Starless Abyss has quietly emerged as one of 2025’s most compelling tactical experiences, and it’s not hard to see why. This cosmic horror deckbuilder from Dutch indie studio Konafa Games takes everything you love about strategic card games and wraps it in a beautifully dark sci-fi package.
What Makes Starless Abyss Different
Unlike traditional deckbuilders that focus purely on card synergies, Starless Abyss emphasizes tactical positioning and fleet management. You’re not just playing cards – you’re commanding actual spaceships on hex-based battlefields, fighting against eldritch horrors that want to consume the universe.
The game puts you in the role of a Proxima, an agent working for Counter Horror – a group of scientists and occultists dedicated to stopping the Outer Gods. Your mission is straightforward: build a fleet, gather powerful cards, and push back the cosmic nightmare threatening existence itself.
Strategic Depth That Actually Matters
What sets this game apart is how it handles tactical combat. Each battle takes place on a hex grid where positioning matters as much as your card choices. You’ll need to consider ship placement, movement ranges, and enemy patterns to succeed.
The card system offers incredible variety with over 160 cards spread across six different factions. Each faction brings unique mechanics and strategies, letting you experiment with different fleet compositions and combat approaches.
Choose Your Proxima Wisely
The game features five distinct Proximas, each offering completely different gameplay experiences:
- Lucid Proxima – The tactical soldier with balanced abilities
- Silo – A brain preserved in a jar, commanding a single powerful ship
- Three additional unique Proximas with their own special mechanics and fleet compositions
This variety ensures that multiple playthroughs feel genuinely different, not just cosmetically altered versions of the same experience.
Embracing Madness for Power
Here’s where Starless Abyss gets really interesting. As you progress through each campaign, your Proxima’s sanity gradually depletes. You can fight this descent into madness, or you can embrace it and unlock powerful Ritual Cards that can devastate your enemies.
These Ritual Cards represent some of the game’s most powerful abilities, but they come at a steep cost to your mental stability. This creates fascinating risk-reward decisions throughout each run.
Perfect Roguelike Progression
The roguelike elements feel perfectly balanced. Each death expands your card pool based on the strategies you used in your previous run. If you focused on missile-based tactics, you’ll unlock more missile-related cards for future attempts.
This system encourages experimentation while still rewarding players who want to perfect specific strategies. You’re never stuck repeating the exact same build over and over.
Visual and Audio Excellence
The retro futuristic pixel art creates an atmosphere that perfectly captures cosmic horror in space. Every enemy design oozes menace, while the ship designs maintain that classic sci-fi aesthetic.
The soundtrack deserves special mention – it enhances the oppressive atmosphere without overwhelming the tactical gameplay. Many players have specifically praised the audio design as a standout feature.
Why Players Keep Coming Back
Starless Abyss has achieved something many indie games struggle with – genuine replayability. Each run feels meaningfully different due to the combination of random encounters, card choices, and Proxima selection.
The game strikes that perfect balance where runs feel substantial but not overwhelming. You can complete a campaign in a reasonable time, making it perfect for both quick sessions and longer gaming marathons.
Currently available on Steam with Steam Deck verification, the game has earned very positive reviews from 84% of players. The developers continue supporting it with regular updates, including the recent version 1.2 that added new content and improvements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does each run take in Starless Abyss?
Most campaigns can be completed in 2-3 hours, making it perfect for extended gaming sessions without feeling overwhelming.
Is Starless Abyss beginner-friendly for new deckbuilder players?
Yes, the game includes an excellent tutorial that introduces all mechanics gradually. The tactical combat is intuitive even for newcomers to the genre.
Can you play different strategies with the same Proxima?
Absolutely. The faction system and card variety allow for multiple viable strategies with each Proxima, encouraging experimentation across runs.
How does the madness system affect gameplay?
As your sanity depletes, you gain access to powerful Ritual Cards but lose some defensive capabilities. You can choose to embrace or resist madness based on your preferred playstyle.
Is there content after completing your first successful run?
Yes, the game unlocks additional Proximas, cards, and difficulty options as you progress. The roguelike progression keeps adding new elements to discover.
Does Starless Abyss work well on Steam Deck?
The game is officially Steam Deck verified and plays excellently on the handheld. The tactical gameplay translates perfectly to portable gaming.
Final Thoughts
Starless Abyss succeeds where many tactical deckbuilders stumble by making positioning and fleet management feel integral to success rather than afterthoughts. The cosmic horror theme isn’t just cosmetic – it permeates every aspect of the design, from the gradual sanity loss to the desperate feeling of fighting an overwhelming enemy.
For fans of tactical games, deckbuilders, or cosmic horror, this represents excellent value. The husband-and-wife team at Konafa Games has created something special here – a game that respects your time while offering genuine strategic depth and atmospheric storytelling.