Though there are a huge range of digital deckbuilding games both available and on the way, there are still many titles which distinguish themselves in different ways and become instantly memorable. Battle Suit Aces is one such title, which makes an immediate impression with its gorgeous aesthetic, reminiscent of classic 70s and 80s anime.
That’s not all that sets Battle Suit Aces apart; thanks to its demo (available to download via Steam), we’ve been able to take the game for an extended spin, finding its strong narrative focus and RPG-style elements to be hugely compelling additions to the card-based combat.
In Battle Suit Aces, card battles are streamlined and simple, with up to 5 lanes on each side that must be defended and attacked. More than 30 pilots and their battle suits can be recruited to be taken into combat; cards are placed in a specific space, where they’ll attack in their lane. Different attack patterns and the ability to switch spaces, along with managing your team’s energy to prioritize which offensive abilities to use, is where the bulk of the combat’s strategy is employed.
Between rounds, you’ll explore the different areas of your ship, the USS Zephyr, which itself can be modded and upgraded. You’ll also interact with your crew members in the Zephyr, cultivating your relationships and advancing the narrative with the dialogue choices you make.
It’s all beautifully produced, with the melting pot of mechanics providing a truly compelling gameplay loop. To add to the gorgeous, retro-anime aesthetic, there’s also a superb orchestral soundtrack too.
Though there’s no release date set for Battle Suit Aces, the not-insignificant slice of gameplay that’s on offer so far feels remarkably feature complete, very well balanced and easy to pick up, even for deckbuilding novices. The focus on a strong narrative, along with the excellent audiovisual design, makes Battle Suit Aces stand out alongside other deckbuilding titles, which quite often don’t feature such an engaging or prominent storyline.
Why take our word for it? You can download and play the free Battle Suit Aces demo for yourself, as well as add the game to your Steam wishlist, right here at this link. It’s also well worth noting that Battle Suit Aces works perfectly on the Steam Deck, and is ideally suited to playing on the move.
Want to check out other digital deckbuilding titles? Read our reviews of StarVaders and Cobalt Core!
