Adventure · April 30, 2025

StarVaders (2025)

StarVaders (2025) scores 98% positive on Steam from 2.0k reviews, 85 Metacritic, developed by Pengonauts.

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StarVaders (2025) is a Adventure title from Pengonauts available on Windows, macOS. The title carries a 98% Steam positive rating across 2.0k reviews, a 85/100 Metacritic score, and 201 peak concurrent players — making it a measurable reference point when comparing to peers in the Adventure category.

Feature List Craft the ultimate deck from the 400+ unique cards and artifacts available! Choose from 3 powerful mechs , each with completely distinct playstyles and mechanics Master 12 diverse pilots , each adding new cards, mechanics, and a personal backstory! Use Chrono Tokens to rewind time, undo mistakes, or land that perfect combo Battle through the multi-part story campaign and uncover a secret finale! Endless replayability with ascending difficulties , daily runs , and challenge modes Designed for clarity and intuition —no long tutorials, no wiki required, just pure tactical deckbuilding About the Game The alien invasion has shattered Earth’s defenses. Pilot, the fate of humanity now rests in your hands. Take the helm of a powerful mech and fight off the invasion—one card at a time. StarVaders combines tactical grid-based combat with deckbuilding strategy, placing you in command of a formidable mech during humanity’s last stand against the invaders. Build up a deck of powerful cards, unleash devastating combos, and defend the Earth at all costs! Pilot Your Mech Into Battle! Every mech in StarVaders has its own squad of pilots. Each mech introduces unique cards and mechanics, while your pilot further enhances your strategy with their distinct, powerful abilities. Take command of the Gunner Mech to unleash an endless flurry of bullets and explosions, get up close and personal with the ninja-like Stinger Mech, or unleash the powerful spells and summons of the Keeper Mech! Discover Game-Breaking Combos! Unleash game-breaking combos, outsmart the invaders, and push your build to the limit against ever-escalating threats. With hundreds of cards, artifacts, and upgrades, no two runs are ever the same. Missed a perfect combo or found yourself cornered by the invaders? Use a Chrono Token to rewind time and rewrite your fate. Endless Replayability After each run, unlock powerful new cards, pilots, and deadlier enemies and bosses that raise the stakes in future battles. There’s an endless supply of builds and combos to discover every time you play. Ready to push your limits? Take on the various Challenge Modes or dive into the Daily Run to really prove what you’re made of!

Release & Availability

Release date Apr 30, 2025
Developer Pengonauts
Publisher Joystick Ventures, Playworks
Base price $18.74 -25%
DLC / Add-ons 2 released
Platforms Windows, macOS
Estimated owners 100k–1M
External links Official site · Metacritic page · Support · [email protected]

Release timeline

StarVaders launched on Apr 30, 2025.

Studio and publishing

The title was developed by Pengonauts and published by Joystick Ventures, Playworks.

Platform support

Playable natively on Windows, macOS.

Packages & editions

  • Buy StarVaders

Reception & Reviews

Steam community score

Steam users rate StarVaders 98% positive across 2.0k reviews — categorised as Overwhelmingly Positive.

1.9k positive · 39 negative

Critic consensus (Metacritic)

Critics aggregated on Metacritic awarded a 85/100 score.

Read the critics →

Curator & community recommendations

Steam curators and players have issued 3.2k recommendations for this title.

Peak concurrent players

Peak concurrent Steam players reached 201 — a measurement of how active the playerbase got at launch or during a surge.

Press quotes

“My God. I think I have found the new Balatro in my life. NOOOOOOOO!!!!” 95 – Digital Chumps “The deceptively simple gameplay is dangerously addictive, and StarVaders bolts it to a bright, colourful exterior.” 95 – Movies Games and Tech “A near-flawless title, with an utterly fantastic gameplay loop, art direction and variety.” 95 – GameGrin

Gameplay Profile

Genres

  • Adventure
  • Indie
  • Strategy

Community tag consensus

  • Roguelike Deckbuilder · 597
  • Deckbuilding · 562
  • Turn-Based Tactics · 475
  • Rogue-lite · 469
  • Visual Novel · 461
  • Difficult · 459
  • Card Game · 432
  • Turn-Based Strategy · 431
  • Board Game · 428
  • Rogue-like · 425
  • Female Protagonist · 422
  • Strategy · 417

Playtime profile

Community average playtime is 16 hours, with a median of 9 hours — a moderate (15–40 hours) commitment. Two-week average sits at 8 hours per active player.

Steam achievements

The title ships with 100 Steam achievements to unlock.

Languages supported

Interface / subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish – Spain, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese – Brazil, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Turkish.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was StarVaders released?

StarVaders was released on Apr 30, 2025 by Pengonauts.

Is StarVaders worth playing?

Based on 2.0k Steam reviews, StarVaders holds a 98% positive rating (Overwhelmingly Positive) — suggesting the game resonates with most players who try it.

What platforms does StarVaders support?

StarVaders runs natively on Windows, macOS.

How much does StarVaders cost?

Base price on Steam is $18.74 (before seasonal discounts).

What Metacritic score did StarVaders receive?

Critics rated StarVaders 85/100 on Metacritic.