MENACE
Developer Overhype Studios
Lead a strike force against an alien threat in this turn-based tactical RPG from the developers of Battle Brothers. Answer distress calls across different worlds, train and equip infantry, deploy tanks and mechs, and plan and execute missions in detailed turn-based battles. From the Steam store page
576 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Nov 5, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
441 positive · 51 negative
95% range 87–92%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 441 | 51 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 18 | 2 | 58 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 2 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
What players are saying
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 291 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (12,616 of 13,874 positive).
Players praise the game's tactical depth and satisfying combat, comparing it favorably to XCOM and Battle Brothers. [1][2][3] Some reviewers note the game is still in early access with rough edges, but show strong potential. [3][4][5] A few players criticize the AI for cheating and the turn limit objectives for rushing gameplay. [6][7][8]
- [7]
I wanted to like Menace. I wanted to like the game so very badly. When I heard some friends talking about a new XCOM-like, I was super excited, since I practically grew up on the XCOM series. Playing the first few missions through the game it certainly feels like everything I enjoyed about other tile-based TBS's, but with a much more satisfying system for gunplay and damaging enemy units. Then I started actually …
- [1]
I was granted the opportunity to playtest the game, so take my hours played before review with a grain of salt. I put 70 hours into the playtest and saw it at it's "worst" (which was still extremely polished and very very fun). I can't say enough how amazing the Overhype team has been. They're SO on top of things, making changes, fixing balancing. For such a small team, you'd think it's a huge studio. Kudos to them …
- [3]
I’ve been playing video games for about 45 years, and I also work in the industry professionally. At this point, I’ve probably played tens of thousands of games. I don’t write reviews for everything I play, but Menace is one of the rare exceptions. For anyone who doesn’t want to read a long review: this game is very good. Back when I was playing Battle Brothers, I kept thinking that if this team ever made a sci-fi …
- [12]
For clarification sake i was a NDA beta tester for the game, have over 50 hours in the game thats not being counted The battle brothers devs have done something quite special once again, at quite a reasonable price too for how much work was done for this game Do NOT go into this game expecting another xcom, there is ZERO overwatch mechanic in this game, this is a boon not a downside. the game is instead focused …
- [6]
The only problem I have is the AI cheating as it knows where Im putting my airstrikes etc and moves out of the way as if it knows... every time... it is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ and a poor way to artificially make the game harder. Things like the alien behaviour actively working against you achieving the time limit mission by hiding in corners. It sucks and really makes a huge negative impact on the game.
Summarised from 34 of the 350 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 11, 2026. How summaries are made
MENACE sits at 90% positive across 492 opinionated reactions from 4 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Reactions
60 of 576 · most liked firstUpdated August 2026: Mechanically there is a game here, and I spent quite a bit of time poking at it to understand - is it fun? The answer is still: NOT FUN. The removal of "Promotion Tax" and the OCI rework are the two improvements that make Menace more playable, but it's nowhere near the "Brutal" combat of Battle Brothers. Here is the crux of the problem with this game - the "move one unit, then AI moves one unit" is all tense and engaging IF (and only IF) your units are intermixed with the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I wanted to like Menace. I wanted to like the game so very badly. When I heard some friends talking about a new XCOM-like, I was super excited, since I practically grew up on the XCOM series. Playing the first few missions through the game it certainly feels like everything I enjoyed about other tile-based TBS's, but with a much more satisfying system for gunplay and damaging enemy units. Then I started actually watching the AI when it takes its turns. The AI just flat out cheats. Even if…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I was granted the opportunity to playtest the game, so take my hours played before review with a grain of salt. I put 70 hours into the playtest and saw it at it's "worst" (which was still extremely polished and very very fun). I can't say enough how amazing the Overhype team has been. They're SO on top of things, making changes, fixing balancing. For such a small team, you'd think it's a huge studio. Kudos to them for bringing us this game! P.S. Bring ammo bags, and pay attention to the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Not a game for the working parent. I dont have a lot of time to play, I tried to give myself 45 minutes to play but when interrupted I have to turn the game off and start the mission again later. Not being able to save mid mission will also mean I can not play on my steam deck on the way to work, which was one main reason I bought thr game.