Is Bloons Card Storm a Pay-to-Win Game?

Bloons Card Storm is an exciting collectible card game set in the vibrant Bloons universe and crafted by Ninja Kiwi. While many enthusiasts are primarily familiar with the highly acclaimed tower defense game from the Bloons series, Bloons Card Storm presents an intriguing opportunity to delve into new genres. As a free-to-play title, it incorporates microtransactions, raising important discussions about its monetization model. A predominant question among the community is whether Bloons Card Storm is a pay-to-win game. Let’s explore this topic further.

Is Bloons Card Storm Pay-To-Win?

Screenshot showcasing the deals in Bloons Card Storm — Image courtesy of Prima Games

In Bloons Card Storm, players can collect a variety of cards, all of which are accessible for free. However, how much time will it take to acquire enough cards to build robust decks, or even just a single deck of choice? To address this concern, we need to first examine the underlying systems in place.

Breaking Down Premium Currencies in Bloons Card Storm

Image detailing the Universal Tokens in Bloons Card Storm — Image courtesy of Prima Games

The game features two main currencies: Cash and Universal Tokens. Cash can be utilized to purchase random tokens, specific tokens, or various cards available in the daily shop, which may include heroes and other extras. It’s worth noting that while Cash is relatively easy to earn, its overall availability could be considered average.

On the other hand, Universal Tokens lead to a somewhat frustrating pay-to-win scenario, as players need various token types for crafting purposes. The following are the different token variants found in Bloons Card Storm:

Basic, Advanced, and Large Bloon Tokens
Basic, Advanced, and Exotic Power Tokens
Military Monkey Token
Support Monkey Token
Primary Monkey Token
Magic Monkey Token
Universal Tokens

Each token type is necessary to craft corresponding cards. For instance, crafting a Magic Monkey card requires Magic Monkey Tokens, and rare cards demand thousands of these particular tokens.

Given the multitude of tokens listed above, it’s understandable why players might find this structure incredibly exasperating, as there are ten different token types (not counting Universal Tokens) and it’s likely you’ll find yourself missing crucial tokens.

Most daily and weekly missions yield random tokens alongside Cash. Unfortunately, these random tokens only provide a 1 in 10 chance of yielding the specific type you need. If diversified token types are required, acquiring them remains a considerable challenge. Unlike many games that streamline crafting with a single universal currency, Bloons Card Storm’s model—with its ten types—is particularly punishing for free-to-play gamers.

Visual representation of the Daily Shop in Bloons Card Storm — Image courtesy of Prima Games

To illustrate the issue further, should a player engage in daily missions consistently to earn rewards, they must remain vigilant and fortunate to access the daily shop to find specific tokens for crafting. As shown in the previous image, tokens come in varying stack sizes with each purchase option. Notably, rare cards might require a minimum of 3,000 tokens, while legendary cards can demand upwards of 10,000 to 15,000 tokens of a single type.

This token requirement, focusing on a singular token type out of the ten available, clearly illustrates the challenges for those playing for free. Even after extensive grinding over several months, many players might find themselves compelled to buy Universal Tokens just to obtain a coveted card.

For players that venture into the adventure mode, they will still encounter paywalls, as only the prologue is accessible for free in the single-player experience. Ultimately, this reinforces the notion that the game leans heavily towards a pay-to-win model. However, it is worth noting that players can purchase Universal Tokens, which allows them to craft specific cards they desire.

Source

Images Credit: Primagames.com