My latest Steam Deck obsession is a tactical spin on Space Invaders

There are few games that feel truly timeless to me, but Space Invaders ranks high on that list. Anytime I play it, I still find that I can sink my teeth into it more than most modern games 10,000 times its size. It's simple, but I find that there's hidden depth in its strategy. What's the most efficient way to clear waves? How do you manage columns of aliens once they start getting closer? Every game is a battle in which every shot counts.
StarVaders understands that idea and takes it to a logical evolution. The new indie game is another in a long line of genre hybrids that smashes a roguelike, deck-builder, and shoot-em-up together. I rolled my eyes when I first heard the description, but after a week of toying around with it, I'm hooked. StarVaders takes the feeling I get when playing Space Invaders and successfully puts it into a turn-based tactics format that has me constantly starting one more run.
The premise here is familiar: Aliens have come to Earth! Shocking, I know. It's up to a squad of mech pilots to fight them off. It's a simple setup, but there's some surprising depth to where it all goes. At the end of each run, I hear a bit of cryptic dialogue that peels back what exactly happened more and more. I haven't seen enough of it yet to know exactly what's going on, but it adds some narrative intrigue to an already sticky roguelike hook.
Recommended Videos
Gameplay is the focus here and I'm finding even more depth there with each run. StarVaders plays like a cross between Into the Breach and Space Invaders. In each level, I'm placed on a grid-based board. I'm at the bottom and different alien ships drop in from the top. They come closer to the bottom with each passing turn. If they get into the bottom three rows before I can squash them, they add a tick to my doom meter. When I accumulate five doom, my run ends.
To take down the ships before that happens, I need to play cards. My deck is divided between attacks and movement, and each one costs a bit of heat. Each turn, I must move and shoot to manage the board, all while remembering the unique properties of every alien. I might need to shoot one twice to break its shield first or deal with bugs that move twice as many spaces on a turn. A successful round is a juggling act where I need to make sure I'm not wasting a single action. It's very much like Into the Breach in that sense, playing on that game's Chess-like approach combat.
The more I play, the more depth I find in that hook. Following in the footsteps of games like Monster Train, I have a chance to buff my deck and gain passive relics between rounds. I can upgrade cards occasionally too, letting me turn basic cards into essential tools. For instance, I can make it so a basic movement ends with me shooting a bullet upwards, or making it so a quick shot will gain a repeat status effect if it kills an enemy. It takes me a bit to get the hang of every status effect and what they all mean, but my runs become much more efficient once I do. With the right cards, I can clear out a full board of enemies with only a few well-played cards.
There's a lot of smart risk that goes into that strategy too. Each turn, I only have three heat to work with. Once I hit that limit, I'm in danger of overheating. That means that I can play one more card, but it will be burned and made unusable until the next round. Similarly, there's also some risk taking when it comes to evading enemy attacks. On each turn, I can see red spaces that my foes will hit once my turn ends. I can spend movement cards to get to safety, or I can intentionally take the hit. If I do, I'll add a junk card into my deck which I'll have to spend heat to purge if I don't want to keep it in my draw. There are a lot of cases where that risk is worth it so long as I have a good handle on my deck and what it can do.
I'm still early in my playthrough, but I've found a wealth of deckbuilding strategies to toy around with as I weigh those risks. Some of my builds have been based around intentionally purging cards from my hand to get extra heat. I've built others around laying bombs all over the board and shooting to detonate them. There are several characters to unlock across three classes, each of which has their own specific skills, and I unlock new cards each time I level up in a meta progression system. With more difficulties still to unlock and story to see, StarVaders is a game I know I'll return to a lot this year. It feels like I can pick up a little more strategy with each run, and that's what really makes it feel like a game built in the spirit of Space Invaders even more than its aliens.
StarVaders is available now on PC.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Buzz Feed

