StarVaders

StarVaders (2025) is a strategic turn-based battle game where you collect and play cards to control a weaponised mech and defeat encroaching enemies. Every action you make, from movement to ranged or melee attacks, is dictated by the cards you play; the trick is playing them in a tactical sequence to deal with threats effectively. It stands out for extending classic Space Invaders play into a tricky turn-based battle, where experimenting with the cards you add to your deck and how you play them is key to success.

---

You play the pilot of a mech suit, and each turn, you draw a random selection of cards from your deck to use for that go. You can play multiple cards per turn, but most cause your mech to heat up; if you overheat, your card burns and your turn ends. You start each run with a basic set of cards that enable you to shoot and move to deal with waves of enemies. As you progress through your run, you pick new, more complex cards to add to your deck, including attacks such as bombs and enhancements for subsequent moves.

If enemies stay at the bottom of the screen for too long, you fail and have to start again, but you can progress further each time with your increasing understanding of different enemies and effective strategies. You unlock new mechs and pilots with different cards and powerful passive abilities, such as making you stronger after you overheat.

The result is a thought-out deckbuilder that’s all about experimenting to find powerful combinations of cards that counter your current enemies, while being flexible enough to cope with unexpected turns of play. Inevitably, things don’t always go right - failing and trying again, having learnt something new, is all part of the fun.

---

Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked StarVaders 18 months ago. It was re-examined by Ollie Robertson and updated 6 months ago.