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Wield tarot cards as weapons as a witch-turned-PI in Sleight of Hand

Revealed at the Xbox Partner Showcase, RiffRaff Games gets hardboiled with Sleight of Hand, a tale of crime, mystery, and magic.

Pick a card

From RiffRaff Games, Sleight of Hand looks mighty interesting. The title, which was revealed today, centers on a witch whose former coven is up to no good. If you think it’s going to be up to her to stop the, you’d be right, but Sleight of Hand has some interesting twists to it.

For one thing, this is no ‘fantasy’ adventure. Sleight of Hand is set in prohibition era city called Steeple, and its hero is a private detective. Yes, Lady Luck is both a witch and a PI, which presents some neat opportunities as goes the game’s play. Luck doesn’t unholster a pistol when she’s discovered sneaking around. Instead, she casts magic using smoke and a deck of enchanted and upgradable tarot cards.

Slink through a hard-boiled city rife with taboo, where knowledge of ritual magic and possession of cursed artifacts separate the haves and the have-nots. Wield Lady Luck’s cursed cards to cast a smoke-based menagerie of magic. Navigate around patrolling ruffians by Evaporating into smoke. Faced with a group of huddled-up goons? Even the odds by intertwining their fates with the Chain Smoker card — now any cards cast affect them all at once. Snuff them out with a lethal card, or choose an affliction to help Lady Luck sneak right past.

Silently take out enemies using powerful card and state combos. Inaccessible guard causing problems with a spotlight? Take him out by marking his position with a Hex card, which tags any target within line of sight. Once Hexed, other cards combo with this state, like Peekaboo, which teleports the player behind any Hexed target in view. While lurking behind the unsuspecting goon, you don’t need a card to know a silent takedown is the next play to get through.

RiffRaff Games press release

Luck might be a Lady, but she’s also a ways off. Sleight of Hand is set to arrive for the Xbox Series X|S and PC (plus day one on Game Pass) some time in 2025.

About Jason Micciche

Jason's been knee deep in videogames since he was but a lad. Cutting his teeth on the pixely glory that was the Atari 2600, he's been hack'n'slashing and shoot'em'uping ever since. Mainly an FPS and action guy, Jason enjoys the occasional well crafted title from every genre.

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