8 hours ago

• Buzz Feed

34 Treats You'll End Up Using Over And Over Again

A set of hair tie bracelets designed to look like *actual* jewelry, so you won't be kicking yourself when you realize you left a hair tie on your wrist for every photo. A set of delightfully ~~tingly~~ self-heating soothing foot masks made with Epsom salts, lavender, and peppermint perfect for anyone whose recent step count is "too many." Nothing like a lil' self-care on those aching feet to lift your spirits! A bottle of Elizavecca hair treatment, an Olaplex-like repairing mask infused with collagen ingredients and protein extracts that will help restore hair health and reduce shedding. All you gotta do is apply it on wet hair after a shampoo, wait five minutes, and rinse it out. Olay Super Serum Body Wash makes anyone with dry or dull cold weather skin REJOICE — this is packed with niacinamide, shea butter, and collagen peptides for 24-hour hydration that will make you feel as ~luminous~ as the summer sunshine. (Psst — this is the body wash version of their TikTok-famous, super effective facial Super Serum, so you KNOW they mean business.) And Olay Super Cream with Sunscreen SPF 30, a luxury moisturizer (and another iteration of the iconic facial Super Serum!) engineered with niacinamide and collagen not just to protect your skin from the sun, but to help reduce dark spots and fine lines. This ultra-hydrating, lightweight cream also plays well with makeup and doesn't leave any kind of white cast. A wildly impressive handled BrüMate tumbler designed with a completely leakproof straw lid that might be actual witchcraft, and ~BevGuard insulation~ that will keep drinks ice cold for over 24 hours. Finally, a ginormous emotional support tumbler that not only fits in your car's cup holder, but can get tossed into your bag worry-free! A set of limited edition wildflower Band-Aids so the next time you get a little ouch, you can be like, "wound care, but make it fashion." A copy of Burn After Writing, a guided journal that tens of thousands of reviewers swear by — through a series of questions and thought experiments, it encourages people to take time away from their screens to explore their feelings, both new and old, so they can embrace meaningful ones and try to let others go. A pair of luxe retro-style oval sunglasses giving Miu Miu vibes without the $489 price tag. The devil's in the chic details on this one, including the little gold embellishments on the sides and the nostalgic shape of the lenses, which are softer than the typical skinny oval lens. Medicube Turmeric Overnight Wrapping Peel Off Mask, which has already made itself a TikTok sensation — unsurprising, since the K-Beauty brand Medicube knocks it out of the park again and again. This mask goes on before bed and uses hydrolyzed collagen, vitamin C, and turmeric to help even out skin tone and improve elasticity. A weighted eye mask that's basically like a weighted blanket for your human eyes, designed to decrease stress and encourage ~deep sleep~. They also feature a 3D contour, so they're hollowed out in the middle and won't rest right on top of your eyes. Tree Hut Vanilla Hand Wash infused with hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help hydrate and restore skin health so your hands can be super clean *and* super nourished. Now all you have to do is prepare to have the link to this handy whenever guests come over and are like, "WHERE DID YOU GET THIS DELECTABLE SOAP??" Cosrx Advanced Snail Mucin Glass Glow Hydrogel Face Masks, the overnight face mask version of the internet's wildly beloved hydration serum, Snail Mucin Essence. This mask visibly absorbs within a few hours to become transparent over your skin, packing it with 25% snail secretion filtrate, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide for a deeeeep hydration that visibly plumps and brightens your complexion to give it that "glass skin" effect. A little rose-shaped straw topper for your emotional support water bottle so you can remind yourself everything's (literally) coming up roses every time you pluck it off to take a sip. This is an excellent way to keep your straw safe from germs in between sips! Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel, a cult-fave product for your beauty arsenal that will quickly help minimize eye puffiness and swelling thanks to its winning combo of caffeine and hyaluronic acid. It's basically an alarm clock for your eyeballs, because boy howdy are they awake now!! Maybelline Super Stay Teddy Lip Tint gives you an oh-so-pillowy matte pout that refuses! to! quit! no matter what you throw at it during the day. Reviewers mention that this is a great "everyday" matte, giving a velvety, well-pigmented look without being too dramatic. Eos' Shea Butter Vanilla Cashmere body lotion, which TikTok is going *feral* over both because of the lightweight, long-lasting moisture, and the soothing, delicious smell that reviewers compare