Encaged and Ungraded

Inspect, encage, survive

Society in "Encaged and Ungraded" depends on collectible cards – they serve as currency, weapons, and curses! As a card grader, you’re constantly confronted with the dark magic that dwells within the cards. In this dark, atmospheric setting, you must look very closely – even when you’d rather not.

A card lies on your desk: Your main task is to examine cards using various tools. A transparent overlay allows you to check the alignment of the print. Scratches on the foil become visible with an adjustable lamp. Maybe you suspect a forgery and prefer to take a closer look with a magnifying glass. But some cards require a more specialized approach before they reveal their true form.

You notice an anomaly: Maybe it’s just a missing detail. An scratched-in threat reveals itself. Faces begin to melt. Or did the card just whisper something?

The important thing is not to lose your nerve. Document your findings with a form, enclose the card in a hardened protective sleeve, and seal the threat away. Everything done correctly? Then the card can be safely sent – for example, to collectors or duelists. But if you make a mistake in the evaluation and the seal breaks, their lives suddenly hang in the balance – and soon, yours too.

About the developer:

Leif Gutowski is a game developer based in Hamburg. After completing his master's degree in Game Design, he began work on “Encaged and Ungraded” – his first commercial project, in which he combines his love for cards with his fascination for the unsettling. Despite going solo, he greatly values collaboration with other passionate people in the industry and, alongside active connections with artists and active exchange with fellow game designers, aims to create further opportunities for collaboration. The collectible trading card format in particular offers a chance to work with a diverse range of artists on a variety of visual contributions.

Concept art by Nadine Oestreich and Suzan Azakli