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Fights in Tight Spaces reimagines the deck-building genre as a John Wick-style brawl

What if Keanu Reeves was in Slay The Spire?

Charlie Hall is Polygon’s tabletop editor. In 10-plus years as a journalist & photographer, he has covered simulation, strategy, and spacefaring games, as well as public policy.

Fights in Tight Spaces is a new turn-based tactical card game coming to PC and consoles sometime in 2020. It uses deck-building mechanics, made popular by games such as Slay the Spire, to choreograph its brutal hand-to-hand fight sequences on tiny, thematic maps. In motion, it looks like an inspired mashup of Firaxis’ XCOM, Superhot, and the John Wick series.

“The game blends deck-building, turn-based tactics, and thrilling animated fight sequences in classic action-movie settings,” says a news release. “Learn to balance your hand, momentum, and positioning to overcome the odds to defeat your adversaries.”

Today’s announcement was also accompanied by a trailer, which is embedded above and on YouTube.

The game is being developed by the indie team at Ground Shatter. Their previous game is called Rico, “procedurally-generated action movie FPS” with mostly positive reviews on Steam. Joining them as publisher is Mode 7, whose previous work on the Frozen Synapse series (another turn-based gem) will be invaluable in polishing the final product. A Discord server is now up and running, and developers promise fans will be able to take part in beta testing soon.

Gameplay will revolve around a set of more than 150 cards. Levels will include random events, buffs and injuries, and an upgrade path that will enhance your moveset over time. The project also has a page on Steam, where you can add it to your wishlist.