Menace Review: Fresh Turn‑Based Tactics for PC Gamers

Menace Revitalizes Turn‑Based Tactics with Platoon‑Scale Warfare

Generally, I am excited to share my thoughts on Menace, a game that has been making waves in the gaming community. Apparently, the indie crew behind Battle Brothers dropped a new early‑access game called Menace on February 5, and it has been getting a lot of attention. Normally, I would be skeptical about a new game, but Menace seems to be doing something right, mixing campaign management with fast‑paced platoon combat, which is a great combination for fans of Jagged Alliance and X‑COM.

Setting and Premise

Obviously, the setting of a game is crucial, and Menace does not disappoint. You lead a rag‑tag crew of space marines after a warp‑gate blew up, which is a pretty intense scenario. Usually, I would expect a game to have a more straightforward premise, but Menace throws you into the deep end, with the ship being half‑ruined, the higher ups are dead, and you must keep a shaky peace in a star system ruled by crime syndicates, megacorporations, and military dictatorships. Naturally, supplies are low, and weapons are scarce, so you end up recruiting locals, sometimes shady mercs or criminal types, to build a makeshift force, which is a great way to add some depth to the game.

Core Gameplay

Clearly, the mission structure of Menace is well thought out, with each mission having clear objectives that end the round when they’re done. Usually, I would expect a game to have some kind of endless waves or survival mode, but Menace takes a different approach, requiring you to stop an enemy advance, defend a building for a set number of turns, or breach a fortified zone, which is a great way to keep the game exciting. Normally, success in a game like this would rely on raw firepower, but Menace requires positioning and selective engagement, which is a great way to add some depth to the game.

Progress and Development

Fortunately, the developers of Menace are committed to supporting the game, with new updates and content being added all the time. At the time of review, only about a third of the final content is live, but new weapons, enemies, and squad leaders have dropped since launch, which is a great sign. Obviously, there are still some rough edges, but the team’s track record with Battle Brothers gives hope for steady updates, and some things, like the black‑market gear pool, still feel like placeholders, but I am sure they will be improved over time.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, I think Menace captures the depth of heavy wargames while staying more accessible, which is a great combination. Generally, the mix of tactical nuance, squad customization, and supply‑management creates a loop that keeps strategy fans hooked, and I am no exception. Obviously, there are still some early‑access rough edges, but the core shines, so I recommend it to anyone who likes commanding a small force in hostile terrain, and I am excited to see how the game develops over time.

Availability

Currently, you can grab Menace on Steam right now in early access, which is a great way to get in on the ground floor of a new game. Apparently, a full launch is slated for later this year, but I would recommend checking it out now, as it is already a great game, and it will only get better with time.