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A Strong Core Undermined by Baffling Design Choices This is a strange review to write, because on one hand I genuinely like Menace, but on the other it’s weighed down by some truly baffling design decisions that feel completely at odds with the soul of the experience. I’ll also be drawing comparisons to Battle Brothers, given it’s the game that put this developer on the map and clearly shares the same DNA. Core Gameplay: Solid and Enjoyable At its heart, Menace works. The core mechanics are…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →"In war, truth is the first casualty" Like many others, I was hyped for the next Overhype Studios game, having hundreds of hours in BB, my expectations were also high. True to their name, Overhype marketed Menace aggressively, Cyberpunk 2077 level of hype imho (for turn-based games, that is, but still), leading to fans saying: "Will I be able to pre-install the game?" "Discount on launch? generous!" "I took a vacation or a day off to play Menace on release" What all that excitement led to,…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Just beat the main story of one run on Normal Difficulty after 28hrs. I found the game very enjoyable. Some notes: -Killer audio and voice acting -Game looks sick. Laser rifle animations are unreasonably cool -Game runs great. Small FPS drops when really zoomed in while stuff is goin on -Gameplay loop was satisfying although a bit dry at times. To be fair I picked the easiest options most of the time. Missions do have a fair amount of variety -The tactical layer of this game is remarkably…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I’ve been playing video games for about 45 years, and I also work in the industry professionally. At this point, I’ve probably played tens of thousands of games. I don’t write reviews for everything I play, but Menace is one of the rare exceptions. For anyone who doesn’t want to read a long review: this game is very good. Back when I was playing Battle Brothers, I kept thinking that if this team ever made a sci-fi tactics game with the same level of depth, it could be something really…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What is M.E.N.A.C.E from a seasoned player's perspective? M.E.N.A.C.E is a squad-based, combined-arms, turn-based tactical strategy game set in the far future. It features a tactical layer where you take direct control of your troops, and a strategic layer involving the planning and equipping of your forces before each deployment. What M.E.N.A.C.E IS NOT: It is NOT XCOM. I cannot state this enough: it’s not "e-fin" XCOM—and that is a good thing! (To be clear, I’ve loved XCOM since Terror from…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a framework of a game, but it's an incredibly promising and fun framework. The short review is that this is the intersection of XCOM and a tabletop wargame, and is better than either in many regards. If you like those two things you will likely love this game, as I do. --- Below is my longer-form subjective feedback for the devs, or anyone curious about the weaker points --- - Line of sight needs a bit more granularity, troops can't "look around corners" when really it feels…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →All the little things have annoyed me from decades of playing XCOM and Jagged Alliance are carefully and intelligently fixed in this. I'm super impressed with the choices made. I'll list a few, but the short of it is that if your game is this solid to play just from basic combat and management layer gameplay, you can only go up from there. -Squaddies act as an HP buffer for named Squad Leaders. You don't have to balance character injuries or getting a bad RNG and losing a veteran character,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Right now Menace isnt worth your time and money. It needs significant work to come close to the pre launch hype it had and the (lofty) expectations it had. My biggest gripe is the games AI. Its bad, really bad. It suffers from 3 major sins: 1. The AI doesnt pose a tactical challenge in most cases. Its main challenge is from the number of units and the power of those units. Admittedly this is the case for most games in the genre. 2. The AI is not fun to fight. It will constantly run away,…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I hate to give this game a bad review but after how amazing Battle Brothers is I expected way more. Menace is a game that tries to be something akin to a tabletop wargame while at the same time pretending to be something completely different. What this means is you get a mish mash of different gameplay systems that don't seem to interact all that well together. Some of the biggest offenders are the supply system which forces you into a zero sum game where you can't just promote your characters…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Everybody is talking about the positives. They're likely doing it better than me. Here are the few negatives I have, which are mostly the pains of early access rather than poor game design overall. Updating review: 1: They made civilians actually run away from enemies. This is good. However, allied squads in defense missions suck. They will sit OUTSIDE the walls of their base and usually die in the 2-3 turns it takes to reach them. The bases also have no turrets and minimal cover so the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Things I like: The combat and movement feels really good. It's not the most complex progression system but it's just interesting enough, imo Things I don't like: Dislike that missions are timed despite it being a turn-based game Dislike that player is rushed and incentivized to complete the mission as fast as possible instead of reward players for strategic thinking, especially for a turn-based strategy game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Early review, I am one of the playtesters for this game and have around 50+ hours of play testing this game. This game is not the next xcom and honestly people saying it is the next xcom yadda yadda are playing this game down a lot and setting expectations that this is an xcom like game. It is not. It is a middle ground of many games like JA, Xcom:UFOD, Combat mission, Armoured brigade ect. compressed into an fairly easy to get into game imo. While the game is still in an early state (you…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Only if there wasnt a "Complete within X Rounds" as the secondary objectives. I'm sure many players would like to take their time, plan and move slowly, use motion scanners, stealth and not constantly pushing forward. I know I can ignore it and still be fine, but its still there as an objective.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I killed them all, not just the menace, but the womenace and the childrenace too
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Playing a bit of Menace (turn based tactics game from the Battle Brothers devs), and I'm kind of fascinated by the use of turn order as a mechanic to really give you the sense that your troops are an elite force, but also vulnerable. Played right, it delivers the 'knife-through-butter' fantasy.
