Space Grunts 2 is a fascinating pivot from the original's action-heavy gameplay. By introducing a card-based combat system into the familiar pixel-art roguelike formula, OrangePixel has created a much more tactical experience. Instead of just twitch reactions, you’re now managing a deck of weapons, gadgets, and shields. The turn-based nature allows for a slower, more deliberate pace, which feels right at home on mobile.
What I love most is how the cards interact with the environment. It's not just about hitting enemies; it's about using your inventory to bypass traps or unlock shortcuts. The progression is satisfyingly difficult, and while a bad hand can sometimes feel like a death sentence, the 'one-more-run' loop is incredibly strong. It’s a polished, quirky, and surprisingly deep sci-fi crawler that rewards clever planning over brute force.
Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod
Version 2.0.3Fri Mar 21 2025
fixed some rendering issues on Retina displays
Land on a planet, find an entrance to a space station, and battle aliens, robots and hazardous environments using your deck of cards.
Key features:
] Endless variation – Every game plays like a unique mission for your away-team – the layout is different every time. From the level layouts, to special events, and alternate paths. Every game will be unique.
] Unique card/inventory system – Your inventory is your deck of cards, every weapon, shield, or item you pick up is a card you use in battles and sits in your inventory (your deck).
] Unlockable extras – Complete challenges to unlock special Trinkets to help you in your games. Complete multiply missions to permanently unlock Buff cards, and increase your experience level to unlock special passive cards.
Gameplay:
Every game you play is uniquely generated from building blocks. No two levels are the same, no two game sessions are the same. As you progress through the levels you get to collect items for your inventory : weapons, shields, and dozens of other type items. Each item in your inventory is a card in your deck.
Don’t want certain cards? don’t pick them up! That’s how you build your deck in this game: as you go.
When you encounter aliens, you will engage with them in a card-battle: Either you or the alien will choose the first card, depending on who attacks who. And then the other picks his card. Defeat the alien, and move on to the next! Card battles are swift, and to the point.
The game will randomly generate events, alternate routes and decide what effects plant-spores have on you or the aliens. Like I said: no two games will be the same!
Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone SE (3rd generation), iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPad Air, iPad Air Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 2 Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 2, iPad Air 2 Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 3 Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 4, iPad mini 4 Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9‑inch), iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (9.7‑inch), iPad Pro (9.7‑inch) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad (5th generation), iPad (5th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (2nd generation), iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (2nd generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (10.5‑inch), iPad Pro (10.5‑inch) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad (6th generation), iPad (6th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (11‑inch), iPad Pro (11‑inch) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (3rd generation), iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (3rd generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad mini (5th generation), iPad mini (5th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad Air (3rd generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad (7th generation), iPad (7th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (11‑inch) (2nd generation), iPad Pro (11‑inch) (2nd generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (4th generation), iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (4th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (4th generation), iPad Air (4th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad (8th generation), iPad (8th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (11-inch) (3rd generation), iPad Pro (11-inch) (3rd generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (5th generation), iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (5th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini (6th generation), iPad mini (6th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (9th generation), iPad (9th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (5th generation), iPad Air (5th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad (10th generation), iPad (10th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (11‑inch) (4th generation), iPad Pro (11‑inch) (4th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (6th generation), iPad Pro (12.9‑inch) (6th generation) Wi‑Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 11-inch (M2), iPad Air 11-inch (M2) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad Air 13-inch (M2) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 13-inch (M4), iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini (A17 Pro), iPad mini (A17 Pro) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (A16), iPad (A16) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 11-inch (M3), iPad Air 11-inch (M3) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 13-inch (M3), iPad Air 13-inch (M3) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (M5), iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 13-inch (M5), iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPod touch (6th generation), and iPod touch (7th generation).Land on a planet, find an entrance to a space station, and battle aliens, robots and hazardous environments using your deck of cards.
Key features:
] Endless variation – Every game plays like a unique mission for your away-team – the layout is different every time. From the level layouts, to special events, and alternate paths. Every game will be unique.
] Unique card/inventory system – Your inventory is your deck of cards, every weapon, shield, or item you pick up is a card you use in battles and sits in your inventory (your deck).
] Unlockable extras – Complete challenges to unlock special Trinkets to help you in your games. Complete multiply missions to permanently unlock Buff cards, and increase your experience level to unlock special passive cards.
Gameplay:
Every game you play is uniquely generated from building blocks. No two levels are the same, no two game sessions are the same. As you progress through the levels you get to collect items for your inventory : weapons, shields, and dozens of other type items. Each item in your inventory is a card in your deck.
Don’t want certain cards? don’t pick them up! That’s how you build your deck in this game: as you go.
When you encounter aliens, you will engage with them in a card-battle: Either you or the alien will choose the first card, depending on who attacks who. And then the other picks his card. Defeat the alien, and move on to the next! Card battles are swift, and to the point.
The game will randomly generate events, alternate routes and decide what effects plant-spores have on you or the aliens. Like I said: no two games will be the same!










Space Grunts 2 evolves the original arcade formula by introducing card-based mechanics to its roguelike dungeon crawling. Players explore dangerous alien planets, navigating floors filled with traps and loot. Combat is handled through a deck of cards representing weapons and gadgets, requiring players to think strategically about when to play their best cards. With its signature pixel art style and procedural level generation, every run offers a fresh tactical challenge.
Card-based combat mechanics
Procedurally generated dungeons
Unlockable weapons and gadgets
Retro pixel art aesthetic
Don't use your powerful single-use cards on weak enemies. Save your explosives and heavy shields for bosses or large mobs, as you cannot easily reshuffle your hand mid-combat.
Pascal Bestebroer – the man behind the OrangePixel talked about the creation of Space Grunts & Heroes of Loot.
80 Level - Mon Dec 28 2015
Max Payne and Wolfenstein publisher Apogee announces Residual, a procedural sci-fi survival platformer from one-man studio OrangePixel.
Screen Rant - Fri Jan 28 2022
Pascal Bestebroer is one of those little known, grizzled vets of independent game design. He's been in the business for something like 15...
Pocket Tactics - Tue Jul 28 2020
Every move you make is a turn. Use this to your advantage by checking enemy patterns and environmental hazards before playing a card.
Yes, but it replaces the arcade action with a turn-based card system.