XenoShyft: Onslaught
- Players
- 1-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 2 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 60 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 13+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.6 / 5
- Year
- 2015
About the game
XenoShyft: Onslaught is a cooperative deck-building base-defense game where players unite as the NorTec Military to hold their line against a relentless alien Hive invasion. Each player builds a personal deck of Troop, Equipment, and Item cards drawn from unique divisions like Weapons Research and the Armory, deploying forces to repel waves of increasingly dangerous enemies. Coordination is essential, since a single overwhelmed lane can spell disaster for the whole team. Its lane-based combat and escalating enemy waves create mounting tension as the game progresses. It's a tense, thematic entry in the deck-building genre built around teamwork and survival.
Hobbli's Notes
We enjoy how XenoShyft: Onslaught channels classic deck-building into genuinely tense cooperative base defense, where communication between players matters as much as deck construction. The asymmetric divisions give each player a distinct toolkit, encouraging real teamwork rather than solo optimization. It captures survival-horror dread effectively through its escalating waves of enemies. A strong choice for co-op fans who want deck-building with real stakes and coordination.
What we like
- Strong cooperative teamwork requirement adds tension beyond typical deck-builders.
- Asymmetric divisions give each player a distinct strategic role.
- Escalating enemy waves create genuine survival-horror atmosphere.
- Playable solo as well as with a full cooperative group.
Keep in mind
- Coordination requirements can slow down turns in larger groups.
- Deck-building genre fatigue may make it feel familiar to veteran players.
Who it's for
Great for cooperative game fans aged 13+ who enjoy deck-building with a horror sci-fi theme, playable solo or with up to 4 players.
