had the chance to check out a demo of the game, and it was an absolute blast.
NUTMEG! has a nice retro aesthetic that fits perfectly with the 80s and 90s vibe it is aiming for. The menu is set up at a desk with a nice landline phone, an old computer, a classic CRT TV, and even a binder for the cards you earn throughout the game. These visual touches help establish the tone, with even the smallest of animations helping bring the setting to life. I loved watching how things like the notebook popped in and out of the screen. It made it feel like I was actually sitting at a desk organizing my team.
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The core gameplay loop in NUTMEG! is fairly straightforward.
The core gameplay loop in NUTMEG! is fairly straightforward. Players pick their team, set a formation, and then the action begins. Each game is fast-paced, with distinct phases of play that allow players to play cards to influence on-field action. This isn’t Football Manager; you aren’t actually watching the soccer unfold, but the cards themselves tell the story of what is happening.
I was initially skeptical about how this would play out. The tutorial is straightforward, and I was worried that the gameplay loop would be too repetitive. Boy, was I wrong. There are plenty of new cards to unlock in the demo build that allow you to really personalize how you approach each game. I rarely had the same experience twice, and that will only get better once the full game is out and the team showcases what they have cooking.
NUTMEG! will appeal to fans of soccer and to those who love deckbuilders.
Players also get to control their club, spending up to 20 years in a career full of ups and downs with real teams from the 80s and 90s. It is so easy to get buried in the weeds, like hiring staff and scouting young players. There is still room to add more here, but what I initially was able to play still provided plenty of depth to explore. Players can order merch to sell, upgrade facilities, and even get distracted by a few fun surprises.
All of these factors combine to create an incredibly satisfying loop of developing your team, unlocking new cards and players, and fighting up the table to lead your club to glory. NUTMEG! will appeal to fans of soccer in general, as well as to those who love deckbuilders like Balatro or Slay the Spire. I can easily see myself spending countless hours scratching that retro soccer itch.
NUTMEG! is available now as a demo on Steam, and the full game releases on March 26th.
