StarVaders

StarVaders hooks you fast: three mechs, a dozen pilots and hundreds of cards combine grid tactics with deckbuilding in ways that actually feel new. It’s the kind of indie that reminds me of Into the Breach mashed with Slay the Spire — but with its own clever twists.

You command a mech on a rectangular grid while building a lean, reactive deck — each mech has a distinct playstyle and each pilot tweaks that playstyle significantly. Instead of traditional HP you manage Doom and a ‘consistency’ mechanic where damage shoves junk cards into your deck, so the game favors prevention and clever positioning over trading blows. Chrono Tokens let you rewind turns and are deliciously built into both combat and meta choices (shops, rewards), which makes for tense decisions: gamble now or save your undo for a clutch moment. Card upgrades often add whole new actions to a card, and artifacts expand synergies without bloating runs, so breaking the game is an actual, joyful possibility. There’s a strong QoL layer — short runs, clear UI, daily runs, ascending difficulties and challenge modes — that keeps session design tight. Visually it’s crisp and cartoony with a soundtrack that hits, and the story campaign has bite-sized hooks plus a secret finale. Downsides? Path selection isn’t as deep as some roguelites and a few cards/artifacts feel borderline OP at times, but unlocks and varied pilots keep the loop fresh.

StarVaders is a clever, addictive fusion of grid tactics and deckbuilding — flawed in spots but bursting with ideas. If you like tactical puzzles with card synergies, don’t sleep on this one.