In XenoShyft: Onslaught, a strategic base defense deck-builder, players take on the role of the NorTec Military, charged with defending their base against the onslaught of the alien "Hive".
XenoShyft: Onslaught combines classic deck-building and resource management with fast-paced combat and unique "base defense" elements. As the game progresses, each player builds up their deck of Troop, Equipment, and Item cards, which they will in turn use to defend the base against incoming enemies in deadly combat.
It is up to the players to work together in order to outlast the horrors awaiting them by coordinating strategy, utilizing the strengths of their unique divisions (Med Bay, Weapons Research, Science Lab, and Armory), and organizing defense tactics to ensure no player is caught off-guard by surprise attacks.
XenoShyft: Onslaught is a game of tactical decisions and survival horror — and survival is never guaranteed.
- Tense, tactical combat with interesting dice mechanics
- Cooperative emphasis on planning and teamwork
- Weapon upgrades add strategic depth
- Replayability through randomized events and setups
- Rules complexity can be confusing
- Heavy solo play may be challenging
- Progress can stall due to teleport mechanics
- Repetitive deck/shuffle elements
- Cooperative tactical defense against alien incursions
- Space station/alien-outpost under siege
- Scenario-based narrative with escalating threats and random events
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Armor and shields — Armor tokens mitigate hits; shields provide defense and can prevent damage.
- Dice-based combat — Blue dice for defense and red dice for attack; hits depend on dice outcomes and modifiers.
- Teleport points as objectives — Destroy/activate teleport points to complete mission objectives.
- Terrain and line-of-sight — Agents' positioning and LOS affect attack options and defense.
- Turn-based cooperative play — Players coordinate during strategy phase to manage actions against alien threats.
- Upgradable weapons — Equipment draws and upgrades: replacing standard weapons with special ones during mission setup.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- thanks for watching folks see you next time
- we'll beat it all right thanks for watching folks
- we're staying strong but we're not accomplishing very much
- this is no longer jammed it's got infinite ammo so that's good