Honestly, the game I’m presenting to you today doesn’t seem like your typical deckbuilder. It has something unique about it, both in its graphical presentation, the setting, and the character style, which personally reminds me of 80s and 90s cartoons like Goldrake and Mazinger Z, to name a couple. This nostalgic touch fascinates me a lot. But let’s learn more about it.
The game is called Takara Cards, developed by Post Mortem Pixels and published by GrabTheGames. It takes us on a space-faring adventure in search of space dragons, featuring a combat system that appears highly tactical and engaging. The big news tied to this title is that it’s about to exit Early Access in just a few days. Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect from the game.
Players create a customizable Cadet, choosing from four unique races—Dwarves, Humans, Orks, and Elves—each with its own specialized ship. As you navigate the cosmos, you’ll confront the legendary Space Dragons who have stolen from the Federation, all while building a powerful deck of Maneuver and Equipment cards through story events, shops, and level-ups. The game’s Karma and Reputation systems add a nuanced layer of decision-making, where your moral choices and interactions shape your deck and gameplay options.
Combat in Takara Cards is a deep and tactical affair, emphasizing combo chains and resource management. Defeating enemy waves restores your batteries, enabling continuous turns if you plan wisely. With over 140 cards and 40 unique units, players can synergize abilities to clear the board in a single move or use their ship as a devastating weapon.
As I said above, the hand-painted art inspired by 1980s anime and voice-acted events lend a rich, nostalgic charm, while the game’s Codex ensures easy access to lore and strategies. I hadn’t heard of Takara Cards until today, but learning that it’s leaving Early Access on January 17, 2025, and will be playable on Steam has sparked my interest. Below, you’ll find an overview, screenshots, and the full release trailer to dive deeper.
About This Game
Takara Cards is a roguelike deck-builder where you create a Cadet and search for the legendary Space Dragons who stole from the Federation!
Choose from four unlockable races, each with its ship: The fearless Dwarves, the intuitive Humans, the mystical Orks, or the glamorous Elves!
Build your deck while exploring the Cosmos, and choose from a handful of Maneuver and Equipment cards earned in story events, level-ups, and stores.Unlock new races, and create new characters and strategies:
Earn extra XP in combat by doing a chain of COMBOS!
Plan and make your turns never end: Defeating a wave of enemies recharges your batteries.
You might even resort to using your whole ship as a weapon!
Choosing what’s your starting reputation can be as important as your choice of cards:
What’s your Reputation?
- Are you a fast learner, a Proud Genius?
- Business comes easy for you, maybe a Born Seller?
- Are you a gifted pilot, something like a Naive Prodigy?
Keep in mind Reputations aren’t permanent and are passive of change through events in your journey.
Your response to events influences your reputation and deck: Karma will be generated during your interactions.
Say you respond in a blessed way… you’ll get blessed Karma and Reputation!
You rather be a badass? Guts Karma is out there somewhere in the Cosmos!
Buy authorized equipment from the Guild or not-so-official ones from the Pirates.
Smuggled equip cards travel around the galaxy and you could end up as a mule…
You might be able to steal cards if your reputation of Thief turns up, but be aware:
Your chances of being caught are also defined by your Karma!
- Play cards in a DEEP, PUZZLY, and chill turn-based combat.
- Over 140 cards and 40 units!
- Create your character by choosing species, cards, and reputation!
- Your Deck is your Pilot and your Ship: Build it by venturing through the Cosmos and Events.
- Synergize between dozens of UNIQUE cards to clear the board of enemies in ONE turn.
- Destroy enemies and recover resources that can be exchanged for various supplies – or use them as ammunition!
- Exoteric Karma system that influences your Character and Events.
- Events with voice acting inspired by tabletop RPGs.
- Hand-painted artwork inspired by 80’s anime!
- Lore and strategies are accessible within the game in the Codex!
