With every new Roguelike deck building game that comes along, I always start by checking which of the two categories in my brain it falls into. These two categories are Slay the Spire-like or Balatro-like, and for the most part it’s an almost flawless (if pretty crude) system. Neither of these two options ever really disappoint me, and I’m perfectly happy whether I’m score chasing or fighting with my cards. MECHBORN immediately revealed itself to be one of the Slay the Spire inspired options, with a 90s mecha anime flair and plenty of build options to play around with even in this early preview build.
There wasn’t a whole lot to really experiment with in the MECHBORN preview, just one mech and one pilot ready to be taken on as many Roguelike runs as I wanted. There are clearly options for all sorts of different specialised fighters and giant robots to choose from (or potentially unlock) though when quarter four comes around with the full release.
The combat in MECHBORN will feel instantly familiar to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre. Each turn you have four energy to spend playing cards, which will deal damage, grant you shield or provide buffs that help across the whole battle. You can also see what the enemies you’re fighting are going to do next, and plan accordingly. You’ll know how much shield you need to block all incoming damage, or can plan on dealing enough pain to kill a foe entirely to prevent their next move. It’s as compelling a combat loop as ever, with plenty of little twists to keep you on your toes.
One of these twists is that you can change position with some cards, from grounded to flying via lovely sci-fi thrusters. In the sky you’ll take 20% less damage, and there are even some cards you can only use while airborne. Landing will hurt all enemies at once though as you crash down from the stars, which is a powerful way to maximise your damage. It’s a cool system that adds a bit of extra depth, while also being nice and intuitive.
Another cool feature in MECHBORN is the pilot abilities, which you’ll slowly charge by playing cards. You have four of these, all of which do something different and will help you turn the tide of battle (without spending a single point of energy). One of these allows you to swap two cards in your hand, which is perfect for cards that gain powerful effects in specific slots. There’s also an ability to discard two cards you don’t need, an ability that grants bonus energy, and even one that freezes foes for a turn to give you some breathing room. They’re all incredibly useful in the right situation, and are perfect for longer fights.
Outside of combat against monsters and machines, there’s a map you can navigate. Unlike a lot of games in the deck building genre there are no branching paths here, and instead you can move wherever you want if you’ve got the fuel. The map has battles, shops, events and fuel stations to investigate, all in aid of improving your deck. This more fuel management based system makes for some really interesting runs, where you’ll want to push your luck to get more cash you can spend on cards, card removal, and of course artefacts.
From the runs I played, I was able to see all sorts of interesting ways to build my deck. One run I focused on drones, which provided bonus effects every turn. On another run I used a power card that added loads of free laser cards into my deck, which got out of hand very quickly. Especially with more cards and classes I reckon this is a deck builder with some serious legs, and I can’t wait to play more later this year.
I was seriously impressed by my time spent with MECHBORN. This Roguelike deck builder may not break the mould, but it has just enough intriguing new mechanics to make for a rather compelling experience. I’ll be jumping in my massive robot to check out everything added to the full game towards the end of the year, so watch this space and get ready to join me in playing some cards.
Mechborn is coming to PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 in late 2026.
