How Bitsigil plays

A card world you can walk in.

Bitsigil is a free card game set in a living pixel-art realm. Walk the capital with other players, pull up a chair at a tavern table, and play your cards against rivals and the realm's card masters.

Play free See a match
A match at a tavern table: Innkeeper Bram's four creatures on the board, a YOUR TURN banner, and the player's hero below.
A player standing at the tavern's door in the capital, between lamp posts and flower beds.

In gameThe street and the table

01The capital

Everyone starts in the capital.

Walk its roads, see who else is out and say hello in the chat. Everything you need is a few steps away.

The capital in the game: the tavern with its red roof and lit windows, a fenced flower garden, a player at the tavern door, the signpost to the Silverwood and the first stalls of the Market Square.
In gameThe tavern, the garden and the road to the Market Square

  1. The tavern

    The heart of the capital: twelve card tables, Innkeeper Bram and Wandering Bard Lyra.

  2. The arena

    Ranked matches, the season's leaderboard and, for the bravest, the Champions' Final.

  3. The Market Square

    Merchants' stalls around the Market Board, with an order book for every card. Trading cards you truly own comes with Robinhood Chain.

  4. The gates

    Roads north, south, east and west, each to a faction's homeland. The fifth region lies beyond the Ironpeaks.

The Market Square in the game: striped stalls of fruit, bread, pottery and books on the cobbles, and the Market Board in the middle with a prompt to open it.
In gameThe Market Square and its Market Board
Another player's profile opened in the capital: her rank, her record, the regions she conquered and her three showcase cards, with buttons to add her as a friend or invite her to a duel.
In gameClick a player for their profile, a friend request or a duel

Your character is yours to shape in the Wardrobe: skin, ears, hair, beard and clothes, changed whenever you like.

02The tavern

Pull up a chair.

Twelve card tables for matches between players, and two card masters of the house who will play anyone, any time.

The tavern hall in the game: rows of card tables on a wooden floor under candle chandeliers, two players walking between them, and a prompt to sit down and wait for an opponent.
In gameThe main hall: sit at an empty table and wait for a challenger

  • Behind the bar

    Innkeeper Bram

    Pours the drinks and deals the cards: tavern regulars, miners and golems. A friendly first opponent.

  • On the stage

    Wandering Bard Lyra

    Travellers' tales and an Elven song, and a step harder than Bram.

  • Beat them for Neutral cards, the ones any deck can play.

  • A seat, then a match

    The next player to sit across from you is your opponent. A ready check, and you play.

  • Rematch

    Good game? When a match between players ends, both can ask for another.

  • Watch a table

    Walk up to a match in progress and watch it play out.

  • No queue for the house

    Every player gets a match of their own against Bram or Lyra.

The tavern is alive: Bram wipes his counter, a maid carries trays, Lyra plays her stage, the regulars raise their mugs and the cat sleeps by the fire.

03The card game

A match, turn by turn.

Quick to read, deep to master. Here is a match against Innkeeper Bram, from the first draw to the last point of health.

  1. The opening hand: a YOUR OPENING HAND banner, You go first, and the Shield Wall card between two others.

    Keep or swap

    Draw three cards and swap the ones you do not want. Going second? One more card, and a Lucky Coin for an extra mana, once.

  2. The right side of the table: a row of blue mana crystals, the deck, and the End turn button.

    Mana

    One more crystal every turn, up to ten. Each card costs mana; what you do not spend is lost.

  3. The board: three of Bram's creatures facing the player's hero and hand of Kingdom cards.

    The board

    Up to six creatures a side. Guard creatures must be attacked first; Swift ones attack the turn they arrive.

  4. A YOUR TURN banner across the empty board, between Innkeeper Bram and the player.

    75 seconds

    Each turn lasts at most 75 seconds. As time runs low, a fuse burns down beside End turn.