to more expensive brands like Philosophy and Bath & Body Works. Londontown "Nail Veil" Protectant, which is designed not only to protect your nails, but to act as a sheer tint to enhance their natural look. It's basically "no makeup makeup," but for your fingernails. A set of reviewer-beloved "Loops Quiet 2," aka the "ear plugs for people who hate ear plugs." These lightweight plugs are so subtle that people won't notice you wearing them, and are meticulously designed to muffle distracting, irritating, or overwhelming noise without completely blocking out the world around you. Reviewers love to wear them at the office or in noisy homes — this way they can still stay aware of your surroundings without getting overwhelmed by them. Oxo's compact Cold Brew Rapid Brewer to make cold brew in FIVE MINUTES (!!) instead of overnight, like competing pitchers. Not only is it faster than comparable models, but it's cheaper, entirely portable, and doesn't need to be charged or plugged in. 🤯 You're going to be swimming in a RIVER of delicious, affordable cold brew with this gizmo. A pair of waterproof wireless earbuds with AirPods Pro energy — except these feature a charging case that, bless its technologically savvy heart, has an LED display letting you know exactly how much charge is left. Reviewers also love how delightfully comfortable and sweatproof these are, making them a solid, affordable option for talking on the phone and exercising. An "Exfoliate & Glow" premium scrub mitt for that oh-so-squeaky clean sensation that comes with sloughing off dead skin. No, for real — one reviewer saw all the dead skin left in their shower floor and dubbed themselves a "Lizard Person" after shedding it. This is great for helping even out skin texture and tone, preventing ingrown hairs, calming keratosis pilaris, and removing self-tanner, too! An effortlessly chic Nine West watch that not only pairs beautifully with your jewelry, but will help knock you out of that habit of checking your phone for time a thousand times a day and getting distracted by your notifications. A set of pastel glitter highlighters I saw on Instagram and NEARLY BLACKED OUT from the cuteness. If you like highlighting your planner pages, favorite passages from books, or lines from your journal, please do yourself a favor and purchase these subtle but oh-so-sparkly colors to jazz them up ✨. A beautifully packaged, travel-friendly Touchland Power Mist hydrating hand sanitizer for anyone who's like "mindfully practicing health and safety, but make it fashion." Unlike other sanitizer sprays, it's infused with aloe vera to keep your skin hydrated and has the most luxurious floral scents. Laneige Lip Glowy Balm, which unsurprisingly went just as TikTok viral as everyone's beloved Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask — the glowy balm has the same delightful flavors (including the iconic Gummy Bear) and hydrates lips with the *chef's kiss* lightweight, moisturizing blend that doesn't get all sticky and goopy-like competitors. An affordable, Lululemon-esque longline sports bra so comfy, supportive, and versatile that reviewers love it both for outdoor workouts, gym use, *and* errand running. This is designed to be supportive without being too compressive, with lightweight fabric that keeps you breezy in the heat. And another Lululemon-inspired piece, a charming and oh-so-comfortable tennis skirt with built-in shorts similar to the Align style. The secret inner pocket on these is perfect for stashing keys and tennis balls, and the shorts are designed with a four-way stretch so they won't ride up. A set of dainty but surprisingly strong bow-shaped hair clips to pair with all your frilliest dresses or to add a soft touch your more structured work outfits. A set of itty bitty vintage-inspired spoons that are just BEGGING to be used for all your coffee, tea, dessert, and yogurt needs. (Is it just me, or do we all have an Emotional Support Tiny Spoon?) A suuuuper easy to use Beachwaver B1 Rotating Curling Iron with automatic curling technology similar to the $599 (!!) Dyson Airwrap that not only creates (LITERALLY) effortless curls, but is designed with a ceramic heat barrel that makes them hold up the whole day. A crochet succulent car air freshener holder that will not only keep your car smelling fresh, but will be an adorable little buddy to keep you company on long commutes. Note — this includes a glass bottle to hold essential oils, but not the oils themselves, so you can pick your favorite! A pickling starter kit complete with everything you need to start fermenting small batches of INFINITE delicious things, from the traditional cucumbers and onions to yummy sauerkraut and kimchi to adventurous watermelon and mango. 😋 (If you've never had pickled mango before ... THANK ME LATER.) An "Everyday Mindfulness"-themed word search book full of unique, relaxing puzzles designed to keep you engaged without stressing you out.

