As a big fan of exploration and survival games like Subnautica and Don't Starve, and a huge fan of Gwent and Thronebreaker, this was a fun game that felt like a mix of all of those genres. I found myself playing longer than I anticipated, and had fun with the turn style strategy that the game offered. I was rather amused and definitely laughing at a few of the hidden references to other fandoms. The mechanic i enjoyed the most was being able to make and name your own cards. I personally enjoyed the challenge of having to start from the beginning after dying as it took me two or three tries to progress to more than the first few missions, but I also enjoy fromsoft games so I know that's not everyone's cup of tea. It was also helpful that your points and equipment carried over into the next game, which definitely helped the progression. Overall both a little bit of a challenge and rather enjoyable once you get the hang of it.
Castaway Station
- Release Date:
- Jul 12, 2023
- Developer:
- Bad Zombie Games
- Publisher:
- Bad Zombie Games
- Platforms:
- Windows Mac
Game Tags
About This Game
Welcome to Castaway Station, an exciting survival game that takes you on an unintended journey on a hostile planet after a catastrophic accident on your space cruiser. Stranded on an unknown planet with limited resources, you must use all your wits and skills, along with any tools you scavenge, to survive. You won't ever get home.
Together, you and the other survivors will explore the planet, face undiscovered local lifeforms, and complete missions to find valuable equipment and resources. Draft cards into your deck to improve your odds but be careful to watch their durability and manage your limited resources. Create custom cards and upgrade your equipment to fine-tune your strategy.
You play two characters in the game, so it is a team journey. Your success depends on your survival skills and your team's ability to work together. Each character's unique abilities will help you overcome obstacles and complete missions. Be careful though. If a character dies, they are permanently out for the remainder of that run.
Castaway Station is an immersive journey into a completely unknown world full of dangers and treasures, with a massive collection of custom art, a rich narrative, and an original music score. Are you ready for the ultimate survival challenge? Join Castaway Station and embark on an unforgettable adventure to survive and escape from a hostile planet!
Description
We took roguelike deckbuilders to a new level in this unique, quest-based survival game. In this deeply narrative-driven game, play two characters as a team, create your own cards, name the beasts you discover, and build decks where cards have limited durability.
Teamwork is Key
You have four characters to choose from, each with their own sets of unique cards and special abilities. Character cards include Teamwork cards that either player can play, and that can work synergistically with the two characters.

Master the Unique Card Mechanics
We’ve introduced some different card mechanics in Castaway Station. In addition to each character’s deck, character cards are also tied to equipment you find, giving you a wide range of customization in battles. These character cards all have a durability mechanic in which a card uses one charge each time you play it. When you play the final charge, the card is depleted and plays twice. You unlock new cards for every 10 cards you deplete.
We also have a third deck─the Story deck, that offers unique cards based on the encounter, the enemies, the location and even the weather. These cards further expand you choices. Either character can play a Story card.

Choose Your Quests
There are 28 missions that are available to the Castaway Station crew. Some are required to further the narrative. Many are repeatable to grow your strength and assets. You choose missions in the shuttle’s Mission Log.
In the Shuttle you can also replicate single use items, enhance your equipment, recharge your cards, and…
Create your Own Cards
One of the more unique aspects of Castaway Station is the Synthesizer where you can create your own custom character cards with a wide variety of attack and defense options. These cards don’t use charges and can be some of the most powerful in the game.

Track the Xenomorphs You Discover
As you discover the flora and fauna on Prima Centauri B, you create a Bestiary with details about the xenomorphs and tips for fighting them. You can even name the beasties yourself.

