A new roguelike tower defense game is bringing poker to the battlefield. Hold’Em Back, an upcoming indie game from Devanda Labs, combines poker-inspired card mechanics with hero summoning, deckbuilding, and strategic tower defense. Rather than simply placing defensive structures, players will need to build poker hands to determine which fighters they can bring into battle.
In Hold’Em Back, players draw five cards to create poker combinations, with each hand determining the heroes they can summon. Different combinations produce different fighters, meaning that assembling a pair, a straight, or even a royal flush can significantly change the available lineup. Players will also be able to replace one card to improve their chances of getting a more useful hand.
The game features 50 different heroes, each with their own abilities and fighting styles. Players can combine duplicate characters to strengthen them, eventually unlocking additional abilities when they reach three-star status. There are also special Double Acts that introduce unique combinations, while Jokers and other card modifications provide additional ways to influence the deck and create more effective strategies.
Players will need to put those mechanics to the test across eight casino floors, each featuring its own boss encounter. These bosses introduce special House Rules that can interfere with established strategies, including restrictions on available heroes, additional costs, and limitations on replacing cards. With seven difficulty stakes available, the game also offers additional challenges for those looking to push their strategies further.
Beyond its main progression, Hold’Em Back will feature persistent unlocks, additional heroes, and daily challenges that give players the same starting conditions and a single attempt to achieve the best possible result.
Hold’Em Back is currently listed as coming soon on Steam, with a demo also planned. Players interested in this unusual combination of poker and tower defense can find Hold’Em Back on Steam, where they can add it to their wishlist ahead of its release.