MENACE has officially deployed into Early Access / Game Preview, landing on PC via the Xbox Store and Steam.
From the creators of Battle Brothers, this ambitious turn-based tactical RPG trades medieval grit for sci-fi brutality, placing command decisions – and their consequences – firmly in the player’s hands.
Still very much a work in progress (remember, early access!), MENACE invites strategy fans to help shape its future while diving headfirst into a fractured star system where every mission, alliance, and loss can ripple across an entire campaign.
A Frontier On The Brink Of Collapse
Set within the isolated Wayback system, MENACE throws players into a volatile frontier cut off from the Core Worlds. Pirate warlords, opportunistic corporations, and fractured planetary governments all jostle for control, while something far more alien lurks beneath the surface.
You command a Republic Marine Corps strike force from aboard the TCRN Impetus, initially tasked with restoring order. What begins as a pacification mission soon spirals into a desperate struggle against an unknown and escalating threat.
Crucially, MENACE doesn’t funnel you down a single path. Distress calls arrive constantly, and you decide which fires to put out, who to side with, and which risks are worth taking.
Strategic Command Beyond The Battlefield
MENACE operates on multiple layers of strategy. Between missions, you’ll manage relationships with local factions, upgrade your strike cruiser, and prepare squads for increasingly dangerous operations.
Operations unfold across branching mission chains rather than isolated battles. Do you neutralise enemy air defences before deploying armour? Or risk an infantry-only assault to rescue hostages and earn local trust? Each decision reshapes not just the operation, but the wider campaign.
Your mobile HQ isn’t just a transport vessel either. Upgrading the TCRN Impetus unlocks new tactical options, orbital support abilities, and squad synergies that can swing battles in your favour.
Brutal Tactical Combat With Real Consequences
On the ground, MENACE delivers unforgiving turn-based battles where positioning, suppression, and weapon ranges matter just as much as raw firepower.
Permanent death is a constant threat. Squad leaders and their units can be lost forever, forcing you to adapt with reduced manpower, shaken morale, or underperforming replacements. Weather effects, varied biomes, and unpredictable enemy forces ensure no engagement plays out quite the same.
Vehicles add another strategic layer, from troop carriers and artillery to nimble walkers and jury-rigged war machines. Each comes with trade-offs, and deploying heavy firepower may come at the cost of infantry upgrades elsewhere.
Characters That Carry The Weight Of War
MENACE places strong emphasis on squad leaders as individuals rather than disposable units. Each has a backstory, personality traits, and emotional responses to success or failure.
Combat performance directly affects morale and long-term effectiveness. Leaders who survive brutal engagements may inspire their troops, while those who witness devastating losses can struggle to recover. Promotions unlock branching perk trees, allowing deep customisation and long-term squad development.
With each playthrough drawing from a large pool of characters, stories naturally intertwine and unfold in unpredictable ways.
What MENACE Brings To Early Access
- Turn-based tactical combat with permanent consequences
- Strategic campaign decisions that reshape the entire system
- Branching, multi-mission operations across diverse biomes
- Deep squad, equipment, and vehicle customisation
- Character-driven leadership with evolving morale and perks
- Procedurally generated operations for high replayability
A Dangerous War Still Taking Shape
As an Early Access / Game Preview release, MENACE is very clear about its current state. Systems may change, expand, or be rebalanced as development continues, and players jumping in now are doing so with that understanding.
That said, the foundations already point toward a deep, punishing, and highly replayable tactical experience; one that leans heavily into player agency and long-term consequence.
For fans of thoughtful strategy games who enjoy learning systems as they evolve, MENACE is now available on PC via the Xbox Store and Steam. MENACE is currently not playable on Xbox consoles.
At A Glance
- Game: MENACE
- Status: Early Access / Game Preview
- Platforms: PC (Xbox Store, Steam)
- Genre: Turn-Based Tactical RPG
- Developer: Overhype Studios
- Publisher: Hooded Horse
- Players: Single-player