The Legacy System has Your Back
You won’t make it through the first time or many after that. But each time you fail, you carry forward the new cards that you’ve unlocked, any equipment that you’ve upgraded, and any currency you’ve earned. And if you do finally beat the game, there are 9 more levels of difficulty.
Features
- A rich narrative that permeates the entire game, including animated sequences.
- Four survivors who have their own unique cards combine in teams of two in battle.
- Over 200 unique character cards.
- Over 170 Story cards tied to plot elements, locations, and weather.
- A wild assortment of 50 alien creatures living in a unique ecosystem.
- Over 50 pieces of equipment that are tied to cards.
- 130+ unique encounters in over 25 different missions with branching paths.
- 30+ choice-based decision points that expand the narrative and offer rewards or challenges.
- 10 levels of difficulty that progress from hard to impossible.
- Tools for replicating, enhancing, and recharging game items and creating custom cards.
Screenshots
User Reviews
An interesting story with Slay the Spire combat. The ability to create your own cards is very cool. I actually LOVE the ability to name the enemies whatever you want. The voice acting is pretty good and the soundtrack suits the ton perfectly. Definitely worth checking out if you are into card battlers, especially Slay the Spire. https://youtu.be/geaZsiawTo0
If you dig Slay the Spire, but wish it were actually fun and had characters you give a crap about, this is your game. Is it perfect? No. Is it worth every penny? Yeah. I'll update the review if my opinion changes. Fun mechanics that make you do strategic thinking--I really dig the two-characters thing and Teamwork. The Deplete mechanic took me a minute to figure out, but I LOVE it! Evasion is a godsend--I hate counting up Defense in StS. Anyway, I think it's a blast and I'd say pick it up, but it's your money, so do what you want :D
For all you card battler enthusiasts out there, especially those who adore Slay the Spire, Castaway Stations is an absolute must-try. It throws a mix of challenge and pure fun your way that's hard to resist and I ended up playing it way longer than I expected. The whole two-character strategy thing it's got going on is seriously addictive. The real gem for me was the card-making feature. Crafting and naming your own cards was such a fresh twist that kept me engaged. So, let's dive into the game itself. There's this intriguing storyline paired with combat that is the essence of Castaway Station. And let's not forget the thrill of creating your very own cards and giving enemies whatever quirky names you can imagine. The voice acting is great, and the soundtrack is a perfect match for the game's atmosphere. The whole "start-from-scratch-after-you-die" component took me a couple of tries to crack those initial missions, but hey, I'm a fan of a good test. And guess what? Your points and g...
Castaway station is a unique utilization of the rogue-lite deckbuilding genre. It takes an approach similar to Griftlands with a narrative through-line that you can explore over the course of multiple playthroughs. The cut-scenes are a nice addition that help you get more immersed in the narrative and break up the action. as far as the mechanical side of things are, they work well, I like the teamwork mechanics and the card crafting. I think the equipment you can take to add sets of cards to your deck are a great way of being able to experiment with different ways of building a deck without needing to get lucky and make the gameplay more accessible. What I find important in these kinds of games is information clarity, and I think the fact that all of the enemy actions are highlighted as different icons is nice but I think the fact they are all the same color of blue doesn't help the player tell at a glance what the enemy is going to do. The art and style of the game is good, however I ...
[h2]A Symphony of Strategy and Storytelling: A Roguelite Deck Builder That holds it’s own.[/h1] In a world brimming with roguelike deck builders, Castaway Station sets itself apart with a fun soundtrack, stunning artwork, and a uniquely RPG-like experience that takes players on a tale about survival. The card-based combat is both intuitive and complex. Players are given the ability to customize their decks to suit their preferred playstyle, choosing from an array of cards that offer various tactical advantages. But the combat truly shines due to the Location (Which gives every location a bit of narrative) and Teamwork cards that come together in exciting combinations. CS breaks the typical roguelite formula without sacrificing replay-ability by hitting you with a challenging difficulty and 6 unique duo pairings that all play wildly differently. Mix in some permadeath and a vast number of possible decks for the four available characters, you will immediately be wanting to start ano...
Castaway Station is a captivating video game experience that immerses players in an enthralling tale of survival and exploration. It's a testament to what can be achieved when a talented team pours their passion into a project. So, don't miss out on this incredible gaming experience, and embark on your own odyssey of survival and adventure today :)
I'm new to STEAM and this is the very first game I downloaded. Maybe bc I'm a newbie, but it was addictive. I skimmed through the directions bc I just like to play and explore first, and now I'm getting into it!
This game is an awesome experience! If you like turn--based strategy games, this is certainly one to try. It's engaging, challenging, and creative! The story is interesting, the art is beautiful, and the music is well-placed. It's challenging enough to make you feel accomplished when you finally pass a level or finish a fight, but not too difficult to where it's impossible or frustrating. This game is perfect for all ages, and the design is very well thought out. You seriously get what you pay for :D
My experience with gaming has come at the level of watching others play, like watching a long movie that constantly starts over; Groundhog Day for a gaming voyeur. I've seen The Legend of Zelda in its entirety (like 20 years ago, what version was that?) and I've watched Cuphead be beaten a few times. I even accidentally compared Castaway Station to Dungeons and Dragons while fully picturing Magic: The Gathering in my head (deckbuilders, world building…it's all the same right? I'm kidding, please don't @ me). Clearly, I'm practically an expert. Castaway Station perfectly toes the line between inviting for newbies and expansive for seasoned gamers. Is it the hardest game in the world? Probably not. Does it wrinkle your brain and frustrate you in the best of ways? Ugh, definitely. Personally, I'm using Castaway Station as my introductory course on deckbuilding games, and right off the bat, the little blue hand that pointed at all the things I needed to click was indispensable. I'm unfa...
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System Requirements
Minimum
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS *: Windows 7 and above
- Processor: Dual Core 2Ghz (64bit)
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: 1Gb Video Memory, capable of OpenGL 3.0+ support (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable)
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 1 GB available space
Recommended
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
FAQ
How much does Castaway Station cost?
Castaway Station costs $15.99.
What are the system requirements for Castaway Station?
Minimum: Minimum: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS *: Windows 7 and above Processor: Dual Core 2Ghz (64bit) Memory: 2 GB RAM Graphics: 1Gb Video Memory, capable of OpenGL 3.0+ support (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable) Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 1 GB available space Recommended: Recommended: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
What platforms is Castaway Station available on?
Castaway Station is available on Windows PC, macOS.
Is Castaway Station worth buying?
Castaway Station has 92% positive reviews from 13 players.
When was Castaway Station released?
Castaway Station was released on Jul 12, 2023.
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