Beth Axford loads up on Artron energy as she embarks on a voyage of discovery into a newly evolved offering from Reality+ and BBC Studios, that will lead her across all of time and space.

Upon entering the universe of Worlds Apart, a new Doctor Who game from BBC Studios and Reality+, I am greeted by the stunning Whoniverse ident, as if I had just popped open BBC iPlayer and selected an episode to watch. I feel like I am entering the Doctor’s world, as not one, but four incarnations appear on the home screen, surrounded by wonderfully illustrated aliens and enemies.

So, what is Doctor Who: Worlds Apart? The website promises a ‘fast-paced card duel that whisks you away in the TARDIS through all of time and space!’ Initially tested in 2021 as a desktop-only NFT game, it has now evolved into a free-to-play collectable card game, available on mobile iOS and Android. NFTs are no longer required to play or collect cards, they are being redeveloped as a side economy for those interested in owning and trading these scarce collectibles, although playing the game is the easiest way to earn them. I’m not usually a gamer, but anything that features beautiful Who art has me interested. And Stunning it is. All of the cards and assets have – ahem – regenerated into collectable art, hyper realistic versions of every Doctor, companion or alien you can think of.

A small selection of the cards available.

Players have the option to earn XP and soft currency (the the game, but there is also a hard currency (the one free type) to make ‘purchases’ and ‘upgrades’ within you actually have to pay for) for players wishing to upgrade sooner. In a nutshell, you can enjoy the game without spending a penny.