We have seen a lot of "card-based survival" games pop up since Stacklands took the indie world by storm. The formula is satisfying: drag a villager onto a berry bush, wait a few seconds, and pop! You get food. But a new project announced on Reddit is taking that formula and smashing it together with the exploration of Valheim. It is called Stackatalbi, and frankly, it looks like the co-op addiction we didn’t know we needed.
Developed by solo indie dev KupilasMedia (also known as JavaDevMatt), this project aims to solve the one stress headache that plagues the genre: micromanagement. Instead of controlling a chaotic ant farm of 20 villagers, you control a single hero. And you can bring a friend.
The "Hero-First" Twist
If you have played Stacklands, you know the panic of the late game. You have fifty cards on screen, six babies crying for food, and a rat attacking your lumberyard. It is chaotic. Stackatalbi flips the script by focusing on a single protagonist.
According to the developer’s pitch on r/Games, the goal was to reduce the overwhelming feeling of village management while expanding the scope of the world. You drag your hero card across an open map to hunt, fish, and farm. It creates a sense of adventure rather than just administration. You aren’t just a god moving pieces; you are a character surviving in the wild.
Finally, Co-Op Card Survival
This is the feature that has Reddit threads buzzing. Stackatalbi is built with online co-op in mind. Survival games are almost always better with friends, and the card-stacking genre has been criminally lacking in multiplayer options.
Imagine exploring a procedural map, finding a resource node, and having your friend stack their "Axe" card on a tree while you stack your "Spear" card on an incoming wolf. It adds a layer of tactical teamwork that turn-based card games rarely achieve.
The Mashup We Didn’t Expect
It is helpful to visualize exactly where this game sits on the spectrum. It isn’t quite a deckbuilder, and it isn’t a 3D action game. It occupies a weird, cozy middle ground.
Comparison: The Survival Triangle
| Feature | Stacklands | Valheim | Stackatalbi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perspective | Top-Down Tabletop | 3D Third-Person | Top-Down Open World |
| Control | God-View (Manage All) | Single Character | Single Character Card |
| Multiplayer | No | Yes (1-10 Players) | Yes (Co-op) |
Try It Before You Buy It
The best part about this announcement is that you don’t have to wait on a blind pre-order. The developer has released a web prototype on Itch.io for the single-player mode. It is a great way to test if the mechanics click for you. While the controls are optimized for desktop (right-clicking stacks is key), there is some basic mobile support with pinch-to-zoom features.
Conclusion
Stackatalbi is currently slated for a 2026 release on Steam, but the prototype proves the concept works. It is a clever evolution of the "solitaire survival" genre that adds depth without adding stress. If you have been looking for a chill game to play with a partner that isn’t just another farming sim, keep an eye on this one.
FAQs
1. When is Stackatalbi releasing?
The Steam page currently lists a planned release for 2026, but a playable web prototype is available now.
2. Is the co-op local or online?
The developer has confirmed online co-op support, allowing you to play with friends remotely. The current web prototype is single-player only.
3. Can I play this on mobile?
The web prototype has some mobile compatibility (touch to drag, pinch to zoom), but the developer recommends a desktop experience for the best control.
4. Is it just a Stacklands clone?
While the card mechanics are similar, the "open world hero" structure makes it distinct. You aren’t managing a village; you are guiding a specific character through a large map, similar to an RPG.
5. Who is the developer?
The game is being created by KupilasMedia, a solo indie developer active on Reddit under the username JavaDevMatt.