Cartomancy Anthology has been free on Steam and itch.io since October 2, 2026, with no announced end date: this anthology brings together 22 independent games inspired by the Major Arcana of the tarot, available on Windows and macOS. Previously sold for $24.99, the project now invites everyone to discover very different experiences without any prior purchase. To understand what this change brings, let’s first keep these points in mind:
- Current price: free on Steam and itch.io, with no announced deadline.
- Content: 22 standalone creations linked to the 22 cards of the Major Arcana.
- Platforms: Windows and macOS; no console version is announced as available.
- Origin: a Kickstarter-funded project, launched in August 2022.
The tarot serves here as a guiding thread, not as a pretext for a single adventure: each card opens onto an independent proposition, with its own atmosphere and mechanics. We thus move from one format to another like in a digital cabinet of curiosities. The free access makes this formula easier to try, while the lack of an official communicated reason invites us to stick to the facts: the price has changed, but the creators have not detailed their long-term strategy.
Cartomancy Anthology free on Steam and itch.io: what the new price changes
The most concrete news can be summed up in a few words: Cartomancy Anthology no longer requires payment to be downloaded. Since October 2, 2026, its Steam page displays the Free To Play status, and the game is also available free on itch.io. This evolution concerns a collection that was previously offered at $24.99, a price that could deter curious people about the concept without being sure they would appreciate the different experiences.
According to the information provided, this is not a promotional weekend nor an operation with a deadline. No countdown asks to get the title before a specific date: the game is indicated as free and no date for returning to the previous price is announced. For a player like Noé, who likes to test original productions without multiplying purchases, the difference is immediate: he can install the project, discover a card, then freely decide whether he wants to continue.
This free access does not mean the anthology has been turned into a games-as-a-service. The available elements indicate that the 22 creations are gathered in the same project, and there is no subscription or purchase obligation to access any part of the content. It is therefore preferable to clearly distinguish the current access price from possible future decisions: the free status is observed, while the developers have not publicly explained how long they intend to maintain it.
A lasting free access, without official explanation
Compact, the studio associated with the game, and Code Coven, its publisher, have not given an official reason for the removal of the price. It would therefore be risky to claim that the decision responds to a drop in traffic, a preservation campaign, or a strategy aimed at selling another product. The most reliable reading remains factual: the game can be downloaded for free on the two mentioned platforms, without a displayed time limit.
To verify the offer, we can directly consult the Steam and itch.io pages, then check the compatibility indicated with our computer. The versions concern Windows and macOS; no release on Nintendo Switch or another console is announced as available in the provided data. This prevents a frequent confusion between a project considered during a funding campaign and an actually marketed version.
The removal of the price mainly changes the entry threshold. A collection of 22 experiences may seem difficult to assess in advance, because its appeal depends on the variety of its contributions and individual tastes. At $24.99, the decision was based on trust in the concept; free, it becomes a discovery that can be approached at one’s own pace, without having to justify an expense if a proposition does not suit us.
How to access the game in practice
On Steam, just find the title’s page and add it to your library, then download the version compatible with your system. On itch.io, the project page gives access to the distribution offered by the team; it is advisable to follow the download instructions there. In both cases, it is best to check the required disk space and the configuration shown at the time of installation, rather than assuming every recent computer works the same way.
A simple example measures the effect of the change: if Noé hesitated to spend nearly $25 for a work whose pace and tone he didn’t know, he can now launch an experience and judge for himself. The free access does not guarantee that every game will please him, but it turns the financial risk into a simple time investment. It is the ideal entry point to the anthology’s particular structure.
An anthology of 22 video games inspired by the Major Arcana of the tarot
The heart of Cartomancy Anthology is a series of 22 standalone games, each associated with one of the Major Arcana cards. The tarot provides a common structure to the whole, but does not transform the creations into successive chapters of a linear story. Each contribution has its own identity; changing cards thus means opening a new door rather than continuing a single plot.
