Cross Blitz has officially left Early Access and hit version 1.0 on Steam. After nearly two years of development updates and community feedback, Tako Boy Studios and The Arcade Crew have delivered what looks like one of the most content-packed deckbuilders in recent memory. With over 500 cards to collect, 60+ hours of story content, and a separate roguelite mode, this pixel art RPG is trying to stand out in a crowded genre.
What Makes Cross Blitz Different
Most deckbuilders throw you straight into the action with minimal story. Cross Blitz takes a different approach with its Fables mode, which offers five separate storylines for five different heroes. You’ll follow characters like Seto, a fierce martial artist hunting for his master, or Quill, a thief pulling off heists to support his struggling family. Each hero gets their own multi-hour campaign with unique cards and playstyles.
The game splits its content between two modes. Fables is the narrative-focused experience where you can freely adjust your deck between battles and work through story missions at your own pace. Tusk Tales is the roguelite mode that fans of Slay the Spire will recognize, with randomized maps, permadeath, and escalating difficulty. The version 1.0 launch added a brand new playable character named Mereena, giving players even more variety.
Deep Deckbuilding Mechanics
Cross Blitz doesn’t hold back on complexity. With over 500 cards spread across five different factions, there’s serious depth to how you build your deck. The 30-card deck limit forces you to make tough choices about which synergies to prioritize. You can also equip up to four relics that provide passive bonuses, adding another layer of strategy to your builds.
The card crafting system lets you create more powerful versions of cards by gathering ingredients from battles. This means even common cards can become viable late-game tools if you invest in upgrading them. The Fables mode gives you freedom to experiment since you can change your deck anytime, while Tusk Tales locks you into your choices until you complete a run or die trying.
How Much Content Are We Talking
This game is massive. The Fables mode alone offers over 60 hours of content across all five character storylines. Each story has multiple chapters filled with unique battles, NPCs, and locations to explore. Missions have optional objectives like defeating enemies within a certain turn limit, which reward you with extra currency for buying new cards and relics.
The Tusk Tales roguelite mode adds endless replayability with four randomized maps, 12 different bosses, and 20 unlockable mercenaries who can join your crew. Each run feels different thanks to the randomized events and encounters. Even after finishing all five story campaigns, you’ll have plenty to do if you enjoy chasing high scores and perfect runs.
Visuals and Performance
Cross Blitz uses hand-crafted pixel art that gives it a distinct look compared to other deckbuilders. The colorful characters and environments stand out, and the animations during battles are smooth. The developers have mentioned they’re still working on post-launch bug fixes and optimizations, but early reviews report minimal technical issues.
The game is priced at $22.99 on Steam, which feels fair considering the amount of content packed in. For comparison, many roguelike deckbuilders offer 20-30 hours of gameplay at similar price points. Cross Blitz more than doubles that with its story mode alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cross Blitz available on consoles or just PC?
Currently, Cross Blitz is only available on PC through Steam. The developers haven’t announced any console ports yet, though some players are hoping for a Switch or mobile version down the line.
How difficult is Cross Blitz compared to other deckbuilders?
The Fables story mode is relatively approachable for newcomers since you can adjust your deck freely and approach challenges at your own pace. The Tusk Tales roguelite mode ramps up the difficulty significantly, similar to games like Slay the Spire or Monster Train.
Can I play Cross Blitz if I’ve never played a deckbuilder before?
Absolutely. The Fables mode serves as a great introduction to deckbuilding mechanics. The story campaigns gradually introduce new cards and concepts, giving you time to learn the systems before diving into the more challenging roguelite content.
Is there multiplayer or competitive modes?
No, Cross Blitz is purely a single-player experience. Both the Fables story mode and Tusk Tales roguelite mode are designed for solo play only.
How often will the game receive updates?
The developers have indicated they plan to continue supporting the game post-launch with bug fixes and potentially new content. They spent nearly two years in Early Access responding to community feedback, so ongoing support seems likely.
What’s the difference between the five playable heroes?
Each hero has their own unique storyline, starting deck, and access to different card pools. They also have distinct playstyles – some focus on aggressive strategies while others excel at defensive or combo-based builds. This gives the game significant replay value.
Is the pixel art style just aesthetic or does it affect gameplay?
The pixel art is purely aesthetic. It doesn’t impact gameplay mechanics, but it does give Cross Blitz a charming, retro feel that sets it apart from other deckbuilders that use more realistic or 3D graphics.
Conclusion
Cross Blitz delivers an impressive package for deckbuilding fans. The combination of narrative-focused story campaigns and challenging roguelite content means there’s something here whether you prefer relaxed progression or hardcore runs. With over 500 cards to discover and five distinct heroes to master, Tako Boy Studios has created a game that respects your time while offering serious depth. If you’ve been looking for a deckbuilder that goes beyond the standard formula, this launch is worth checking out.