positive · AI labelView post →Fantastic game, yes there are still bugs, yes there are still several errors, but the spirit is there, hoping for a good development cycle into the full version The Good: - Lead your little band of battle brothers (and sisters) - Good amount of unit customization - The unit banter The Bad: - The skill tree for each squad leader has been nerfed from the demo - You start at rock bottom, leads to first few missions being a struggle - Mission loot rewards have also been severely nerfed The Ugly:…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Top of my game, cutest I've ever been, actually learning how to use a fucking camera............... I am a Menace!!!! Moreover, ICE must be destroyed
neutral · AI labelView post →Yes, there are a lot of things I'd love to see in Menace: better ballistics, smarter AI, heavy walkers, more characters, heavy walkers, streamlined cover and stealth systems, heavy walkers please, but even without all of this, Menace is already a very stable, competent, and engaging game. I'd say buy it now, and let's see what the future holds.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →April 19, 1996: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: Iain McCaig explored the idea of a female Sith. The look was used for the Nightsisters in the video game Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance (2008), and then the TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars in 2011. #StarWarsArchives19992005
neutral · AI labelView post →Awesome game with great concepts executed well and with an active development team. Pros: - Great tactical gameplay which feels rewarding and challenging. - Squad based units with squaddies as health for the Squad Leaders work quite well balance wise. Units lose combat effectiveness as they take damage and lose squaddies. - Vehicles feel great to use, are not overpowered and must be played tactically. - Great visuals. - Story seems to have an interesting start. - Great interaction between…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →TL;DR - Version : 7/10 score - Will have fun, but don't expect TOO much. Many things are obsolete and there is a strong meta. You do NOT have to, but you will find them on your own easily enough, and you will lean towards them. Bit expensive for an early access game. Don't get it unless you are into it. + Game is fun, and can be enjoyed for quite some time. + Sound design is great, each gun sounds good, some even sound meaty! + Feedback on damage is great, you can feel those explosions and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →For clarification sake i was a NDA beta tester for the game, have over 50 hours in the game thats not being counted The battle brothers devs have done something quite special once again, at quite a reasonable price too for how much work was done for this game Do NOT go into this game expecting another xcom, there is ZERO overwatch mechanic in this game, this is a boon not a downside. the game is instead focused around suppressing, pinning down, flanking and killing targets in a way which…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →XCOM on a bigger scale with squaddies who have unique perks, combined with a unique logistics system, squad-size option, unique suppression mechanics, and mission-to-mission modifiers is a short way of putting it, but it sells it very, very short. This game has eaten my life. I am a closeted save-scummer. I hate myself, but I abused it during X-COM. Losing a squaddie was too much for me. This game pats you on the shoulder, tells you it understands, but also tells you that while it will…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →MENACE had a truly incredible launch weekend. @overhypestudios.bsky.social broke 20,000 concurrent players with 86% positive reviews on Steam. Thank you to everyone who has played the game, provided feedback, and enjoyed MENACE so far! It's been an honor to serve as the publisher for this project.
neutral · AI labelView post →I really want to love this game, foundation is solid, the path is clear. Yet balance, AI and point system for everything will make you tear your hear out in frustration. I feel really tired after 30 hours of min-maxing points for every mission, playing switcharoo of what units gonna equip for a mission vs what I actually need. AI will play hide and seek with your concealed units (that they technically don't see. More prevalent with Army faction, others not as much). Fight against 4-5 bombardier…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Love the game but the turn limit bonus objectives kill the vibe for me.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Everyone is saying "It's like x other game", xcom, battle brothers, etc. but let me tell you what game its actually like: Battletech lol. I like Battletech, and from gameplay to mechanics to even maps, (very vaguely) setting, and vibes, this is very similar in my opinion (at least as similar as one turn based strategy game is going to be to another without actually being the same thing). I'm pretty sure there was even a mod for Battletech that added infantry squads. Yeah, it's like Battletech,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I let The Menace play a video game (“mouse for cats”) on my iPad and anyway, I guess it’s her iPad now.
