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Looking for feedback on Escobita โ€” a card game where you make 15 (Windows, free beta)

A topic by Escobita created 20 days ago Views: 127 Replies: 4
Viewing posts 1 to 3

Hi everyone! ๐Ÿ‘‹

I'm a solo indie developer working on Escobita, a free digital version of the traditional Spanish card game Escoba. I'm looking for honest feedback, especially from people who have never played it before!

๐Ÿƒ How does it work?

The main idea is simple: make 15!

On your turn, play a card from your hand and combine it with one or more cards on the table. If their values add up to exactly 15, you capture them.

For example: 1 + 5 + 9 = 15.


If the set of cards youโ€™ve selected leaves the table empty, youโ€™ll have scored a โ€˜Sweepโ€™ (Escoba)!


Don't worry if you're unfamiliar with Spanish cards. The game includes an option to display each card's value, plus a basic interactive tutorial to help you get started.

You can play against AI opponents, choose different table layouts, and customize the table backgrounds and card backs.


๐ŸŽฎ Play the beta

Windows — Free download, no account required to play.

๐Ÿ‘‰ https://escobitagame.itch.io/escobita

Available in English, Spanish, Italian and Brazilian Portuguese.

๐Ÿ’ฌ What I'd love feedback on

  1. First impressions: Does the game look inviting? Is the interface easy to understand?
  2. Learning the rules: If you've never played Escoba, does the interactive tutorial help you understand how to make 15?
  3. Gameplay: Are selecting cards, making moves and following the AI opponents' turns intuitive?
  4. Fun factor: Would you play another match? If not, what would you change?

Even 5โ€“10 minutes of testing would be really helpful. If you encounter a bug or something confusing, please let me know what happened.

Escobita is still in beta, so constructive criticism is very welcome. I'm especially interested in what new players find difficult or unclear.
Escobita is an ongoing project, and I'm actively working on improving its visuals, interface, animations, and overall gameplay experience. I'm aware there's still plenty of room for improvement, and that's exactly why your feedback matters. Even small suggestions can help shape future updates!

Thanks for giving it a try! ๐Ÿงน

(+1)

The make-15 card mechanic sounds fun and easy to learn! ๐Ÿƒ I like that you've included an interactive tutorial for beginners. Are you planning to add more game modes in future updates? Great concept!

(+1)

Thank you so much for your kind words! ๐Ÿงน๐Ÿƒ

Yes, absolutely! We have quite a few exciting ideas for the future of Escobita! What started as a traditional Spanish card game is gradually growing into something much bigger.

๐ŸŽฎ New game modes

One of our biggest plans is a roguelike-inspired mode, potentially combining elements from games like Balatro with our own ideas and twists on traditional card gameplay.

We're still exploring different concepts, so the final result might be quite different, or even a hybrid of several styles!

๐Ÿงฎ Learning through playing

Another direction we're particularly excited about is the educational potential of Escobita.
Since the classic game revolves around making combinations that add up to 15, it naturally encourages mental arithmetic.

In the future, we'd love to experiment with different number targets, additional mathematical operations, and perhaps even special modes designed to help children improve their maths skills while having fun.

The idea is simple: learning without feeling like you're studying!

๐Ÿ‘€ Transparency and learning from your opponents

Something we've already included in Escobita is the option to reveal the AI opponents' cards.
We believe in being transparent about how the game works. This feature lets players see that the AI isn't secretly being given an unfair advantage.

But it also has an educational purpose: by seeing your opponents' cards, you can better understand their possible moves, anticipate their strategies, and learn to think a few steps ahead.
It's an optional feature, of course, so players who prefer the traditional experience can keep everything hidden!

๐Ÿง  An AI that helps you become a better player

Escobita already has its own AI system, but our ambitions go beyond simply creating challenging opponents.
We're developing the foundations for an AI that could eventually analyze your moves, suggest alternative plays, and explain why a different decision might have been better.

Imagine finishing a hand and being able to ask: "What could I have done differently?"
The technical foundations are already there, although the AI still needs further training and development before it can provide useful strategic explanations.

With voluntary player participation and feedback, we'd love to improve this system over time.
Our long-term goal is not just an AI you can play against, but one you can actually learn from.

๐ŸŽจ Customization and historical card decks

We're also passionate about the visual and cultural side of traditional playing cards.
Escobita already offers different customization options, and we're planning to expand them with more decks, themed designs, and visual styles.

We're also exploring a more educational and historical side of the project: showcasing traditional playing cards, their artwork, and the stories behind them.
For example, we've been working with imagery inspired by beautiful historical Spanish decks, including a Comas deck dating from around 1900.
Some of these old designs are genuine little works of art, and we'd love to help more people discover and appreciate them!

Any historical material we eventually share or distribute will, of course, depend on the appropriate rights and permissions.

๐Ÿš€ What's next?

For now, our main priority is making the classic Escoba experience as polished, stable, accessible, and enjoyable as possible.
But we see Escobita as a long-term project, with plenty of room to grow through new game modes, educational features, smarter AI, and a celebration of traditional card-playing culture.

Thank you again for your interest! And if you get a chance to try Escobita, I'd genuinely love to hear your feedback and suggestions! ๐Ÿ˜Š

(+1)

I think the idea is really cool! Maybe a small tutorial for first-time players could help them get the hang of the rules more easily. It would be nice to learn the game by playing instead of having to figure everything out upfront. Good luck with it! 

Thanks for your reply!

Have you tried the ingame tutorial in the main screen? 


It's possible the tutorial could be a little short. What do you miss? I'd like to improve using your feedback. Thanks!