Fit check
Is Starfend worth it for you?
We tell you who should skip it, too.
Play it if you…
Good fit- Tower-defense players who want to pilot a drone rather than rely only on placed defenses
- Roguelite fans who enjoy changing builds through randomized upgrades and color combinations
- Small groups seeking a cooperative defense run with configurable rules
Skip it if you…
Saves you a refund- Players looking for a short, fixed campaign may find the focus on waves and continued Survival Mode runs a poor match.
- Those who prefer passive tower placement may not enjoy piloting a drone while meteors pursue it.
- Solo players seeking a cooperative-only game will not find that fit, since co-op supports groups of 2–4 and the game also has solo play.
Our take on Starfend
Rather than keeping tower defense focused on placing defenses, Starfend adds direct drone piloting and roguelite build choices. Its wave-based defense also gives way to Survival Mode, where runs continue in pursuit of loot.
What is Starfend?
Starfend is a 3D space defense game with roguelite runs.
At the start of a run, customize a combat drone by selecting its body, arms, and weapon colors, then deploy defensive drones around the battlefield. Control the main drone through meteor attacks, using teleportation, a shield, and repairs to stay in the fight. Once a wave ends, select two upgrades from five randomly presented cards; there are 48 cards in the pool. Matching drone colors generate damage bonuses for the whole fleet, and defeating Giant Meteors can grant abilities and stones.
When the waves are over, Survival Mode extends the run in pursuit of loot. Between runs, a permanent skill tree and stone loadouts unlock drone types, colors, combinations, and fleet improvements. Online co-op is in open beta for 2–4 players, with adjustable rules and shared runs.
How Starfend plays
- 01Piloted Combat Drone
- Teleport, shielding, and gold-funded repairs are active abilities used to keep the main drone in play.
- 02Wave Upgrade Cards
- Each wave offers 2 choices from 5 random options, drawn from a pool of 48 cards.
- 03Color Synergies
- Matching drone colors and hybrid combinations produce damage multipliers for the fleet.
- 04Persistent Progression
- A skill tree and stone loadouts carry unlocks between runs, including drone types and fleet upgrades.
- 05Online Co-op Beta
- Runs support 2–4 players, with lobby rules that can include friendly fire, mirrored lanes, or PvP.
- 06Survival Mode
- After the waves, players can continue a run in pursuit of rare loot.
Starfend compared to similar games
Dungeon Defenders: Awakened combines cooperative action RPG combat with tower defense, loot, leveling, pets, and character customization. Starfend instead centers on piloting a combat drone, color-based fleet synergies, and roguelite wave runs that can continue into Survival Mode.
Starfend: platforms & release
Is Starfend worth it?
It is worth it if: tower-defense players who want to pilot a drone rather than rely only on placed defenses. Skip it if: players looking for a short, fixed campaign may find the focus on waves and continued Survival Mode runs a poor match.
Where can I download Starfend?
Use the Download Now button on this page: it opens Starfend's store page, where you can choose how to get it.
What platforms is Starfend on?
Windows, macOS and Linux.
