YaxWorks, a solo developer, just announced that Card Conquest is launching its demo in Q4 2025 (which means it’s coming imminently), with full release planned for Q2 2026. What’s impressive is that they managed to make tower defense feel fresh by adding a mechanic that nobody talks about enough: you also build your own army while defending against enemies. One resource. Two competing priorities. Constant tension.
Card Conquest blends tower defense mechanics with deckbuilding and roguelite elements into something that feels genuinely new. You create decks combining spells, towers, and units, then execute them against opponents who are doing the same thing. The strategic depth comes from managing a shared resource pool and deciding whether to spend it on defense, offense, or utility spells. It sounds simple. It’s absolutely not.
The Core Resource Tension
Card Conquest’s genius is that you have a single currency for everything. Every tower you build, every unit you recruit, every upgrade you make costs from the same resource pool. You can’t just spam towers and ignore offense. Your opponent won’t give you that luxury. Meanwhile, they’re probably also trying to figure out whether to build more defenses or push harder offensively. Every decision carries weight.
This creates moments of genuine tension. You’re low on resources. Do you patch your weakening defense or commit to the offense that might win next turn? Building towers feels less passive when you know that same gold could’ve recruited a powerful unit. The game makes you second-guess every choice, and that’s exactly what good strategy games do.
Tower Defense Meets Army Building
Traditional tower defense games are one-directional – enemies come, you defend. Card Conquest flips that by letting you build your own army and send waves at your opponent. Now they have to defend against your offensive while you’re defending against theirs. It transforms tower defense from a puzzle into a strategic back-and-forth where both players are constantly adapting.
Units come in different types that counter each other. Your opponent’s strong flying units beat your ground army? Time to invest in anti-air towers or recruit flying units yourself. The game rewards understanding unit matchups and adapting your deck accordingly.
Deckbuilding Meets Roguelite
You start with base cards you choose before battles, then enhance your deck mid-run with legendary cards discovered through gameplay. This roguelite progression means every run is different based on what cards you find and how you combine them. You’re not just executing a predetermined strategy – you’re adapting to the cards fate gives you.
Relics add another layer of synergy building. These powerful items enhance your towers, units, or weaken enemies. Finding relics that work together creates satisfying moments where you realize a combination of cards and relics just became absolutely devastating. The game wants you to think about synergies, not just pick the strongest individual cards.
Path Navigation and Zones
Rather than linear progression, Card Conquest uses zone-based maps where you choose your path forward. Different paths have different enemy compositions and loot available. Strategic choices about which zones to visit directly shape your run’s difficulty and available options. You’re constantly balancing “I need specific cards” against “this zone will probably destroy me.”
Solo Developer, Massive Scope
YaxWorks is handling this entire project alone. Tower defense gameplay, deckbuilding mechanics, roguelite progression, meta-progression systems, pixel art visuals, and balance tuning – all one person. The demo launching in Q4 2025 represents months of solo development, iteration based on feedback, and polishing mechanics.
The game is available on itch.io with active development logs. YaxWorks recently added a new biome, cleaner UI, lootable cards, and new units. This is active, ongoing development, not abandoned passion project territory.
Demo Available Now, Full Release Coming Q2 2026
The playtest version is downloadable on itch.io right now. This gives you genuine access to the game’s mechanics and lets you experience the tower defense plus deckbuilding plus roguelite hybrid firsthand. The demo is Windows/HTML5 compatible and completely free.
The Steam page is live and available for wishlisting. Knowing this is coming to Steam next year and having that Q2 2026 release window means everyone interested can prepare for when it hits early access or full release.
FAQs
When is Card Conquest releasing?
A demo is launching in Q4 2025 (immediately). Full release is planned for Q2 2026. The demo is available now on itch.io, and the game is coming to Steam.
Can I play it now?
Yes, a playtest version is available on itch.io completely free. It’s fully playable with multiple zones, cards, and mechanics implemented.
Is this single-player or multiplayer?
The current version is primarily single-player with AI opponents. The mechanics are designed for competitive gameplay, so multiplayer may be planned for post-launch.
What platforms will Card Conquest be on?
Currently available on Windows PC and HTML5 (browser). Steam is the primary platform for full release. Console versions haven’t been announced.
How long is a typical run?
Roguelite runs vary in length depending on difficulty and how far you progress. Expect 30 minutes to several hours per run based on your progression and choices.
Is there a competitive meta or is it more casual?
The design supports both. You can play casually enjoying deck synergies or engage competitively by optimizing builds and studying unit matchups. The roguelite nature means some RNG exists, so perfect optimization isn’t possible.
What inspired Card Conquest?
The game deliberately blends tower defense (passive defense) with army building (active offense) using a shared resource pool. This creates strategic tension absent from traditional one-directional tower defense games.
Is Card Conquest pay-to-win?
Pricing hasn’t been formally announced, but the design focuses on mechanical skill and strategic decision-making rather than pay-to-win mechanics. YaxWorks seems committed to fair gameplay.
Conclusion
Card Conquest represents exactly what indie development should produce – innovative hybrid genres that challenge how we think about established gameplay systems. YaxWorks took tower defense, added deckbuilding depth, spiced it with roguelite progression, and created a resource management system where every gold piece matters. The demo is available on itch.io right now for free, and the full release is coming to Steam in Q2 2026. If you’re tired of traditional tower defense games, if you love deckbuilding mechanics, or if you just want to try something genuinely fresh in the strategy space, Card Conquest deserves your attention. Download the playtest, wishlist on Steam, and prepare to constantly second-guess whether building that tower was actually the right call when recruiting units might’ve won you the game.