History Literature / CardForceInfection

** Rita's Color deck is a hurricane of shoutouts, spelled out by the author in the end notes: Rouge Fox and Purple Tiger reference ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' characters, Silver Snake references ''Series/LegendsOfTheHiddenTemple'', Black Frog references ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', Pink Lion references ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', Green Owl references ''VideoGame/{{Duolingo}}'', and Pink Elephant references ''[[Literature/CordycepsTooCleverForTheirOwnGood CORDYCEPS]]''. [[note]]And for bonus points, it's defeated by a character named Arc -- the author clarified that Arc's name was not a ''CORDYCEPS'' reference in itself, but him defeating a Pink Elephant was.[[/note]] Later Color cards are also references -- Blue Hedgehog referencing ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'', Pink Alpaca referencing ''WesternAnimation/Centaurworld'', and Green Cat referencing [[Memes/{{Tumblr}} gothicprep's green cat]].

** Rita's Color deck is a hurricane of shoutouts, spelled out by the author in the end notes: Rouge Fox and Purple Tiger reference ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' characters, Silver Snake references ''Series/LegendsOfTheHiddenTemple'', Black Frog references ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', Pink Lion references ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', Green Owl references ''VideoGame/{{Duolingo}}'', and Pink Elephant references ''[[Literature/CordycepsTooCleverForTheirOwnGood CORDYCEPS]]''. [[note]]And for bonus points, it's defeated by a character named Arc -- the author clarified that Arc's name was not a ''CORDYCEPS'' reference in itself, but him defeating a Pink Elephant was.[[/note]]

* ExpyCoexistence: The prologue to Part 2 mentions that ''Franchise/YuGiOh'' not only exists in this universe, bu was just as much inspiration for Card Force in-universe as out.

* ExpyCoexistence: The prologue to Part 2 mentions that ''Franchise/YuGiOh'' not only exists in this universe, was just as much inspiration for Card Force in-universe as out.

* EskimosArentReal: A running gag has vrious characters learning that narwhals are real.

* QuantityVsQuality: A Unit needs a Tower of a certain height (the unit's Tier) to be summoned. Since Towers are built from Crafts, and can support only one Unit each, a player has the choice between building many short Towers so they can summon many weak Units, or building fewer tall Towers so they can summon bigger Units.

* EskimosArentReal: While Maxwell is exploring an aquarium, a random bystander can be heard questioning the presence of the narwhal exhibit, which has only videos and a statue, because narwhals can't be kept in captivity. Her companion explains this, not realizing that the woman's primary worry is that "children might end up thinking narwhals are real, and they'll get really confused". "Narwhals ''are'' real, dear."

* {{Transgender}}: Naota is genderfluid, switching between a boy and a girl at various times.

** Rita's Color deck is a hurricane of shoutouts, spelled out by the author in the end notes: Rouge Fox and Purple Tiger reference ''WesternAnimation/Miraculousladybug'' characters, Silver Snake references ''Series/LegendsOfTheHiddenTemple'', Black Frog references ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', Pink Lion references ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', Green Owl references ''VideoGame/{{Duolingo}}'', and Pink Elephant references ''[[Literature/CordycepsTooCleverForTheirOwnGood CORDYCEPS]]''. [[note]]And for bonus points, it's defeated by a character named Arc -- the author clarified that Arc's name was not a ''CORDYCEPS'' reference in itself, but him defeating a Pink Elephant was.[[/note]]

* ShoutOut: One chapter after the author's notes mention picking up ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', a player appears with a fish-themed deck whose signature card, General Sardine, is an undying fish warrior.

* EvilVersusOblivion: [[spoiler:Kelvin Gaumond]] is working for the Devil because, among other reasons, they believe that Yuu's patron deity plans to destroy the world if he wins, while the Devil only plans to conquer the world. [[UnreliableExpositor The fact that he's one of the Devil's thralls does call into question both his reliability and that of whatever source he gets this information from.]]

* EvilVersusOblivion: [[spoiler:Kelvin Gaumond]] is working for the Devil because, among other reasons, they believe that Yuu's patron deity plans to destroy the world if he wins, while the Devil only plans to conquer the world. [[UnreliableExpositor The fact that he's one of the Devil's thrall's does call into question both his reliability and that of whatever source he gets this information from.]]

* HiddenVillain: The source of the infection is unknown, but it's been determined that it's definitely an intelligent and malevolent entity (as opposed to something like a law of nature). Since nobody knows who this is, they just call them "the devil" for now.

** On a more lighthearted note, during the TournamentArc, one of the food vendors sells caramel apples with gummy worms in them. Fletcher buys one, but [[CordonBleughChef the tastes don't blend together very well]].

* WormInAnApple: Richter shows that he can manifest card subjects in real life by summoning a Sinner's Apple and giving it to Donovan... but after he bites the apple, Richter manifests his cursed card, Worm Infestation, in the apple, to Donovan's disgust.
-->"Tell me, what's worse than biting an apple and finding a worm?" Richter asked as he slapped his card onto the table.\\

* LoveDodecahedron: Naota has crushes on Fletcher and Yuu -- Yuu definitely reciprocates but is both currently dating Aron and magically cursed to stay away from Naota, while Fletcher ''might'' reciprocate but also definitely has a crush on Erica, and Erica might be interested in Fletcher or Arc but doesn't seem to really know how she feels. {{Polyamory}} is brought up as a possible solution, but Fletcher has a bad case of CanNotSpitItOut.

* FaceslessEye: Glare Gazer is a giant eyeball surrounded by white tentacles made of light.