While there have been many deckbuilders of various kinds on the Switch, Ash of Gods has its own style of storytelling (something you usually don’t get much of) and strategic play that quickly sets it apart… as does its difficulty at times. You play as a young man setting out in the hopes to prevent a bloody war, trying his best to learn the ropes of a combat strategy game called “The Way” in the hopes to defeat the greatest minds in the kingdom to maintain at least an uneasy peace. Unfortunately, you’ll end up moving from commanding mere pieces on a board in a battle of wits to higher-stakes challenges with human lives at stake. It’s in this area that the storytelling aspect is particularly strong, with you being forced to make some tough choices and live with them as events unfold, interspersed with increasingly-brutal matches. You absolutely won’t be able to settle into a steady strategy or even deck as you face opponents who have very different strategies, demanding that you adapt to the situation and that can be tough at times. Almost feeling more like a puzzle game than strategy at some points, with you needing to make critical moves in order to persevere at all, it can be frustrating but that also makes the hard-earned victories more rewarding. Given that there are few titles out there that match a strong story with satisfying and challenging strategic play, Ash of Gods sets itself apart in its genre space nicely.