Le Cabinet du Savoir Ludique reveals The Arab League of Misfits gameplay
The game is built around a story of quiet support and finding home in unexpected places
Le Cabinet du Savoir Ludique has revealed the first gameplay footage for its satirical 1v1 deckbuilder The Arab League of Misfits, a tactical card game built from Arab internet culture and historical satire.
The Arab-led studio's game weaponizes flying slippers and regional cultural satire in a roguelite campaign that sends players across nineteen Arab countries to unite the region and defeat oversized bosses called Za'eems.
Players can unlock four tiers of passive abilities per Usloob, mixing tactics like the maneuvers of Shatara with the resilience of Sumoud for set bonuses, or committing fully to one style for raw power. The art style leans into a satirical blend of classic Arabic comic aesthetics and modern digital design.
The game features seven distinct Usloobs, or playstyles, that can be blended together for powerful combinations across a 140-card set, with no randomized pack openings or rotating storefronts. There's also a PvP arena that lets players test their decks against real opponents online. The game is confirmed for Windows, MacOS and Linux. It is currently available to wishlist on Steam.
A story about home and belonging
Beyond the satire, the team says the game is built around a story of quiet support and finding home in unexpected places, aiming to capture a shared experience of belonging and friendship for Arabs at home, abroad, and for anyone curious about the culture.
"This game has been our way to connect with our roots as Arabs, The Arab League of Misfits game producer Nazih Fares told IsaKaba. "With everything happening in the Arab world, I personally wanted to make use of my anger and desperation into something productive.
"Thus, making a game centered around our culture, to reclaim our stereotypes and showcase our natural wit. Gradually throughout the year, our team grew with like-minded devs, people who are still based in the Arab world, originally from there, and in some cases sadly escaped from it."
Press, journalists and content creators attending Gamescom can find The Arab League of Misfits at the Creative Europe MEDIA stand (Hall 03.2, Booth D050g to F051g, Koelnmesse) for hands-on demos on August 26th, 27th and 28th.