The player selects one or more cards from a virtual deck, then accesses the corresponding experiences. This way of navigating gives the menu a ritual dimension: even before starting, the choice of a card establishes a link with the imagery of divination. But one should not expect a real consultation or predictive interpretation. Here, the symbols serve as an artistic framework and a starting point for games designed to evoke emotions, ideas, or surprises.
The genres mentioned show the collection’s scope. There is, notably, platforming, fishing, cooking simulation, and visual novel. For Noé, a session can start with a calm activity evoking the water’s edge, then shift to a game where jumping and a sense of rhythm become central. This contrast is a characteristic of the whole, not an accidental break in a classic campaign.
Cards as entry points, not as levels of a campaign
This distinction helps set expectations. In a traditional game, levels often connect through skill progression, a continuous story, or rising difficulty. In this anthology, coherence is rather found in the card principle and the common presentation. Experiences can vary in length, pace, and mechanics; enjoyment thus also depends on our willingness to be surprised.
Imagine Noé chooses a card looking for a quick game. He may come across a proposition emphasizing observation, then try another based on more active interactions. The change of format prevents him from settling into a single gameplay loop for dozens of hours, but allows him to taste several approaches within the same download. This diversity is especially suited to short sessions or shared discovery with friends.
The tarot brings visual and thematic unity to this variety. In the history of the cards, the Major Arcana are associated with figures and symbolic stages; their presence in an interactive work naturally invites comparing the offered interpretations. Each studio can take hold of this imagery according to its sensibility, without the 22 creations needing to adopt a uniform tone. The card then becomes a stimulating constraint, capable of bringing together very different game forms.
An experience to discover through short sessions
We can approach the anthology as a box of games rather than a long story to finish in one go. A practical method is to try one creation, note what struck us, then choose a new card depending on our mood. Someone who prefers stories might favor a visual novel, while a player drawn to more direct interaction might explore a platform or simulation proposition.
This freedom also has a limit: not all experiences will speak to everyone. With 22 works designed by different teams, it’s normal that some attract more attention than others. Rather than seeing this as a coherence defect, we can consider this inequality of tastes as the price — and the interest — of an anthology. Its common thread does not promise that every card will suit; it guarantees that a new tone awaits after the previous one.
The word “divination” therefore mainly designates the atmosphere and the act of selection. We draw, discover, then interpret what the experience makes us feel, without having to believe in a prediction. For tarot enthusiasts as well as indie game curious, this setup offers an unusual way to browse interactive forms. The collection’s strength lies in this encounter between a shared symbol and 22 different answers.
An independent game funded on Kickstarter and created by more than 70 developers
Before becoming free on Steam and itch.io, Cartomancy Anthology began with a Kickstarter campaign launched in October 2021. It raised $31,791 from 659 backers, who supported the idea of a collective project around the Major Arcana. These figures give a concrete measure of the support received: the collection was not born from a single team building a classic game, but from a mobilization aimed at bringing several creations to life under a common banner.
The game was released on August 9, 2022, under the direction of the Compact studio and with Code Coven as publisher. The anthology gathers contributions from 22 teams and more than 70 developers spread across several countries. These numbers illuminate its operation: each experience carries a particular voice, while the whole rests on a shared theme and a common presentation mode. We can thus move from one artistic identity to another without leaving the same project.
Crowdfunding also helped define the expectations of those who supported the project. Kickstarter works through advance announced goals: participants finance a proposal and some additional ambitions may depend on reached tiers. In this case, a Nintendo Switch version was among additional goals, but the corresponding tier was not reached. So it is necessary to distinguish this campaign idea from a confirmed release: no availability on Switch is indicated.
Why the collective production is felt in the game
The diversity of teams can translate into differences in style, pace, and mechanics. A collective project of this scale does not necessarily resemble a work thought around a single uniform artistic direction. This is precisely what makes the card selection interesting: unity is provided by the tarot, while the gameplay responses come from distinct creators.
