Needless to say, I’m eagerly anticipating MENACE, the new project from Overhype Studios, the minds behind one of the best indie strategy RPGs ever, Battle Brothers.
I’ve been closely following development of this new sci-fi project, and over the past few months I’ve published articles in step with the devlogs, where the developers break down all the mechanics and the design logic behind each feature.
A few hours ago, the ever-present publisher Hooded Horse, who lately seems to be handling every interesting strategy title and then some, announced the launch window for the PC Early Access release.
MENACE is set in the lawless Wayback system, where players command a marine strike force aboard the TCRN Impetus and respond to distress calls across multiple worlds.
Squads can field infantry, tanks, and mechs, and losses must be replaced with recruits drawn from mercenaries or even criminals met along the way. Operations span multiple missions, so planning manpower and equipment across objectives matters, and the threat escalates as the titular MENACE emerges.
Fans of Overhype’s grounded, consequence-heavy combat should expect permanent losses, suppression, and equipment choices to drive outcomes in mission-to-mission play, with vehicles and specialist weapons expanding tactical options.
The demo focuses on those combat layers today, while the full release will layer in the wider campaign structure Overhype has been outlining across previews and store materials.
MENACE will enter Early Access on PC on February 5, 2026, with releases planned on Steam, GOG, the Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store. It will also be available day one via PC Game Pass as a Game Preview title.
A free Steam demo is live now. It delivers a full, procedurally generated operation with army-building options aimed at replayability, but holds back the broader strategic layer for the full game.
