Pixel Tactics
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The FroGames card
You place the first card in the front row. You attack. Then you move it to the back and it becomes support. The same card. Five different roles. Your opponent understands that you've just changed the whole plan.
WHAT IT IS ABOUT
A tactical clash where every card is worth five different cards
D. Brad Talton Jr. created Pixel Tactics in 2012 for Level 99 Games as a compact spin-off of his board fighting game BattleCON. Set in the World of Indines, it shares characters and chibi-fantasy atmosphere with its bigger brother, but the system is completely different. Art by Fábio Fontes and Maciej Mutwil, who translate fighting game sprites into colorful illustrations.
Two players challenge each other with identical decks of 25 cards. Before the battle, choose a leader from the 25 characters: their ability radically changes the value of every other card in the deck. Then you place the cards on a 3x3 grid in front of your leader. Each card has five different functions: melee attack if you play it in the front row, support if you place it in the back, special order if you activate it from your hand, defensive action, leader ability. Position and timing decide everything.
What they say abroad
"Every card does five different things depending on where you play it"
Each card does five different things depending on where you play it
— The Dice Tower
This is our first experiment with Pixel Tactics. The FroGames card will be updated with field experience: for now, we honestly tell you what the design promises.
— FroGames
Pixel Tactics
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and gameplay sessionsYour arsenal
Four roles each card can take on
Vanguard (front row)
Melee attackers. They directly hit enemy units or the opposing leader. They die easily but deal immediate damage.
Flank (sides)
Lateral units with tactical abilities: they can intercept, protect, activate combos. They balance attack and defense.
Rear (back)
Passive support that boosts other units, heals, draws cards, or generates resources. They don't attack but keep the machine running.
Order (from hand)
Devastating one-shot effects: remove a unit, change positions, turn the tide. Discarded after use but can change the game.
Come si gioca
Video dimostrativo di gameplay.
🎲How to PlayThe rules in four steps▼
How to Play
The Flow of Each Turn
Fast alternating turns: one action per player, then pass. No complex phases.
Draw until you have 5 cards in hand (or the limit set by your leader). Choose what to play this turn.
You can: (a) place a card on the grid (choosing its role based on position), (b) play an Order from your hand, (c) activate a special ability of a unit already on the field.
If you have units in the vanguard, you can attack enemy units or the opposing leader. Resolve damage and counterattacks according to card stats.
Pass the turn to your opponent. Passive effects of the rear automatically apply. If a leader drops to 0 HP, the round ends.
⏱️Your First GameThe blow-by-blow account▼
A game in five moments
What happens on the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Leader Draft
Each draw five cards and secretly choose a leader. Reveal them together. You immediately understand if your leader synergizes well with your deck or if you'll have to adapt. Your opponent took the one you wanted.
Tactical Setup
Cautious first turns: you place a unit in the vanguard to test, one in the rear for support. Read enemy cards, trying to understand their build. Each placement is reversible but costs time.
The First Serious Attack
One of the two grids is complete. The coordinated assault begins: vanguard attacks, flank intercepts, rear buffs. Damage accumulates quickly. Someone loses their first key unit.
Devastating Order
You play a card as an Order from your hand instead of placing it: an explosive effect that eliminates an enemy unit or flips positions. Your opponent curses. The board has changed in one turn.
Exposed Leader
Defense crumbles. The enemy leader takes direct damage. The first to eliminate the opposing leader wins. End of the round. Everything shuffles and restarts: best of three.
🐸Good to Know BeforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
Good to Know Beforehand
Three things to consider
Dense text on cards
Each card has five different text blocks (one per role). The first game is slowed down by continuous reading. Good English comprehension and patience are needed. After a few rounds, you'll memorize the main combos.
Variable leader balancing
The 25 leaders are not perfectly balanced: some are objectively stronger in certain situations. Competitive games require drafting or banning, otherwise the meta gets stuck on 3-4 dominant leaders.
Setup and Reset
Each round requires reshuffling, re-drawing, and re-drafting the leader. A best-of-three can be extended if players are slow. Count 45+ real minutes for a complete game with a new opponent.
🏆Victory and DefeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it ends
How to Win and How to Lose
A round ends when a leader drops to 0 health points. The game is played best of three or five rounds.
Victory
- Reduce the opposing leader's HP to zero with direct attacks
- Win 2 out of 3 rounds (or 3 out of 5) to win the full game
- Build a grid that protects your leader while dismantling the enemy's
Defeat
- Your leader drops to 0 HP: you immediately lose the round
- Lose 2 out of 3 rounds: game over
- Run out of deck without winning: some variants include automatic defeat
It's a tactical tournament duel in a pocket-sized box. If you're looking for depth without endless setup, Pixel Tactics is one of the best 1v1 card games ever made.
💬Frequently Asked QuestionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about Pixel Tactics
What mechanics does Pixel Tactics use?
Hand management, multi-use cards, variable player powers, open drafting. Cards completely change function based on their position on the grid (vanguard, flank, rear, order). The chosen leader alters the strategic value of every other card in the deck.
How long does a game really last?
A single round lasts 10-15 minutes. A full game (best-of-three) takes around 30-45 minutes among experienced players, but can extend up to 60 if you're new and have to read all the cards.
Is it difficult to learn?
The basic rules are simple: play cards, attack, eliminate the leader. The complexity lies in reading and memorizing the five abilities of each card. First game is slow, after three rounds it moves quickly.
Do I need to buy expansions to play well?
No. The base box contains 25 characters and identical decks for both players: it's complete. Expansions (Pixel Tactics 2, 3, etc.) add another 25 characters each, increasing variety but not depth: they are optional.
Is it available in Italian?
No. This edition is in English. The cards have a lot of text (five abilities per card), so a good understanding of the language is required to play smoothly. There are no official Italian translations.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
Pixel Tactics is a tactical card game for 2 players, lasting 30-45 minutes, recommended age 12+. Designed by D. Brad Talton Jr. for Level 99 Games, it is set in the World of Indines (the same universe as BattleCON). Each game begins with drafting a leader from 25 characters: their ability radically changes the deck's strategy. The 25 identical cards for both players are multi-use cards: each card has five different functions (vanguard, flank, rear, order, leader) depending on where you place it on the 3x3 grid. Mechanics: hand management, variable player powers, positional combat. Available on frogames.business.
Pixel Tactics
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
The photos on the website often come from BoardGameGeek and are intended to give you an idea of the game. They may vary slightly from the version you receive. The content declared by the publisher is always binding.
📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
⏳How do pre-orders work?
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