TROOOPS! Combines Match 3 Puzzles, Roguelite Progression, and Tactical Ship Battles

There is no shortage of roguelites on Steam right now, and there are even more deckbuilders competing for attention. TROOOPS! is interesting because it does not seem content sticking to just one of those genres.

Developed by Le Slo and taletronic, with publishing handled by Le Slo, the upcoming indie game blends tactical combat, match 3 mechanics, deckbuilding systems, and roguelite progression into a single experience. That combination alone would already be unusual, but the Steam page makes it clear that the project is built around managing a bizarre crew while trying to survive a dangerous journey across an ever changing archipelago.

Players command crews in grid based battles where positioning is everything. Soldiers can be rearranged into formations designed to unleash attacks against enemy creatures, creating what the developers describe as a match 3 inspired tactical system. Rather than simply swapping colored pieces on a board, players are organizing squads and searching for effective formations while under constant pressure from incoming threats.

Staying Afloat Is Part of the Challenge

One of the more notable details on the Steam page is that losing troops is not simply a setback. The description explicitly states that players may need to sacrifice trooops in order to survive increasingly dangerous attacks. Failing to manage those encounters properly can eventually leave the ship sinking beneath them.

The world itself is procedurally generated, meaning each run takes place across a shifting chain of islands. Players can board enemy ships, search for treasure, and travel toward unknown shores while dealing with new encounters along the way. The Steam description repeatedly emphasizes movement and survival, ending with the phrase "Line up and stay afloat!" which captures the game's central objective rather neatly.

Many strategy games focus on building the strongest army possible. TROOOPS! seems more interested in asking how long players can survive with the crew they have left. Between tactical formations, crew sacrifices, procedurally generated voyages, and constantly shifting encounters, the game appears built around adapting to disaster rather than avoiding it altogether.

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This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 12:10 PM.