MENACE Could Be Hooded Horse's Next Huge Hit - Gamescom 2024

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In one of my earlier Gamescom articles, I mentioned that I loved two turn-based strategy games. The first was Rogue Waters, which added a new layer of strategy by allowing you to interact with the environment in numerous ways. However, the second strategy game I am talking about takes this concept in a different direction, and I am overly excited for its eventual release.

MENACE is the newest game from Battle Brothers developer Overhype Studios and publisher Hooded Horse. It’s a top-down turn-based strategy game that feels like a departure from their previous game. You lead a task force of mercenaries into a new planetary system to help achieve order for all of the planets and factions living on them. There are a couple of really awesome things in the game that help it stand out, but I want to start off with my favorite one: the environment.

In Rogue Waters, it was about how you could interact with the environment to your benefit. However, in MENACE, you must consider how your environment can interact with you. For example, the enemy could have turrets when you are on the field. If you attack those, they will be destroyed, but it’s also possible they will blow up and hurt all enemies around them. This isn’t a guarantee, so you must plan for the possibility. Other enemy and ally units have different effects and chances of happening, but what they could do is something to keep in mind while playing. I love this change of pace and the need to think hard about how your actions will not only influence the enemy but also affect the environment and how that, in turn, could affect you.

The game also utilizes an interesting turn-based system. Instead of moving your entire team each turn, you will alternate with the enemy one member at a time. So, you will move one unit on your team, and then when done, the enemy will move one, and the cycle continues. I liked this change-up, and you have to move each unit once before you can move them again. This forces players to think about every soldier they have and what they can do to accomplish each goal. All units are also under a commander instead of on the field by themselves, so as you play, you will outfit and level up your commander, and whatever units are under them will get the perks and weapons you assign.

Outside of battle, the developers made some more intriguing choices. The missions you take on are more like operations and consist of 3-5 battles to complete. A specific faction offers each operation, so you can pick and choose which ones you want to complete, and each one builds trust with the faction. The operations can also have negative effects on different factions, so picking and choosing wisely is important.

While I can’t comment on how the game looks yet since the demo I saw was very alpha, I love what I did see. If the developed continue on their path, this will be a must-have tactical strategy game for fans of the genre. I hope they have Steam Deck compatibility as well because I can see myself sinking hundreds of hours in while I am traveling around for events or just lying in bed. I left the meeting way more excited than I expected it to be, and I think Hooded Horse has another hit on their hands!

MENACE can be wishlisted on Steam ahead of its release.

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