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Press release:
MONTREAL, Quebec – April 30, 2025.
The Sherman Oaks-based (CA, the US) indie games publisher Joystick Ventures and Montreal-based (Quebec, Canada) indie games developer Pengonauts, are today very proud and happy to announce that theirmech-themed tactical roguelike deckbuilder “StarVaders“, is now available for PC via Steam after being in development for more than three years.

StarVaders combines tactical grid-based combat with deckbuilding strategy, placing you in command of a formidable mech during humanity’s last stand against alien invaders. By fusing the spatial intuitiveness of grid-based tactics with the theorycrafting and strategy of deckbuilding games, StarVaders offers an easy-to-learn yet hard-to-master experience perfect for both casual players as well as dedicated fans of the genre.

“The amount of time players have spent with just the demo was always amazing, hyped to see the playtimes we’ll get with the full release.” – Hansen, Lead Developer

In StarVaders, the fate of the world depends on your deckbuilding and tactical skills, select your favorite among 10 pilots and jump into one of the 3 unique mechs available to fight alien invaders. Strategize, prepare crazy combos, and even use the rewind time feature with the chrono tokens to reverse the key mistakes, and keep your mission on track.

Main Features:

3 Mechs with completely distinct mechanics;
10 Pilots with unique playstyles and their own stories;
268 Cards to craft your deck with;
153 Artifacts that change the rules of the game;
10 Packs that are randomly added to the card pool to keep runs fresh;
9 Bosses that will test your limits;
50 Invaders each with their own abilities;
Story Campaign & Secret Finale;
Ascending Difficulties each with new gameplay mechanics;
Challenge Run & Daily Run game modes.

Each mech and its dedicated pilots offer unique synergies that modify the gameplay. Command the Gunner Mecha’s board-clearing firepower with Roxy, Noel, or Zeke, take control of the ninja-like Stinger Mecha with pilots Shun, Hali or Kaia, or unleash the spell-wielding powers of the Keeper controlled by Iris, Xenn, Garu or Sura. Enhance your mech’s power with over 400 unlockable cards, artifacts, and upgrades, forming fresh strategies on the fly to face new alien enemies and monstrous bosses.

For more intercepted transmissions about StarVaders, check out Pengonauts’s official website and follow @starvaders_game on X and on BlueSky, also follow the publisher @JoystickVenture on social media.

About The Pengonauts
The Pengonauts (formerly StarVaders Studio) is a Montreal-based three-person team delivering unique, fun, and memorable titles to share with the gaming community. StarVaders is their first commercial title and passion project. Find more about Pengonauts at https://pengonauts.com.

About Joystick Ventures
Joystick Ventures is a California-based investing and publishing company whose main goal is to encourage indie developers to stay honest and promote experimentation to push the limits of game design across all genres, styles, and geographies. They are most known for their 2022 release, Lost in Play, which has sold more than 200,000 copies.