To illustrate this, imagine a fictional workshop that must create an experience inspired by a card. It may favor a short story, a platform challenge, or a simulation activity, depending on the interpretation it wants to defend. Another team can start from the same symbolic universe and end up with an almost opposite result. The common framework thus encourages comparison, without imposing a single recipe on all participants.
The more than 70 people involved also serve as a reminder of the work behind an indie game. The production gathers varied skills: mechanics design, illustration, writing, programming, and sound design, according to each team’s contributions. The anthology format allows placing several of these approaches side by side. For players interested in game creation, this plurality makes the collection as instructive as it is entertaining.
A console ambition that remains distinct from the current offer
The mention of a Switch goal on Kickstarter may raise questions at download time. The available answer is simple: since the goal was not reached, the project remains associated with the PC and Mac versions distributed via Steam and itch.io. The initial ambition should not be turned into a promise of porting, nor should the current free status lead to deducing that a console adaptation is in preparation.
This clarification is useful to choose the right platform. If Noé only plays on console, the news does not give him access to the title on his usual machine; if he has a compatible Windows or macOS computer, he can try it free of charge. Platforms and price status are two different pieces of information: the first delimit the concerned devices, while the second indicates the access price. Knowing them avoids misguided expectations.
The game’s path thus shows how a community-funded project can evolve after commercial release. Kickstarter helped gather funds and supporters, then the anthology was published in 2022; its free transition in 2026 opens a new possibility for discovery. This journey is a telling example of how an indie game can find its audience beyond its launch period.
A trailer can help appreciate the contrast of atmospheres before download. We can spot the place given to the cards, observe the diversity of images, and check if the overall tone appeals to us, without assuming that a single excerpt faithfully represents the 22 creations.
Opinions on Cartomancy Anthology: how to interpret Steam reviews
The reception of Cartomancy Anthology on Steam is described as positive, which is an encouraging signal for a collection with such a particular concept. The numbers reported are not perfectly uniform: one count mentions 35 positive reviews as of October 3, 2026, while another indicates 94% positive evaluations. These data should not be presented as necessarily incompatible measures, as they may correspond to different moments or scopes.
A percentage depends on the total number of reviews considered and their distribution between favorable and unfavorable evaluations. The visible count can evolve over time, while a dated article or record retains the situation observed at the time of consultation. So, 35 positive reviews recorded at one date and a 94% ratio published in another context do not necessarily describe the same instant or dataset.
It is also necessary to distinguish player reviews from a score given by a media outlet. The “9/10” mention sometimes associated with the title does not correspond, in the available elements, to an identified critique confirming this score. We can therefore report that Steam feedback is positive, without turning this tendency into an absolute quality guarantee or an official critical score. A community appreciation informs about other users’ experience but does not exactly predict yours.
Reading the numbers without overinterpreting them
To get a fair idea, we can examine several elements together: the number of evaluations, their date, the detailed comments, and the nature of the game. A collection of 22 experiences may receive contrasting reviews simply because its different propositions do not aim at the same tastes. Someone attracted by fishing or storytelling may be less interested in platforming; another may prefer more active mechanics.
Noé can, for example, read a few recent reviews before starting the download. If he finds that a comment especially appreciates the experimental nature, it indicates a reading angle but not that every game will be to his taste. Another user may emphasize a specific experience or the overall variety. Reviews are more useful when treated as situated testimonies rather than as a universal verdict.
The zero price also changes how risk is evaluated. When a game costs $24.99, expectations often focus on a duration or coherence comparable to a unified production. In a free anthology, the user can test several propositions without financial commitment and judge their diversity according to his own criteria. This does not make reviews useless; it simply changes the question we ask: “Do I like this formula?” rather than “Does the price match my expectations?”
