Menace Revives Turn-Based Tactics Genre
PC Gamer praised the new game *Menace* as a "breath of fresh air" after a decade of stale turn-based tactics, garnering 47 likes and 24,000 views. Steam Next Fest is spotlighting tactical RPGs including *Fogpiercer*, *WILD Tactics*, and *Infinity: HexaDome Tactics*. The boomer shooter *DUSK* is expanding into RPG territory with *Dungeons of Dusk*, which has released a playable demo.
- *Menace* is developed by Overhype Studios, the same team behind the critically acclaimed turn-based tactical RPG *Battle Brothers*. The gameplay emphasizes realistic combat mechanics like suppression and morale, where soldiers can panic or become paralyzed by enemy fire. - *Dungeons of Dusk* is a turn-based dungeon-crawling RPG that canonically takes place between the episodes of the fast-paced retro FPS *DUSK*. The game is inspired by the 2005 mobile game *DOOM RPG* and will feature a 30-level campaign, along with multiple other game modes like endless arena and survival. - *Fogpiercer*, developed by Mad Cookies Studio, is a roguelike deckbuilder where the player's train is their deck of cards. Combat is grid-based and focuses on positioning, allowing players to push enemies into obstacles or into the path of their own train. - *WILD Tactics* is set in a world populated by animals and features a gritty, '50s noir aesthetic. Developed by The Wild Gentlemen, the game includes a system where relationships between squad members—hate, love, or friendship—can provide combat buffs or debuffs. - *Infinity: HexaDome Tactics* is a player-versus-player (PvP) focused turn-based tactics game adapted from the *Aristeia!* tabletop game. It aims for fast-paced matches, lasting around 15-25 minutes, on smaller, dynamic arenas. - A key feature in *Menace* is the supply system, which limits the number of units and the quality of gear you can deploy in each mission, forcing strategic choices rather than allowing players to use their full force every time. - *Dungeons of Dusk* will be released on a wide variety of platforms including PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and mobile in 2026. - The developers of *WILD Tactics*, The Wild Gentlemen, previously created the noir adventure game *Chicken Police - Paint it RED!*, which also features an anthropomorphic animal cast.