neutral · AI labelView post →A surprisingly well-polished early access title, taking a lot of inspiration from X-COM and Jagged Alliance series, while giving it a fresh spin and cool mechanics. It looks good, runs well and is an absolute blast to play, rewarding you for smart tactical choices, equipment choice and squad lead skill upgrades (all of which are substantial, not +5% DMG nodes). What surprised me quite a bit is that there is very little 'fodder gear' you won't use - each piece has its niche and will play well…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →you play for 10 hours slamming literal insects and junk yard pirates, thinking you're hot ♥♥♥♥ and then the game goes "aight, think this guy's settled" and chucks full on armies with spotters, heavy duty autocannons, laser mechs, mortar support and concrete bunker installations at you. it's very different from battle brothers, but you know that feeling of utter dread when your top performer suddenly loses his head to an orc warchief? yeah, it's very much still here. a flamethrower snuck up…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →my Jane Darby impression from Menace game
neutral · AI labelView post →It's just a bunch of video game cut scenes stapled together. The Phantom Menace was boring and plot was nonsensical but at least that was, you know, a physical movie that was made with that intention.
neutral · AI labelView post →The only problem I have is the AI cheating as it knows where Im putting my airstrikes etc and moves out of the way as if it knows... every time... it is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ and a poor way to artificially make the game harder. Things like the alien behaviour actively working against you achieving the time limit mission by hiding in corners. It sucks and really makes a huge negative impact on the game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →TLDR - Good, but not worth the price in its current state (June 2026). Missions & enemies feel repetitive, turn-by-turn strategy is not engaging enough. But the dev updates do look interesting and I think the core of the game is quite good. **This review is under review** After the most recent update I wanted to play again fresh and see what I thought and it might just be looking at the game outside of a "first time user experience" but it feels like a lot of the issues I raised were impacted…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Soft recommend, with the following in mind. Impressions are good from a turn-based strategy game. Lots of customization, great aesthetic, surprisingly fun writing and characterization (though some characters can be grating), and generally above average levels. However, while this game bills itself as "hard", it is not. The difficulty comes from the following. Enemies consistently knowing your weapon range and staying out of it, despite this being out character for disorganized pirates.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I like Menace. It's a game about a woman called Marta and the people she works with.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I love this company and BB and I know this is in early access but with that acknowledged I cannot reccommend buying this game in it's current state. Far too repetitive without enough depth. Same missions, same enemies, same enemy behaviours, same missions, same map layouts. I feel like this is a game I'll uninstall for now and come back and check on if it's a full game in a year.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Tay's review perfectly sums up the issues I have with this game, so I'm going to copy-paste with one addition. Some missions, especially the Rescue and Disengage, are set up where it's impossible to get a 5-star, sometimes impossible to succeed at the mission itself. A rescue unit starts too far away to get to in time, and no matter what you do you won't be able to stop an enemy unit that spawns right on top of them from killing them. "By no means a bad game with some interesting ideas…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[Upcoming game] Menace (2026) Introducing the TCRN Impetus:
neutral · AI labelView post →Feedback and Improvement Requests from a big XCOM fan As a huge fan of XCOM 2, I think this is a fantastic game! I'm sending over some improvement requests and feedback. I might add more to this list as I keep playing. 1. Targeting UI Update: When hovering the cursor over an enemy and then switching weapons, the stats window doesn't update. It is a bit annoying to have to move the cursor away and refocus on the enemy just to see the updated stats. 2. Cursor Visibility on Snow Maps: On snow…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The best thing about MENACE is the game devs have discovered "Women"
positive · AI labelView post →Been playing this nonstop since the moment it released, this is legit one of the first games I've played in a really long time that's made me genuinely excited to boot my PC up in the morning. This is early access done right: heaps of replayable content, fun gameplay with minimal bugs, and responsive, quick hotfixes and updates. Will keep me hooked throughout the development process. As for the actual content, there's tons here. The squad leaders are very distinct, for one, with a lot more…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →MENACE has officially passed 250,000 copies sold. This is a major milestone for the game. We appreciate everyone who has given us their time and their support on this project. Thank you.
