Hooded Horse has been on a roll this year with new strategy games like Endless Legend 2 and Whiskerwood. Up next, Overhype Studios’ Menace is invading a totally different arena with turn-based tactics and extensive RPG elements.
After playing an early preview build, it’s abundantly clear the Battle Brothers developer isn’t just trying to put a new twist on the famous XCOM formula. Menace is expanding on the genre’s foundations and dropping players into a hot combat zone with a distinct sci-fi background. On top of our thoughts after going hands-on with the game before its Steam Early Access and Epic Games Store launch, keep reading to learn everything we know about Menace so far.
Menace Release Date
Hooded Horse hasn’t shared a release date for Menace yet. We know, however, it’ll be hitting Steam Early Access and the Epic Games Store before 2025 ends. Expect a solid update soon.
- Menace release window: Fall 2025
Menace Hands-On Preview
It’s not every year that we get a new game which screams “We (the devs) really liked XCOM, here’s our take on that experience!” while also packing new ideas, so it wasn’t long before Menace convinced me to keep tabs on its incoming early access launch. It’s tight, loud, and big in ways which feel quite familiar, yet Overhype Studios has given it a tone and voice of its own.
The setting alone paints a very different picture from the get-go: There are no alien invaders to repel in Menace. Instead, a number of groups fight for dominance in the Wayback system, a lawless sector of space “controlled by pirate warlords, questionable corporations, and fractured planetary governments who struggle for a new order.” While the preview build we’ve played doesn’t elaborate on the plot or setting, we know there’s also an alien threat lurking in the shadows. This is troublesome, as the human enemies I tried to fight in the preview already were a bunch of tough MFers.
As the leader of a marine strike force (though we’ve been told we can later unite the “disparate locals” under a single banner), I was able to customize my band of soldiers ahead of the procedurally generated missions. With a few skill points to spare, I went through the passive perks my squad leaders could get, from damage bonuses to better use of cover for defense. These might get more complex as the characters continue to level up, but they’re useful enough to build them following different archetypes.
Another layer of customization comes from the guns and equipment of choice. For example, sniper rifles can pierce through the armor on the pirate vehicles, but trusty LMGs will easily keep groups of grunts pinned down with suppressive fire. There’s a good amount of ‘conversation’ between the aforementioned passives and the weapons which can be picked up before each mission, and the randomization appears to be kept to a minimum here.
Regardless, squad leaders – who have histories and personalities according to Overhype Studios – can (and will) bite the dust if you’re not careful. The bad news? Even in low-difficulty missions, Menace will kick your ass without mercy. Whether I was defending civilians or trying to hold a fortified position against pirate attackers, my suited-up and well-equipped marines regularly took a beating. Movement and defensive actions also consume a lot of the ability points available each turn, so thinking long and hard about each move is advisable in order to maximize the damage squads can deal out while also moving between cover and trying not to get blown up.
Menace’s trailers and marketing materials so far tease a harsh sci-fi setting and brutal violence, and I gotta say the actual gameplay lives up to that promise. It might be too scary for the more casual crowd, but anyone who’s looking for a new turn-based tactics game which borrows pillars from the genre’s greats while charting its own path forward should be satisfied by Overhype’s latest. A few annoying visual glitches and UI quirks aside, I’m sure this one will enjoy a smooth landing on when it welcomes recruits.
Menace Gameplay
At first glance, Menace is a fairly traditional turn-based tactical RPG/strategy game set in a far-flung and dark future. However, key features like a faction relationship system which will determine what weapons and resources you have access to, the ability to hit different locations across the Wayback system, squads vs. single units, and access to air support instantly make Menace stand out.
Even in the pre-early access preview build, we were able to tinker with a handful of squad leaders and ‘build’ them in response to the information available ahead of the missions. Once in the middle of the action, simple actions like movement, laying low, or throwing nades are performed with a couple of clicks. However, keep an eye on the (extremely high) AP cost of each choice you make; leaving a squad without cover after spending all their APs on shooting at distant enemies is an easy mistake to make. In our experience, even low-level pirate grunts can hurt a well-equipped squad, so rushing into a gunfight without a clear combat plan isn’t ideal.
On top of the offensive and defensive actions squads and their leaders can perform, we can confirm vehicles and (limited) air-support attacks can shift the tide of battle. When used, an area of the map’s entire grid will be marked for damage, and keeping enemies within the designated kill zone is key to making good use of the extra help. Likewise, if a squad leader falls in battle, you have some time to run towards and revive them. If this fails, they’ll be lost (seemingly) forever.
Menace Price and Platforms
The early access price tag for Menace hasn’t been revealed yet, but we know for sure it’ll be a PC (Steam and Epic Games) exclusive for the foreseeable.
Considering the slow pace of the battles and the lack of real-time action, it’s the sort of strategy/RPG tactics project which could work perfectly on consoles, but chances are it needs to find a sizable audience on PC first to warrant such porting efforts.
Menace Trailers
Overhype Studios has been reasonably open about Menace’s development via its social and YouTube channels, giving fans a closer look at how the sci-fi tactics game is being assembled and baked. Below you’ll find the key teasers and trailers you shouldn’t miss:
For the latest gaming news, follow GameWatcher on BlueSky, check out our videos on YouTube, or give us a like on Facebook. We sometimes include affiliate links in our posts, which grants us a small commission, thank you. Please support independent Games Media. ❤️
.webp)
