APE brings Big Top, Anathema

APE Games has finally released two card game titles I’ve been waiting to have a look at: Anathema and Big Top. Of the two titles, Anathema is obviously the darker, themed around the Salem Witch Trials. Illustrated by Drew Tucker, whose murky, brooding works in Magic and Jyhad are widely recognized, Anathema pits 2-4 players against each other as they try to capture cards. Big Top lets players act as circus owners, investing in up-and-coming acts and making sure the show goes on. These cards are illustrated by Alessandra Cimatoribus (of Torres fame), having a distinctly non-“burn-them-at-the-stake” look to them. Both full-color games are based on classic, time-proven card games, so playability shouldn’t be a problem. Anathema carries a pricetag of $11.95, while Big Top is a bit more at $19.95.