Three Kingdoms: BOND screenshot
Image: Get Wrapped Up Inc.

Much as I'd like to think so, I'm not immune to marketing, especially when a launch trailer (see below!) has as much energy as Three Kingdoms: BOND, aka SANGOKUSHI BOND in Japan. Launching into Early Access today, coming from ex-Sega arcade developer Yasuhiro Nishiyama and his new indie studio Get Wrapped Up. It's a historical high-speed roguelike card-battler that reminds me of Japanese hybrid arcade games like Nishiyama's earlier Sangokushi Taisen, and geared for direct or asynchronous PvP.

Three Kingdoms: BOND has you collecting cards representing famous generals and characters from Romance Of The Three Kingdoms and taking them on short ten-minute roguelike quests of conquest around historical China. Battles have you laying out your cards on a battle map, arranging your formation to best counter the enemy lineup, and then sitting back and watching as each card transforms into a swarm of little sprite-based soldiers, leaving you to just watch as the two forces fight it out automatically.

While playable solo, competition seems to be a key focus for the studio. While direct head-to-head matchmaking isn't yet ready, you can challenge friends directly. There are some other competitive options open already, including win-rate tracking on completing solo quests, plus ranked asynchronous multiplayer that lets you challenge previous players' winning armies and formations.

Three Kingdoms: BOND is out now on Steam for £6.29/$7.49, with no launch discount, but the price is expected to increase as the game gets closer to its v1.0 release. Get Wrapped Up's estimated time in early access will be between six months and a year, with ranked head-to-head PvP with matchmaking as the key headlining feature. And if you haven't already, seriously, give the trailer below a look.