The Scrolls launch trailer marks its long-awaited release

YouTube

Right on schedule, Mojang's card game Scrolls is now available. Alpha and beta testers will be upgraded to the full version automatically, and those of you still on the fence can take the free demo for a spin to see what you think.

The Scrolls site now features a list of some "cool things about Scrolls," like that it boasts more than 350 scrolls, all fully animated and "nice to look at," and that everything but the four starter decks can be traded for scrolls or gold. What I find most interesting, though, is the description of the crafting system: Three identical scrolls can be crafted into a higher-tier scroll, which will be "shinier," track stats, and, at the third tier, provide bonus gold when drawn—but they don't actually provide an advantage in combat. It's a bit counter-intuitive, but then so is Mojang's decision to restrict how much real-money currency players can spend on the game.

Scrolls will set you back a fiver if you like what you see in the demo. Get it at Scrolls.com.

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.