A second wind thanks to a more accessible discovery
The move to free may attract people who would not have noticed the game at its 2022 release. Digital catalogs are vast, and an unusual project can go unnoticed even with positive feedback. Now appearing without an access price, Cartomancy Anthology can be more easily tried by players seeking a short experience, an original idea, or a sample of several indie game styles.
The discovery may also interest people who are interested in tarot without looking for divination games in the strict sense. The cards form a visual and thematic language, while the creations remain interactive works. This nuance helps understand the promise: it is about exploring games inspired by the Major Arcana, not obtaining a predictive reading of one’s future.
To approach the whole without being guided solely by a number, we can vary the trials. Let’s choose an experience by its genre, then another by card or atmosphere; observe the differences in pace and tone. This approach turns the 22 games into a personal journey, where the chance of selection can become a driver of curiosity.
A gameplay sequence finally allows us to see how card choice is articulated with experiences. We can watch it as a preview, then keep in mind that the selected extracts do not replace trying the complete propositions: free access precisely gives the possibility to discover directly what suits us.
How to discover the 22 games of Cartomancy Anthology for free
The best way to approach this anthology is not to look immediately for a continuous campaign. We can rather choose a card, launch the corresponding experience, and take time to understand its rules before moving on to another. This approach respects the project’s structure: each of the 22 creations is autonomous, and the order of discovery can vary with the player’s curiosity.
Before downloading, let’s check the platform and system used. The game is indicated as available on Windows and macOS, through Steam and itch.io; no Nintendo Switch version is presented as available. People using a shared computer or an older device can also consult the requirements shown on the game page, since free access does not replace compatibility verification.
We can then set a light goal: try two or three experiences in a first session, rather than wanting to browse the 22 games in one go. Someone attracted by stories may start with a visual novel, then explore a calmer activity like fishing. A fan of more direct challenges may prefer a platforming experience. These choices are not rules but practical ways to make the discovery personal.
A path adapted to your desires
The card selection can turn the menu into an invitation to exploration. If we do not know where to start, we can choose randomly, like in a symbolic draw. If we have a genre preference, we can follow that instead. Both ways match different desires: the first focuses on surprise, the second gives more control over the type of experience sought.
Noé, our fictional player, can start an evening with a narrative game, then try another based on a more concrete mechanic. He does not need to finish a long story before changing worlds. This quick shift from one proposition to another suits those with little time or who like alternating activities during the same session. It also gives an idea of the richness of the approaches gathered in the project.
To keep his impressions, Noé can note the names of experiences that struck him and the elements he appreciated: atmosphere, rhythm, interactions, or how the tarot is interpreted. This little method is useful when a collection contains so many different signatures. It helps distinguish what relates to personal preferences from what really characterizes a given creation, without reducing the whole collection to a single experience.
Practical landmarks before playing
The following table summarizes the essential information to keep handy. It makes it possible to distinguish the date of the price change, the concerned platforms, and the limits related to consoles, without confusing the game’s current status with a future promise.
| Landmark | Available information |
|---|---|
| Current price | Free, Free To Play status indicated on Steam |
| Date of change | October 2, 2026 |
| Old price | $24.99 |
| Download platforms | Steam and itch.io |
| Mentioned systems | Windows and macOS |
| Content | 22 standalone games inspired by the Major Arcana |
| Console version | No Nintendo Switch version announced as available |
| Offer duration | No end date communicated |
Once these landmarks are checked, we can approach the game without waiting for a uniform formula. The free price makes trying it accessible, but the anthology’s value mainly comes from its diversity: a common selection, multiple teams, and mechanics that change from one card to another. It is this combination that distinguishes Cartomancy Anthology from a traditional video game.
For card divination enthusiasts, the project offers a playful and artistic interpretation of a symbolic universe; for the curious, it offers 22 occasions to explore independent forms without access fees. The most interesting part is not to look for a single “good” card but to see how each team translated its inspiration into a game. With its new free status on Steam and itch.io, the anthology can now be discovered at everyone’s pace.