USA Today

a day ago

• USA Today

See it: Giants legend Eli Manning 'attacks' Tom Brady at Fanatics Fest NYC

Former Super Bowl rivals Tom Brady and Eli Manning had another showdown, this time at the Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center in New York City. In a grand WWE-like setting, Brady made his entrance to a raucous crowd, tearing opponents' jerseys, including that of Manning's. Eli did not take kindly to the diss, playfully "attacking" Brady. It was all in good fun in the end, and the two legends made up and even had a catch afterward. Over the years, Brady has been vocal about his two losses to Manning in Super Bowls XXII and XLVI. Eli outdueled him in both contests and was named MVP of both games. That has stuck in Brady's craw ever since. Had he been able to beat the Giants, he might have nine Super Bowl rings instead of his NFL record seven.

Chicago Tribune

2 days ago

• Chicago Tribune

Live at the Chicago Theatre: Francis Ford Coppola, ‘Megalopolis' and your questions

Want a better America? A very famous filmmaker would like your thoughts on that one. Hiding in plain sight, 'Megalopolis' is no longer streaming anywhere (it was available, briefly, as a digital download) and it's not on DVD. There's a reason. Its writer-director prefers that you experience his long-brewing, half-mad argument for democracy, aesthetics and a brighter future in a big way. Not a small, pauseable one. In July, one of modern cinema's towering figures will embark on a multi-city tour of 'An Evening with Francis Ford Coppola and 'Megalopolis' Screening.' The film presentation will be followed by Coppola's discussion, built around questions from the audience, on the topic 'How to Change Our Future.' The July 25 Chicago Theatre event follows engagements in Red Bank, New Jersey, and Port Chester, New York. After Chicago, Coppola and 'Megalopolis' move on to Denver, Dallas and San Francisco; Live Nation presents five of the six tour stops, with the Texas Theatre handling the Dallas engagement. 'This is the way 'Megalopolis' was meant to be seen, in a large venue, with a crowd and followed by intense interactive discussions about the future,' Coppola wrote in a statement for Live Nation. Coppola has wrestled with 'Megalopolis' for nearly 50 years. Covering much of the $120 million production costs himself, with money from his celebrated winery, the filmmaker's latest premiered at last year's Cannes Film Festival to wildly mixed reactions. After several months of searching for a distributor (Lionsgate, ultimately), 'Megalopolis' grossed $14 million in theaters, making it one of modern cinema's most brazen rolls of the dice. The film stars Adam Driver as visionary architect and inventor Cesar Catilina. A few decades in the future, this idealistic savior vies for urban redevelopment and design control of the Manhattan-like city of New Rome with its weak, corrupt mayor (Giancarlo Esposito). Evoking a metropolis on the brink of total collapse, New Rome's scheming politicians and half-ruined architectural monuments also suggest ancient Rome, just before Nero started fiddling. Catilina wants something better for the people, a utopian rebuke to mediocrity. His motto is unmistakably Coppola's as well: 'When we leap into the unknown, we prove we are free.' Now 86, the director will forever be best known for his 'Godfather' trilogy, 'Apocalypse Now' and smaller-scaled masterworks such as 'The Conversation.' His latest film, he has said, may too pass the test of time, long after the memes and the financial reports have faded. As Coppola posted on Instagram earlier this year, noting that director Jacques Tati risked all he had (or nearly) on his wondrous 1967 utopian/dystopian dream 'Play Time,' now considered a classic: 'Box-office is only about money, and like war, stupidity and politics (it) has no true place in our future.'