- Dicevaders playtest access runs through the official Steam demo/playtest page — request access directly there.
- Core loop: roll three base dice, score columns of invaders, and surpass each round's target defense.
- Key resource: budget your Budge and Chrono tokens to reroll dice and nudge odds in your favor.
- Win condition: defeat the fourth pilot before losing all your hearts.
- Best early strategy: expand your grid early and stack pair-trigger artifacts for multiplier scaling.
What Is the Dicevaders Playtest?
The Dicevaders playtest is the public pre-release build of Dicevaders, a dice-builder roguelike and a spin-off of the Star Vaders series. The twist is simple but clever: instead of defending Earth like in Star Vaders, you play as the invaders. Your job is to build an alien army on a grid, score that army with dice, and smash through the planet's escalating target defense values.
The playtest build already showcases the core structure of the game:
| Feature | Playtest Build | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core mode | Invasion campaign | Survive rounds, defeat 4 pilots |
| Extra mode | Endless mode | Unlocked after campaign progress |
| Commanders | 9 plus the Overseer | Unlocked through chapters |
| Progression | Constellations mechanic | 30 total nodes |
| Content scope | Limited vs. full game | Intentionally constrained for testing |
Developers deliberately limit demo content so testers don't burn out on the game before launch. Expect fewer units, artifacts, and chapters than the final release — treat the playtest as a vertical slice, not the full experience.
How to Join the Dicevaders Playtest
Joining is straightforward, but the process differs slightly depending on whether the build is an open demo or a request-based playtest.
| Access Method | Steps | Wait Time |
|---|---|---|
| Open demo | Visit the Steam page, download directly | Immediate |
| Request playtest | Click "Request Access" on Steam, await approval | Usually days |
| Chapters/next tests | Follow official channels for announcements | Varies |
Find the Official Page
Search Steam for Dicevaders or follow the link from the developers' official channel. Always use the official store page — never third-party download sites.
Request or Download
If a demo banner appears, install it directly. If a playtest banner appears, click Request Access and wait for Steam to grant your account entry.
Complete the Tutorial
The in-game tutorial walks you through dice rolling, column scoring, and the shop. Pay attention to pair and triple mechanics — they drive almost every build.
Give Feedback
Playtests exist to gather data. Report bugs and balance feedback through the official Discord or Steam forums so the developers can tune the launch build.
The game appears far along in development, so expect additional test waves and a relatively short road to launch. Follow the official Steam page with notifications enabled to catch the next window.
Core Mechanics Explained
Each round gives you a limited number of turns to build enough attack score to surpass the target defense. Fail, and you lose a heart. Understanding three systems is essential:
Dice & Columns
- Roll three base dice per turn
- Each die adds dice power to its matching column
- Attack score = invader strength x dice power
Shop & Economy
- Buy invaders, artifacts, and spells
- Reroll with Budge
- Manipulate odds with Chrono tokens
Pilots
- Tough targets with special abilities
- Appear every few rounds
- Defeat the fourth pilot to win
| Mechanic | What It Does | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Pair scoring | Triggers column artifacts, builds multipliers | ★★★★★ |
| Triple scoring | Big artifact payoffs, harder to land | ★★★★ |
| Grid expansion | More tiles for more invaders | ★★★★ |
| Mini dice | Auto-rolled and scored after base dice | ★★★★ |
| Shields | Protect units, fuel shield-scaling builds | ★★★ |
| Budge | Rerolls and moves pieces | ★★★ |
Mini dice roll and score automatically after your base dice, scaling off dice power. Builds that multiply dice power (Broodmother, virus-style units, extra base dice effects) can push scores from thousands into the millions.
Playtest Strategy: Strong Early Builds
These three archetypes performed well in playtest runs and reward different playstyles:
| Build | Core Pieces | Scaling Type | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shield stacking | Leatherback, Cocoon Shield, shield-trigger artifacts | Flat strength per shield gained | Medium |
| Mini-dice swarm | Broodmother, mini-die generators | Exponential score per roll | Medium |
| Pair multiplier | Pair-trigger artifacts per column, base dice buffs | Multiplier snowball | Easy |
Start with the pair-multiplier build. Pair triggers fire reliably every turn, demand no specific rare units, and compound into huge multipliers — ideal while you're still learning the shop and grid.
Playtest Run Goals:
- Expand the grid with early Budge investments
- Place a pair-trigger artifact in at least three columns
- Level one artifact to 5+ before the first pilot
- Defeat the first pilot without losing a heart
- Reach target defense of 100,000+ before endless mode
Common Mistakes and Fixes
| Mistake | Why It Hurts | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Hoarding money | Unused funds generate no value | Spend each turn or pick money-carryover artifacts |
| Dead columns | Slots that never roll waste potential | Use Exomagnet-style artifacts or restructure |
| Splitting build focus | Mixing energy, shield, and dice builds dilutes scaling | Commit to one synergy per run |
| Ignoring artifact slots | Only one artifact per column exists | Replace weak artifacts mid-run instead of clinging |
| Skipping rerolls | Bad shop boards lock in weak units | Spend Budge on rerolls for higher rarity |
Artifacts scale mostly linearly in the playtest build, so a mid-run build can plateau. Plan to swap one or two artifacts after the second pilot to keep scaling into the late-game targets.
FAQ
Q: How do I get into the Dicevaders playtest?
Go to the official Dicevaders Steam page. Depending on the current wave, either download the demo directly or click Request Access and wait for Steam approval. Follow the developers' official channels for announcements on new test windows.
Q: Is the Dicevaders playtest the full game?
No. The demo is intentionally constrained in content — fewer units, artifacts, and chapters than the final release — so testers don't overplay the game before launch. Progression systems like the nine commanders and 30 constellations are partially previewed.
Q: Do I need to play Star Vaders first?
No prior knowledge is required. Dicevaders flips the perspective — you play as the invaders — and focuses heavily on dice-grid build crafting. Star Vaders fans will recognize the tone, but the mechanics stand on their own.
Q: What is the best build for a first playtest run?
A pair-trigger multiplier build is the most forgiving. Stack artifacts that fire when you score pairs with base dice, expand your grid early, and level a few key artifacts. It scales reliably into the hundreds of thousands of attack score without requiring rare units.