ScarQuest is a sci-fi real-time strategyRPG where you build up your own base, train troops, and go head-to-head with other players in tactical siege battles. It mixes tower defense, hero-based combat, and a bit of base decoration into one big grindfest, but in a good way. The game is played online and is currently in open beta on PC, Android, and iOS devices. There's a strong focus on both defense and offense, where you're constantly upgrading your base while planning how to break into someone else’s. It’s not just about brute force, as you’ll need to carefully design your base layout, choose which traps to deploy, train the right types of units, and make sure your heroes can carry when it counts.
Gameplay and Features
You start out by building a home base on your own slice of planetary land. There’s a mix of utility buildings that boost your productivity and decorative pieces that let you add a personal touch, think of it as part strategy, part flex. It’s more than just aesthetics though. Where and how you place things, especially your towers and traps will directly affect your base’s defense during enemy sieges.
When another player comes knocking, they’ll have to fight through whatever setup you’ve built. Terrain tiles play a big role here. You can rearrange the layout to create chokepoints or bait enemies into traps. Your towers and heroes hold the line while your opponent tries to push through. If you're online during the siege, you can actually jump in and use support abilities to throw off their rhythm. There’s even a taunt system with emojis, so you can mess with them a bit while they try to survive your setup.
On the flip side, when you go on the offensive, you’ll train up units and bring along heroes that have real impact in battle. These heroes aren’t just stat sticks—they come with class-based abilities that change how you approach fights. Some can draw aggro, others can teleport units or sneak past defenses. The right hero can flip a losing raid into a win if you use their skills at the right moment.
The whole game is built around this loop of upgrading, defending, and raiding. But it's not just PvP. There are also alien invasion fleets that show up and threaten your base. These PvE encounters are harder than regular raids, and you’ll want to power up before picking a fight with them. The rewards are worth it though, especially if you're trying to boost your resources or get rare items. These alien threats add some extra tension and world-building to the game, hinting at a bigger war happening beyond just player conflict. The mix of strategy and action keeps things from getting stale. You’re not just watching battles play out as you’re actively involved in shaping how they go, from the layout of your base to how you command your heroes during a fight.
NFTs and Web3
Scarquest does support web3 elements, but it doesn’t force them on you. You can play the full game without touching a wallet. All the core features, base-building, sieges, and hero management are available whether you’re a web2 or web3 player.
For those who do want to connect a wallet, there are digital assets like land plots, heroes, and possibly other items that can be traded or owned on-chain. Some early players have already earned rare land rewards during the beta. But none of these features give an unfair gameplay advantage, and they don’t block progression for non-crypto users. Basically, you can play it like a regular online game and ignore the NFT stuff entirely if that’s not your thing. Or you can dive in and experiment with ownership and trading if you’re into that side of gaming.
How to Get Started
The game is available on PC via Steam, as well as on Android through the Play Store and iOS via the App Store, so you can jump in from just about any device. Just download the game, create an account using your email, and you’re good to go, no wallet or crypto is required unless you want to explore that side of the game.
Once you’re in, the tutorial walks you through the basics. You’ll learn how to build and upgrade your base, set up your defenses, train your first batch of troops, and get a feel for how siege battles and hero abilities work. The interface is clean and beginner-friendly, so you’ll be raiding and customizing your setup in no time. As you continue playing, you’ll unlock new buildings and begin fine-tuning your base layout. Heroes are introduced early, giving you time to learn how their class-based abilities can shift the tide in battle. PvP sieges get tougher as your level increases, and once you're ready, you can take on alien invasion fleets for bigger rewards and high-stakes challenges.