Mechborn's conveyor-belt deckbuilding lets mechs leap to crush kaiju

PC Gamer previews Mechborn, a mech‑vs‑kaiju roguelike deckbuilder now available as a pre‑alpha on itch.io, with a full release currently planned for winter this year.

The game places turn‑based card combat into giant‑robot battles, backed by chunky visuals, a hi‑tech UI and music the preview says nods to Pacific Rim, with surreal creatures that feel pulled from ’90s anime.

What sets Mechborn apart is its hand-as-a-conveyor-belt system: cards slide in from the left, moving right as you play. You have four energy per turn but aren’t limited by card draw, and some cards change their effects based on position or your stance.

One card, Drifter, flips your stance between standing and flying as it is shunted down the belt; crashing to the ground creates a shockwave that damages all enemies. The preview describes deliberately moving Drifter and resetting it to repeatedly leap and slam foes—likening the effect to crushing enemies “like a 200‑ton Mario.”

Outside fights, Mechborn spreads play across a country map where movement uses fuel and choices about refueling, upgrades, shops and battles create strategic trade‑offs. PC Gamer’s preview says these twists give the familiar deckbuilder formula fresh tactical depth, and that more strategies remain to be discovered ahead of the winter release.

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