Check availability against the removal notice
The developer’s October 26 announcement gives Wednesday, October 28 as the demo removal date. It explains that the change is preparation for the full release that Friday. This guide was researched on October 28, so the notice is more relevant than an older invitation to play immediately.
A store page can still contain the demo’s description even when availability is changing. The existence of that page is not the same as a verified active download. Use the live Steam actions to check availability rather than treating a historical article headline as a current promise.
The demo has its own app number, 5348340. The full game is app 5088440. Keeping those two listings separate prevents an older demo link from being mistaken for the main release.
What you can learn from the demo
The official FAQ includes opening packs, sorting new cards into the binder and selling duplicates. It also includes leveling, early upgrades and using the Rip Rig to open multiple packs. These are the core activities that introduce the desk and collecting loop.
The piggy bank supplies another cash interaction. The developer explicitly lists shaking it to get money. Alongside duplicate sales, it helps explain how players continue buying packs while building the collection.
The demo is described as a relaxed incremental experience. The official game description does not impose a rushing timer on the player. That lets the introduction focus on learning the binder and handling cards rather than a timed opening challenge.
The 369-card figure
The official demo FAQ states that there are 369 cards to find. That is the figure to use when describing the demo’s collection scope. It is separate from the 1,809 cards announced for the full release.
The full-release preview also names 209 unique Critkin. A count of unique creatures and a count of collection entries are different measurements. Mixing those units makes it harder to understand what a demo completion video actually demonstrates.
Some promotional descriptions discuss the full game while appearing near demo material. That is why the explicit demo FAQ is the clearest reference for the smaller collection. A full-game card total should not be attached to every video or screenshot labelled demo.
Why saves cannot transfer
A player asked the developer whether a completed demo save could be used in the full release. Developer Hepburn answered that it could not. The explanation points to the scale of the changes between versions, including additional cards, upgrades and the CritDex.
The demo can still teach the practical loop. Matching card numbers, recognizing duplicates and understanding the role of the workstation remain useful things to learn. Those lessons are different from transferring the actual collection data into a new version.
The response does not describe a manual import procedure. This guide therefore does not offer file-moving instructions or a workaround that the developer has not established. The supported answer is that the demo save does not carry into the full release.
Which upgrades belong to which version
The demo includes initial workstation progression and the Rip Rig. That confirms access to the basic idea of processing multiple packs. It does not make every full-release automation announcement a demo feature.
The October 21 preview separately announces automatic binder handling and automatic Rip Rig loading. It also lists faster ripping and reduced Binder Bot cooldowns. These improvements explain why a demo recording can show more manual work than the announced launch setup.
The inspected demo gadget menu shows some entries as unavailable. Black Market features and certain speed-related options appear in that restricted state. Those visible restrictions describe the demonstrated demo build, rather than a claim that the features will remain locked in the full game.
What changes with the full collection
The developer announces 1,809 cards and 209 unique Critkin for the full release. A CritDex records discoveries, with a new stats screen providing additional collection information. The preview also describes an inspection screen for taking a closer look at cards and packs.
Black Market stock and upgrades are included in the announced expansion of the desk experience. Nine community-designed promo cards also appear in the full-release material. These additions are part of the reason the developer presents launch as more than simply extending the demo save.
Read older playthroughs in context
A video labelled “100%” can refer to completing the demo available when it was recorded. It does not automatically prove that the creator completed the announced full collection. The version and recording date are essential to understanding the claim.
The same principle applies to old “demo available now” descriptions. They describe the period when the material was published. The later removal notice and the developer’s save-transfer answer provide the clearest context for moving from the demo to the planned release.