  5. The player's hero taking 1 damage, down to 18 health, above a hand of Kingdom cards.

    25 health

    Bring the enemy hero to zero health. Most heroes start with 25; champions start with more.

Your deck: 30 cards from at most two factions plus Neutral; two copies of a card, one of a Legendary.

  • Battle log
  • Match summary
  • Quick emotes

04Beyond the gates

Five homelands. Five champions.

Each faction's homeland has three card players and a champion. Beat them for their faction's cards; beat the champion to open the road to the next region.

  1. The Badlands in the game: the gate of the Orcs' war camp under red banners, Shaman Urza at a card table, and the Warchief's tent.

    1 of 5 · Orcs

    The Badlands

    Out of the capital's south gate, into the Orcs' war camp. The first road open to every player.

    • Goblin Scout Snik
    • Shaman Urza
    • Ogre Brute Mog
    ChampionWarchief Grokka30 health · in the Warchief's Tent
  2. The Silverwood in the game: pale-barked trees by the road from the river's bridge, and Grove Ranger Faelin at a card table beside a leaf shelter in the Rangers' Clearing.

    2 of 5 · Elves

    The Silverwood

    Through the west gate, into the Elves' forest. It opens once Warchief Grokka falls.

    • Forest Sprite Pip
    • Grove Ranger Faelin
    • Moonlight Priestess Lunara
    ChampionArchdruid Sylvaris28 health · at the Moonwell
  3. The Crownlands in the game: the stone courtyard of the Royal Keep, with Queen Elara the Unbroken and Paladin Aldric at their card tables.

    3 of 5 · Kingdom

    The Crownlands

    Through the north gate, past wheat fields and an archery field to the Royal Keep.

    • Squire Tobin
    • Crossbowman Wren
    • Paladin Aldric
    ChampionQueen Elara the Unbroken34 health · in the Royal Keep
  4. The Ironpeaks in the game: the paved floor of a dwarven hall with Ore Miner Durgan at a card table, and boulders along the road in from the capital.

    4 of 5 · Dwarves

    The Ironpeaks

    Through the east gate, to the Old Mine, the Rune Hall and the Great Forge.

    • Ore Miner Durgan
    • Rifleman Hilde
    • Runesmith Orla
    ChampionThane Borin Ironbeard38 health · at the Great Forge
  5. The Ember Peaks in the game: Ember Whelp Cinder at a card table below a nest of dragon eggs, the road in from the Ironpeaks, and a river of lava.

    5 of 5 · Dragons

    The Ember Peaks

    Beyond the Ironpeaks, over rivers of lava. Dragons only, from a whelp to the Sun Dragon.

    • Ember Whelp Cinder
    • Brood Mother Vyrna
    • Elder Dragon Morvax
    ChampionIgnaroth the Sun Dragon40 health · on the Sun Throne

  • Decks with a personality

    Every champion and most card players play a deck built around who they are: Shaman Urza heals and burns, Rifleman Hilde brings rifles and cannons.

  • A card a day from each

    Win against a card player for one of their faction's cards, once a day; the day's first card reward gives two.

  • A Legendary per champion

    A champion's first defeat gives its own Legendary card. Epics come from a region once its champion falls.

05The Champions' Final

Five champions down. One Arena Master to go.

Beat all five region champions and Arena Master Varric takes your challenge at the arena's board. Win once, and you are the realm's Grand Champion.

Opens
Once all five champions are beaten
His deck
A deck of champions: Queen Elara and Ignaroth with the Kingdom's walls and the Dragons' fire
Health
40
The prize
The title and badge of Grand Champion
  1. Warchief Grokka
  2. Archdruid Sylvaris
  3. Queen Elara the Unbroken
  4. Thane Borin Ironbeard
  5. Ignaroth the Sun Dragon
Arena MasterVarric

06Ranked arena

Every season, a new climb.

Step up to the arena's board and join the ranked queue. The game finds an opponent near your level, and every win moves you up the ladder.

Six leagues of five divisions, three stars each. Then Legend.

