Build Your Deck Mid-Fight in Contested Space
Indie developer Null & Void Games is bringing a fresh twist to the roguelike deckbuilding formula with Contested Space, a sci-fi strategy game currently in development for PC and Steam Deck. The game is targeting an early Q2 2027 release and is already available to try through a free Steam demo.
Contested Space combines the deckbuilding of Slay the Spire with the card-buying mechanics of Star Realms, but puts its own spin on the formula by letting players build their decks in the middle of battles.
During each fight, cards rotate through a personal market, forcing players to constantly decide whether to spend their resources on immediate firepower or invest in cards that can strengthen their deck later. Players can also upgrade their market and deck between battles, while stations provide additional attacks and bonuses each turn.
The game supports 1-4 players, with online co-op allowing teams to draft from their own markets and take on enemies designed specifically for multiplayer.
Players can choose from nine factions across three alliances, including the Terran Compact, Chitin Sovereignty, and Axiom Union. Each run also features branching star maps, random encounters, elite enemies, hidden events, and unique bosses.
Contested Space also features handcrafted pixel art, animated stations, parallax starfields, and 20 escalating Incursion levels for players looking for an extra challenge.
The free demo is already available on Steam and has received 24 reviews, all of which are currently positive. With its focus on making deckbuilding part of the actual battle, Contested Space could be an interesting one to watch as it heads toward its 2027 launch.