StarVaders

StarVaders, developed by Pengonauts and released April 30, 2025, casts players as a mech pilot defending Earth against an alien invasion through a fusion of deckbuilding and grid-based tactical combat. Each run is built around choosing one of three mechs—the bullet-heavy Gunner, the close-range Stinger, and the spell-and-summon Keeper—each with wholly distinct cards and mechanics. On top of the mech choice, players select from twelve pilots who layer in additional cards and personal abilities, meaning the pairing of mech and pilot shapes the strategic direction of every attempt.

Combat takes place on a grid, and the deck is the primary weapon: players draw, play, and chain cards to eliminate invaders across escalating encounters. A standout mechanical wrinkle is the Chrono Token system, which lets players rewind time mid-run to undo a misplay or set up a combo more precisely—a tactical resource rather than a safety net. The pool of over 400 cards and artifacts means viable builds vary substantially between runs, and the game is explicit about wanting players to discover combinations without external guides. Difficulty runs from accessible to punishing through ascending challenge tiers, daily runs, and dedicated challenge modes, so newer players can find footing before the hardest content demands tight sequencing and resource management. A story campaign runs alongside the roguelike structure and includes a secret finale.

• Three mechs with fully distinct card sets and mechanical identities
• Twelve pilots, each adding unique cards, abilities, and backstory
• Chrono Tokens allow mid-run time rewind for tactical correction
• 400+ cards and artifacts across runs; no two builds alike
• Ascending difficulties, daily runs, and challenge modes for extended play
• Story campaign with a hidden finale alongside the roguelike runs

The game’s update history shows a brisk post-launch arc. Several patches landed in the first weeks of May 2025, addressing bugs and balance. The first named major update, version 1.1 dubbed “Beach Episode,” arrived in June 2025. September brought version 1.2, “Night of the Invaders,” alongside cross-promotional bundles with Wildfrost and Slay the Spire. The most substantial milestone to date was StarVaders 2.0, released in November 2025, with a stabilizing patch following in December. By early 2026 the team had logged a DiceVaders playtest and demo—an apparent spin-off or companion project—suggesting the studio was building on the game’s momentum into its second year.