- Quebec Indie Studio BadRez Games’ First Major Project, Targeting Global Fans
- ‘Mana’ series composer Hiroki Kikuta participates in development… Manga-inspired cinematic direction also catches the eye
- Combining Story-Driven JRPG with Real-Time Tag Team Fighting Action, Free Steam Prototype Revealed
The Kickstarter campaign for ‘A Fighter’s Nova: Mindara’, a narrative JRPG currently under development by the indie game studio BadRez Games based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, officially began on June 2.
First unveiled at the Convergence Games Showcase last February, this title is attracting attention for its unique concept that combines the story-driven structure of a JRPG with the real-time combat of a tag team fighting game.
Along with the launch of Kickstarter, a free prototype version has also been released via Steam, allowing anyone to experience the game’s core systems firsthand.
The journey of a young martial artist and a werewolf, toward the legendary tournament
‘Fighters Nova: Mindara’ tells the story of Maya, a teenage martial artist who sets out to find a purpose in life, and Mindara, a werewolf who is conflicted between revenge and salvation after an unjust banishment.
The two protagonists set out toward a legendary tournament hidden deep within a mysterious city. As fate, myth, and ambition intertwine intricately during their journey, they set out to uncover their own truths.
The companions encountered during the journey each possess their own unique backstories, goals, and combat styles, adding depth to the world. Players will explore various environmental puzzles and hidden paths, uncovering the secrets and truths concealed throughout the world one by one.
You can’t win by mashing buttons; a JRPG with fighting game DNA.
The biggest feature of ‘Fighters Nova: Mindara’ is its combat system, which blurs the boundaries between JRPGs and fighting games.
Linux Gaming News, a specialized gaming media outlet, introduced it as “not simply a JRPG with flashy action added, but an ambitious attempt to combine story-driven exploration and challenging fighting gameplay into one.”
Combat takes place in a real-time, 2D side-scrolling tag-team style. Players can switch characters during combat to continue combos, experiencing the fast-paced action and strategy full of the signature satisfying feel of fighting games.
Each character possesses a unique combat style and skills, and new combos and strategic options are unlocked as you develop relationships with your companions. Furthermore, the game supports both solo and cooperative play, and allows for adjustment of difficulty and control depth, making it designed to appeal to a wide range of players, from JRPG fans to fighting game enthusiasts.
Featuring Mana series composer Hiroki Kikuta, cinematic direction with a manga sensibility
Hiroki Kikuta, the composer famous for the ‘Seiken Densetsu’ series, participated in the music. His signature lyrical melodies and majestic battle music are expected to harmonize with the game’s worldview, delivering an even deeper sense of immersion.
In terms of visuals, it features stylized cinematic direction inspired by Japanese manga. Key story scenes are realized with animation-style cinematic direction, organically connecting with Unreal Engine 5-based gameplay to enhance immersion.
Overseas media unanimously introduce… “A title for both JRPG and fighting game fans”
Overseas gaming media are also showing keen interest in the game. Gematsu described it as “a narrative-driven JRPG that combines rich storytelling and exploration elements with the tension and depth of a true fighting game.”
RPGamer noted that it is an original RPG that incorporates a tag team fighting system, and Linux Gaming News expressed anticipation, stating, “It has the potential to be a rare title that can satisfy both JRPG fans and pure fighting game enthusiasts.”
Content creator ROK the Reaper also gave a positive response, stating, “I tend to be cautious about Kickstarter projects, but ‘Fighters Nova’ is a rare example that presents both an interesting idea and a prototype to prove it.”
The New Voice of the Quebec Indie Scene: The Background and Kickstarter Rewards of BadRez Games
BadRez Games is an independent development studio based in Quebec, Canada, and ‘Fighters Nova: Mindara’ is the studio’s first commercial project.
The funds raised through the ongoing Kickstarter campaign will be used for content expansion, combat system improvements, and narrative enhancement.
Backers will receive exclusive skins, Discord roles, digital artbooks and soundtracks, and inclusion in the ending credits. Higher-tier backers can also receive special rewards that allow them to feature NPCs or bosses they designed in the actual game.
‘Fighters Nova: Mindara’ aims to combine the appeal of story-driven RPGs and challenging fighting games, embarking on a new challenge that breaks down genre boundaries. Having taken its first steps through the release of a free prototype and a Kickstarter campaign, attention is focused on whether this title can establish itself as a new game that meets the expectations of both JRPG and fighting game fans.
Information regarding ‘A Fighter’s Nova: Mindara ‘
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | BadRez Games (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) |
| Genre | Narrative JRPG / Tag Team Fighting / Action RPG |
| Release platform | PC (Steam·Linux·Steam Deck) / PS5·Nintendo Switch 2 (Under Review) |
| Official release target | 2028 |
| Current status | Free Steam Prototype Release / Kickstarter Campaign Opens June 2 |
| Soundtrack | Hiroki Kikuta (Mana series composer) participated |
| engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| First revealed | Convergence Games Showcase (February 19, 2026) |
| Major media | Introduction to Gematsu, RPGamer, Niche Gamer, Linux Gaming News, etc. |
| Main Keywords | JRPG, Fighting Game, Tag Team, Manga, Werewolf, Martial Arts, Unreal Engine 5 |
| Kickstarter | Shortcut |
| Steam Page | Prototype & Wishlist |
