I'm working on designing a card game with variables attached to a dataset. Can I execute this in Figma?

Hmmm. It should be possible with Figma variables. But with 60 characters, you’re going to be playing like 60 variables for each of your components (like 60 x n, with n = number of components). I suggest to try doing it first, and let us know if you got stuck on something.

​@Raphael_M Is there a way to link the variables to a dataset in an external spreadsheet that populates the frames with images (even if the images are maybe already somewhere else in the Figma file)? Or are variables only limited to colors/numbers/text strings/booleans? 

That’s not possible, you can only work with Figma variables on a Figma file. I’ve seen some automation for csv to variables using plugins like this: 

But I haven’t tried them, so I can’t really provide an answer for you regarding that question.

And yes variables are limited to the four types, but you can use string for switching so it’s possible to make something like switching on the images by making them a component set and control switching via string/number variables.