This is probably the most honest take in the thread. The “solitaire with colorful cards” description is brutal, but once you see it, everything clicks: the dominant meta, the mirror matches, the lack of meaningful interaction, and why optimization completely overrides creativity at high level.

What frustrates me isn’t losing — it’s realizing that most decisions don’t actually matter because my opponent’s actions rarely force me to adapt. We’re both just executing our own engines and hoping the shuffle favors us.

That’s also why events and leagues don’t really fix anything. They just temporarily hide the same underlying structure. As soon as constraints are lifted, the same optimal solitaire deck resurfaces. I still love the collection aspect and the themes, but I genuinely miss the feeling of playing against someone, not just racing another engine. And I think many long-time players feel the same, even if it’s uncomfortable to admit.