MENACE Review: Squad Tactics from the Makers of Battle Brothers
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Short answer: MENACE is a turn-based sci-fi tactics game from Overhype Studios, the team behind Battle Brothers. You command a marine strike force in a lawless star system, fight with whole squads, tanks and walkers, and manage supplies between missions. Players rate it Very Positive on Steam (91% of about 13,800 reviews), and critics call its squad combat fresh and tense. It is in Early Access, with an unfinished campaign and some balance issues. If you like XCOM or Battle Brothers, it is well worth a look at $39.99.
What is MENACE?
MENACE is a turn-based tactical RPG developed by Overhype Studios and published by Hooded Horse. You lead a Republic Marine Corps strike force from the cruiser TCRN Impetus in the Wayback system, a region run by pirates, corporations and broken governments, while an alien threat grows. Distress calls lead to operations of several missions, your choices change faction relations, and gear comes from the black market and the battlefield.
| Developer | Overhype Studios |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Hooded Horse |
| Release | Early Access since 5 February 2026 |
| Platforms | Windows |
| Genre | Tactical RPG, strategy |
| Steam rating | Very Positive (91% of about 13,800 reviews) |
| Price | $39.99 |
What players and critics love
Squads, not single soldiers
Each unit is a squad led by a squad leader, and every squaddie is simulated on their own. Losses cut a squad’s damage and morale, and the squaddies act as a buffer that protects the leader. FinalBoss summed up the idea as the squad mattering more than the single soldier, and Turn Based Lovers said this changes how battles play out.
Suppression and morale on both sides
Cover, flanking, suppression, smoke and weather all matter, and your own troops can freeze or fall back under fire just like the enemy. PC Gamer said the game streamlines dense wargame rules while keeping their depth, and called it a breath of fresh air after years of similar tactics games.
Tanks, walkers and hard choices
Vehicles such as tanks, walkers, troop carriers and artillery fight next to your infantry. A supply cap limits what you can deploy, so picking the team for a mission is a strategic decision. PC Gamer liked that each weapon and vehicle has a clear role, and Steam players often praise the combined-arms play.
Operations with consequences
Operations and maps are procedurally generated, and results carry over: injuries and fatigue push you to rotate squads, and a failed mission can hurt the whole campaign. Turn Based Lovers and Steam Deck HQ also praised the sound, voice acting, visuals and destructible terrain.
What to know before you buy
- It is in Early Access. The developers call it fully playable, with 50 mission types, three planets and four enemy factions. The full version is planned to add more planets, mission types, squad leaders, equipment and the full story, without raising the base price. No 1.0 date has been announced.
- Unfinished parts. At launch PC Gamer felt some systems were placeholders and there was no endgame yet. FinalBoss later found the campaign drags and said one bad mission can snowball into a lost campaign.
- Learning curve. Turn Based Lovers found the tutorial explains little and missed a mid-mission save and a mini-map. Steam players also mention unclear line of sight and repeating maps and missions.
- Updates. The first major update, in April 2026, removed the unpopular promotion cost and reworked the Constructs faction, according to PC Gamer.
- Steam Deck. Valve rates it Playable. Steam Deck HQ saw frame drops during heavy destruction and found small text hard to read, and noted there is no controller support.
Who should buy MENACE?
Buy it if you enjoy XCOM, Jagged Alliance or Battle Brothers and want squad tactics with real weight. If you prefer a finished campaign, add it to your list and check back as updates arrive. For the studio’s earlier game, read our Battle Brothers review; for big-picture sci-fi strategy, see our Terra Invicta review.
Sources
- Steam store page and user reviews for MENACE
- PC Gamer: MENACE Early Access impressions and update coverage
- Turn Based Lovers: MENACE Early Access review
- Steam Deck HQ: MENACE Early Access review
- FinalBoss: MENACE Early Access review
- Nexus store page for MENACE
Last checked against sources: 12 November 2026.
