Care Bears Unlock the Magic: Interview

As we hit the home stretch of the Summer Gamesfest, I wanted to do something a bit different and give you all a shout about a game I’m really interested in. Sadly, I didn’t pick upn it until after the Kickstarter had already started and was too late to get any demo copies, but I thought it was still well worth sharing this interview with you all. Hopefully, it gives you a flavour of what to expect and why I think it’s one to keep an eye on for the future.

What I personally really like about it is that the Core game is very much a self-contained experience you can play as a board game with the booster packs acting more like expansions and the TCG elements being more focused on variants and rarities than the core gameplay.

When I first heard there was going to be a Care Bears Trading Card Game, I knew I had to find out more. The Care Bears are one of those instantly recognisable licences that carry a lot of nostalgia for parents, while also being bright, colourful, and appealing to kids. With that in mind, I reached out to Jordan from Zoop Games, the team behind the project, to ask about the inspiration, design process, and what fans can expect from Care Bears: Unlock the Magic.

Inspiration & Licensing

What inspired Zoop Games to choose Care Bears for a licensed deck-building experience?
Jordan: It really just happened by circumstance. Through mutual connections, we knew the company with the rights to the Care Bears licence in this category. With our in-house design and crowdfunding team, it was a no brainer to run with an IP that we all love!

Were there particular thematic elements of Care Bears that really appealed to you when designing a deck-builder?
Jordan: Our previous couple of games were for older, adult audiences. This was an opportunity to work on a game with different themes, objectives, actions, and an overall lighter tone.

Target Audience

Is the game primarily aimed at children, parents who grew up watching Care Bears, or both?
Jordan: This is a great questions. We are actually targeting parents of all kinds. Parents who are gamers. Parents who love Care Bears. Parents that need more family activities to do together, those that love game night, and want to keep their kids off screens! But, realistically, the game is designed for all levels of players, from seasoned tabletop veterans, to newbies and kids. Perfect game for everyone!

How have you balanced simplicity and nostalgia so the game feels fresh to longtime fans of the genre while still being accessible to newcomers?
Jordan: I couldn’t have put it better! The game is actually a very strategic deck builder, though we’re not necessarily on the “complex” side of the scale on this. It’s easy enough to learn, and hone your skills. It can be an entry game for players who’ve never played before, but also intricate enough for more advanced gamers.

Gameplay Design

What made you decide to blend deck-building with trading card game elements?
Jordan: Well, when you have an IP that is so universally known, you try to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. For gamers who just want to play the game, the CORE game is a fully contained unit. The next step up from that are gamers who are wanting every mechanically different card. For those completists, we have the Character Expansion Packs. And of course, for those TCG gamers and collectors, we have the Booster Packs and Boxes for chasing all different rarities, and versions of the cards!

Did the current Unlock the Magic animated series (2019–present) influence the art direction, tone, or mechanics of the game?
Jordan: 100%. While you will feel some OG Care Bears love in here, our big “Boss” is Bluster, and his Bad Crowd, pulled directly from that 2019 series. The art is also in that same generation.

Was there any thought into using the 80s art style?
Jordan: It is something that was discussed, and may be created for a future version of the game. So, the more successful this one is, the more likely we all are to see an 80’s style game to follow!

Are there any unique mechanics inspired specifically by Care Bears lore—like the Care Bear Stare or belly symbols?
Jordan: While I can’t yet unveil the combos that can take place when you use multiple cards at once, you’re onto something . We are also using the Caring Meter from Care Bears lore as our health tracker.

Audience Engagement & Future Plans

How do you see this game appealing to both solo players and groups?
Jordan: We hear a lot of feedback that solo is something that many players want! Sometimes they just want to play, but don’t have a partner, or someone into the particular game they want to play. It’s addressing an underserved market in that regard. And again, I can’t think of a better game than this to introduce kids to gaming. We’re dealing with caring, and wishing, helping others, and using friendship to overcome obstacles. It doesn’t get much more wholesome than this!

What’s next for Care Bears titles or expansions? Could we see more versions—perhaps featuring classic 80s artwork or more obscure characters?
Jordan: We’re hopeful, but it’s all yet to be seen. The better this campaign does, the more likely we are to have those conversations with the licensor

Final Thoughts

What really struck me in chatting with Jordan is how carefully Zoop Games have thought about appealing to multiple audiences at once. The fact it can be both a stand alone game and a TCG is really important. Care Bears: Unlock the Magic is pitched as a family game simple enough for newcomers, but with just enough strategy and collecting to appeal to more seasoned gamers too. And with the possibility of future expansions (or even an 80s throwback edition!), there’s a lot for fans to get excited about.

If like me, you are interested, the game is live now on Kickstarter and I will 100% do a proper review when the game launches.


Disclaimer: This interview is not sponsored or paid for in any way. I simply reached out to Zoop Games because I was really interested in the Care Bears: Unlock the Magic project and wanted to learn more about it.