Overhype Studios Returns With Menace, And Early Access Is Already Hitting Hard
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Overhype Studios has launched the Early Access version of their new turn-based tactics game, Menace, offering players a brutal sci-fi sandbox experience with deep tactical systems and unforgiving combat.
The developers behind Battle Brothers are back with a fresh tactical challenge. Overhype Studios has launched Menace into Early Access on Steam and the Epic Games Store, throwing players straight into the deep end of a punishing sci-fi sandbox. Stepping into the role of a freshly promoted commander on the colonial navy ship TCRN Impetus, players are tasked with restoring order across the volatile Wayback system through procedurally generated planetary operations. As detailed by Julian Benson in his recent feature for Rock Paper Shotgun, the learning curve is steep, and the game offers very little hand-holding beyond the absolute basics.
That lack of friction is precisely where tactical strategy games live or die, and Menace leans hard into the consequences of poor preparation. A simple oversight during squad selection, such as accidentally bringing vehicle commanders without enough transport vehicles, immediately sets the tone for how unforgiving every deployment can be. Players have to manage action points carefully across movement and combat, balancing aggressive mapping maneuvers against the risk of leaving units exposed to brutal suppression mechanics. When a routine counterinsurgency mission on the forest planet of Backbone quickly spirals out of control thanks to well-positioned hostile squads, the game demands absolute tactical awareness.
For strategy fans who cut their teeth on meticulous squad-level planning and permanent consequences, Menace is shaping up to be an essential early access drop for the year. It captures that classic tension of turning every skirmish into a desperate scramble for survival, even when your initial plan relies on shock and awe. Head over to Rock Paper Shotgun to read Julian's full account of how jetpacking space pirates completely dismantled his tactical hubris.
Tags: Menace, Overhype Studios, PC Gaming, Strategy Games, Early Access
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun