Devlog: The Card System of Harem vs Zombies

[p]Hi!
Today, we’re sharing development details and want to take a closer look at one of the game’s key systems: the card mechanics and the types of cards you’ll be dealing with on the battlefield. These cards define tactics, battle tempo, and some room for your experiments.
[/p][h3]Card system and card types.[/h3][p]The game features four types of cards, each serving its own role in combat and tactical planning:[/p]

[p]Unit cards[/p]
[p]Support cards[/p]
[p]Ability cards[/p]
[p]Character cards[/p]

[p]All of them interact with each other and create gameplay depth — fr om positioning to timing and long-term strategy.[/p]

[p]Units are the foundation of defense.[/p]
[p]Units are the player’s main combat force.[/p]

[p]Each unit is equipped with unique weapons and has its own characteristics:[/p]

[p]attack range[/p]
[p]attack speed[/p]
[p]damage[/p]
[p]behavioral traits[/p]

[p]For example:[/p]

[p]"Fox" is armed with a shotgun whose pellets spread across three lanes, allowing her to effectively control space.[/p]
[p]"Conehead" throws grenades along a ballistic arc, ignoring obstacles and hitting enemies wh ere other units are powerless.[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Each unit is unique and has three upgrade levels. When upgrading:[/p]

[p]Base stats increase (health, damage, etc.);[/p]
[p]New mechanics and abilities are unlocked.[/p]

[p]Example:[/p][p]"Domina", a close-range tank, gains a hammer with an area-of-effect attack at level three, making her even more effective at clearing enemies in front of her.[/p][p][/p][h3]The "match-three" mechanic.[/h3][p]If you place three identical units in the same lane, they merge into a single upgraded one.[/p][p]This provides a powerful boost but weakens neighboring defense lanes, forcing the player to:[/p]

[p]plan unit placement in advance;[/p]
[p]choose the right moment to merge;[/p]
[p]balance power and field coverage.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]Support — buffs and control.[/h3][p]Support cards strengthen allies or weaken enemies.
After being played, they remain on the field but do not have upgrade levels.[/p][p]Examples:[/p]

[p]'Portable Shield' is placed on a tile with units, increasing their maximum health.[/p]
[p]'Alt Girl' is a rock-loving girl who buffs the unit in front of her, increasing its attack speed.[/p]

[p]If you assemble a full group of five 'Alt Girls', their effect applies to all allied units on the field.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Abilities for one-time chaos[/h3]

[p]Ability cards are single-use effects.[/p]
[p]After activation, they disappear, but can radically change the flow of battle.[/p]

[p]Examples:[/p]

[p]"Sex Machine" drives across the entire field, cutting through reed thickets where enemies hide, and explodes at the end, dealing damage.[/p]
[p]"SHIV-a" is a giant ice goddess descending from the heavens to freeze all enemies with her icy beauty.[/p]

[p]These are tools for clutch saves, powerful combos, and spectacular moments.[/p][p][/p][h3]Characters are the special units[/h3][p]Characters are women you rescue during the game. After developing relationships with them, they become available as unique units on the battlefield.[/p][p]Characters’ features:[/p]

[p]each has unique abilities;[/p]
[p]abilities improve as you progress through the game;[/p]
[p]a heroine card can only be used once, as long as she is alive and remains on the field.[/p]

[p]Example:[/p]

[p]"Lian" is armed with two-hand crossbows, allowing her to attack three lanes at once.[/p]

[p]Heroines are a valuable resource, so protect them and don’t leave them in trouble.[/p][p]That’s all for now. In upcoming devlogs, we’ll take a closer look at individual units, characters, and unexpected combinations that can save (or destroy) your defense.[/p][p]In the meantime, add Harem vs Zombies to your Steam wishlist.[/p][p]It’s the best way to support development and make sure you don’t miss the demo release and future updates.[/p][p]Thanks for following the game 💜[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]