Pretty Girls Speed

Developer: Zoo Corporation | Publisher: Zoo Corporation | Release Date: 2022 | Genre: Casual / Card Game / Puzzle | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

The Pretty Girls series has tackled everything from Mahjong and Solitaire to Breakout and tile matching over the years, so it was only a matter of time before Zoo Corporation turned its attention to Speed. Pretty Girls Speed takes the classic card game, also known as Spit in some regions, and combines it with the usual roster of anime-inspired characters. The result is another affordable entry in the long-running series, but one that feels a little more frantic and competitive than some of its puzzle-focused siblings.

Unlike traditional card games that encourage players to carefully consider every move, Speed is all about quick thinking and even quicker reactions. The goal is simple enough: get rid of all your cards before your opponent. Players can place cards that are one value higher or lower than those shown in the center piles, regardless of suit. The rules are easy to learn, but success depends on how quickly players can identify valid moves while keeping pace with their opponent.

Pretty Girls Speed features two primary game modes. The first is Battle Mode, where players face off against a roster of anime girls in real-time card matches. Since both sides play simultaneously, matches can become surprisingly tense as players race to clear their cards before the AI. It gives the game a much more energetic feel than titles such as Pretty Girls Four Kings Solitaire or Pretty Girls Rivers, where players can generally take their time. Losing often feels less like a strategic failure and more like being outpaced by an opponent who found their moves a fraction of a second faster.

The second mode is Challenge Mode, which serves as the game’s primary single-player offering. Here players must work through 100 levels of increasing difficulty that gradually introduce more demanding scenarios. Challenge Mode is also a great way to familiarize yourself with the mechanics of the game. The levels are short enough that they are easy to complete in quick sessions, making the game well-suited for players who only have a few minutes to spare.

One feature we appreciated is the inclusion of detailed statistics tracking. The game records player performance separately for both Battle Mode and Challenge Mode, allowing players to monitor victories, losses, completion rates, and other metrics. While it doesn’t fundamentally change the gameplay, it does provide an additional incentive to keep improving and gives players something to work toward beyond simply clearing levels.

As expected from a Pretty Girls title, the cast consists of a variety of anime-styled heroines with distinct personalities and appearances. However, the focus remains firmly on the card gameplay rather than storytelling. The girls primarily serve as opponents during matches and react with voiced lines depending on how the game unfolds. Fans of the series will find the familiar presentation comforting, while newcomers will quickly understand that the gameplay takes center stage.

Visually, Pretty Girls Speed follows the established style of the franchise. The anime artwork is colorful and appealing, while the card table itself is clean and easy to read. This is especially important given the speed at which matches unfold. The interface does a good job of displaying all the information players need without becoming cluttered, and the presentation remains polished despite the game’s budget price point.

The audio is similarly solid. The soundtrack features upbeat tunes that suit the fast-paced nature of the gameplay without becoming distracting. All of the girls are voiced in Japanese and will occasionally comment on the action, which adds a little personality to the matches. The sound effects are crisp and provide useful feedback whenever cards are successfully played.

Controls are straightforward and responsive. The game can be played using either a controller or mouse, although we found the mouse to be the more comfortable option due to the quick reactions often required. Fortunately, the interface is intuitive enough that players can jump into matches almost immediately.

Overall, Pretty Girls Speed is another enjoyable entry in Zoo Corporation’s ever-growing catalog of casual card and puzzle games. It doesn’t reinvent the Speed formula, but the real-time competitive aspect helps it stand apart from some of the slower-paced entries in the franchise. The inclusion of Battle Mode and a lengthy 100-level Challenge Mode provides enough content to justify the low asking price, while the stat tracking offers a reason to keep coming back. It may not have the strategic depth of some other card games, but it succeeds as a fast, accessible, and entertaining diversion.