  1. LegendA numbered place among the best
  2. MithrilThe last climb: no streak bonus
  3. Diamond
  4. Platinum
  5. Gold
  6. Silver
  7. BronzeLosses cost no stars
The arena's board in the game: the player at Bronze 5 with one star, a Find a ranked match button, a practice match with the Arena Master, and the leaderboard with the player in first place.
In gameThe arena's board
A ranked win: a golden VICTORY banner over the table and the line Ranked: Bronze 5, plus one star.
In gameA ranked win: one more star

  • Stars. A win gives a star, and two from your third win in a row. A loss takes one back.

  • Floors. Once you reach a league, you do not fall out of it that season.

  • Seasons. A new season starts you two leagues lower, with double stars until you are back.

  • Practice. Nobody in the queue? Play the Arena Master for practice: no stars, no rating.

Ranked play is open now in the Pre-season: ranks and the leaderboard, with season rewards to come.

07Your profile

Your name. Your story.

Press P for your profile: your rank and records, your collection, the regions you conquered, your last matches and the look you show the realm.

A player's profile in the game's dark look: her character, Bronze 5, her records against players and NPCs, her collection, the five regions to conquer and three showcase cards.
In gameThe profile, in the game's dark look

  • Avatars

    Your hero in every match. The five faction heroes are yours from the start; every card master you beat gives you their portrait.

  • Showcase and card back

    Pin your three favourite cards, and pick the card back your opponents see.

  • Badges and titles

    Earn badges for what you do, and wear a title under your name.

  • Friends and duels

    Add friends, see who is online and where, and challenge them to a duel wherever you both stand.

Badges to earn

  • Newcomer
  • Conqueror of the Badlands
  • Champion of the Realm
  • Grand Champion
  • Beat the Innkeeper
  • The Bard's Match
  • Into the Arena
  • Ten Victories
  • Veteran
  • Master Collector
  • Winter Hearth
  • Lantern & Dragon Festival

Festival badges are won only while their festival runs.

08Festivals Coming

The realm celebrates.

Through the year, festivals change the capital: a festive light, their own card tables and rewards you can only win while they run.

Winter Hearth in the capital during a test: snow falling on the grass by the Market Square, a WINTER HEARTH sign, and Frost Warden Hale at his card table saying: Your move, traveller.
In gameWinter Hearth, in a test run: Frost Warden Hale by the Market Square

  • Winter Hearth

    The first festival: snow over the capital, Frost Warden Hale at his table, and a festive card back for your first win against him.

  • Lantern & Dragon Festival

    Lanterns over the capital for a festival that belongs to the Dragons, with its own card back and badge.

Festival rewards are keepsakes: miss one and you miss a collectible, never strength.

09What you need

A computer and a browser. That's it.

No download and no install: Bitsigil runs in the browser you already have.

  • A computer

    You walk with the keyboard and play your cards with the mouse. Phones and tablets are not supported for now.

  • Chrome, Edge or Firefox

    Open play.bitsigil.xyz, sign in, and you are standing in the capital.

  • A wallet in your browser

    Sign in with a wallet extension such as MetaMask, Rabby or Coinbase Wallet. It signs a message: no transaction, no gas. One wallet, one account.

  • Free to play

    The game is free, and so is the whole Core Set: 110 cards, some yours from the start, the rest won at the tables.

The keys

  • WASDWalk, or the arrow keys
  • ETalk, sit, play
  • QStand up
  • EnterChat
  • CThe card Codex
  • KYour decks
  • JYour journey
  • PYour profile
  • EscClose a panel

The tables are set.

The capital is open, the candles are lit and Innkeeper Bram is shuffling. Pull up a chair.

Play free Meet the factions

Bitsigil plays on a computer

The game needs a computer browser: Chrome, Edge or Firefox. It does not run on phones or tablets. Open this link on your computer:

play.bitsigil.xyz

Follow on X

On a computer already? Open the game