▶ An ambitious project by Canadian indie game studio BadRez Games
▶ A hybrid indie game that blurs the lines between JRPG and fighting genres.
What if you could enjoy the narrative of a JRPG and the thrill of a fighting game simultaneously? Quebec-based indie game studio BadRez Games has unveiled an ambitious project that brings that fantasy to life. “A Fighter’s Nova: Mindara,” first unveiled at the Convergence Games Showcase 2026 on February 20th, is the title. It also garnered attention at the Quebec Games Celebration Showcase 2026, held at the same time.
A single narrative led by two protagonists
The story revolves around two characters with conflicting goals. Players follow Maya, a teenage martial arts student on a journey to discover her purpose, and Mindara, a mysterious werewolf consumed by vengeance after being unjustly exiled. Their journey leads them to a legendary tournament hidden within a mysterious city, where fate, myth, and their individual ambitions collide.
The two protagonists’ journey faithfully follows the grammar of a classic JRPG. Along the way, they encounter a diverse cast of companions, each with their own motivations and stories. Through friendship, competition, and trust, they experience a classic JRPG adventure. A notable feature is that dialogue choices and character bonds go beyond simple storylines and directly impact the combat system.
Exploration is JRPG, combat is authentic fighting game.
A Fighter’s Nova: Mindara’s most unique feature is its combat system. While field exploration and story progression follow a JRPG style, the moment combat begins, the game transitions completely into a real-time fighting game. This isn’t simply an RPG with action elements; it’s the developers’ attempt to clearly distinguish between the two genres while organically connecting them.
The core of the combat is the tag team system. You can swap characters at any time during battle and combine their abilities to create synergy. As the bond between characters deepens, unique duo skills and special abilities are unlocked, seamlessly blending narrative and combat into a single experience.
The plan is to provide both accessibility and depth by offering a simplified control system for fighting game beginners and a precision input system for experienced players.
Visuals and direction inspired by manga
Niche Gamer described the game as an RPG inspired by anime fighting games. The visuals, visible on the Steam page, highlight the sophisticated manga-style presentation, with graphic manga cutscenes that enrich the dialogue and heighten the emotions highlighted as a key feature.
Steam tags include Action RPG, JRPG, Animation, and Stylized, giving you an idea of the game’s visual direction.
Media attention, Kickstarter, and towards 2028
Overseas media outlet Niche Gamer described the game as an “RPG with an anime fighting game feel,” emphasizing its fresh take on the hybrid genre. RPGamer also reported that the game is considering versions for PlayStation 5 and next-generation Nintendo platforms in addition to PC, with a target release date of 2028. MonsterVine also noted the game’s combination of traditional JRPG structure and skill-based melee combat.
BadRez Games is currently preparing a Kickstarter campaign to complete development. The campaign will fund additional story content, expanded combat systems, and enhanced worldbuilding.
The game is scheduled for release in 2028, with a PC (Steam) version confirmed first. The interface and full voice acting will support English and French. Console expansion is currently under review.
A challenge that combines the deep narrative of a JRPG with the strategic thrill of a fighting game, all within a single screen. “A Fighter’s Nova: Mindara” goes beyond simple genre mixing, experimenting with a structure that reinforces the two elements of enjoyment: story and combat. Whether this hybrid game can truly set a new standard, satisfying fans of both genres, will be a focus of attention.
Steam Store Page :
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4198610/A_Fighters_Nova_Mindara/
Kickstarter funding page:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/badrezgames/a-fighters-nova-mindara