neutral · AI labelView post →This game is a masterpiece. Small details add extra appeal to the game. Even If you are not familiar with the genre, this is the game you need to have. -Graphics Really beautiful. Every detail is crazy good. Atmosphere is cathcy. Especially lightning and SHADOWS. Jesus, shadows are really amazing!!! I can just watch the sadows for hours, great great work on this. Let's not forget to mention partical effects which is also really satisfaying to watch. Every planet has its unique climate(or…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've been in the playtest for about 80 hours or so, and the launch version is that with a few improvements and tweaks, so here goes: Menace is fantastic. Absolutely worth your time, even in its launch state. It isn't XCOM, but instead something closer to Jagged Alliance. Squad Leaders have personalities, chatter to each other, panic when things go wrong, and celebrate when they go on killstreaks. The gameplay is combined arms (vehicles and squads of infantry). You suppress enemies to keep…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →MENACE is about battlefield control. Combat takes place on large, grid-based maps where positioning, line of sight, and terrain matter enormously. Elevation, cover types, suppression zones, and chokepoints all play a decisive role, and careless movement is often punished immediately. The game emphasizes combined arms tactics. Infantry alone cannot win most engagements; vehicles, drones, heavy weapons, and support units are essential. Tanks and armored transports provide firepower and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →TL, DR: The game is good, but still needs to be cooked. But the foundation is solid. The review has been edited after playing through most of the available content, getting a fully completed OCI, and maxxing relations with all of the current factions on Normal difficulty as of Patch 2. It primarily talks about negative points of the game, so the devs can receive more feedback from it(do note, the game is still amazing!) The Good: -Good variety of enemies already -Good voice acting/character…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →MENACE is a game made by a development studio that gets it. They understand the important things to include in a turn-based strategy game like this. On top of a set of solid fundamental game systems is the exact kind of polish and personality that I love these kinds of games for - every unit you deploy is led by a unique squad leader, with their own portraits, personalities, and very well done voice acting - every action you take, and nearly every thing that happens to the squad leaders out…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →disclaimer: 200+ hours in Beta Test A new classic emerges; X-COM, Jagged Alliance 2, and now MENACE. This is the squad tactics game gamers have been craving! Even in EA, the game is extremely FUN! The tactical level is captivating and compelling; Decisions matter, Loadouts Matter, Tactics Matter! To be successful, players will have to manage their squads and execute the 4 F's of Tactical Combat: Find, Fix, Flank, Finish. Pros: Highly Engaging tactical combat Tactics matter Characters…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As a fan of Battle Brothers this game is simultaneously more accessible and deeper than Battle Brothers. It's clear, as it always has been, that Overhype is responsive to the feedback of their community and it's very obvious in this game that they're working hard to address the steep learning curve present in their previous game. But not to fear, while Battle Brothers' learning curve was more of a steep cliff, MENACE's learning curve is a hill that eventually reaches higher than Battle…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →...you know, something I find genuinely impressive in MENACE is how the squad leaders look like the squad leaders in game?
positive · AI labelView post →So, while I have been enjoying the essence of this game for the most part, there are some issues that could to be addressed involving GAMEPLAY. 1: Combat needs less transparency on effects and a nice big notification when you kill a squad. It is super easy to mistake a group of corpses for a squad that is suppressed because of how little information is provided. While it might take some extra effort, I've wasted quite a few bullets on this little mistake. It would also be nice if casual firing…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Like other people have stated before I really really enjoy the game but how the computer plays is "Cheap" almost akin to cheating. They are always out of line or out of sight or 1 tile away from getting hit by your weapons always forcing you to move into cover and come into their fire. This forces you to stack armor or range because there is no way to "outsmart" them really as they know exactly what their range and your range is and how to perfectly move in or out of your line of sight even…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Menace is a tactical turn-based war game about some distant future and far far away outer space location, where people are still fighting each other over a piece of bread or different beliefs, using mostly the wide-known war techs from the XXth century. Platforms like HK, AK, AR, MOWAG/LAW, and all that, are mixed with orbital laser installations and a warp jump system. You play as a major of a severely damaged unit of the domestic human empire space marines, which came to the fringes of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I LOVE this game. A very strong skeleton for Early Access. Just the right blend of XCOM and Battle Brothers. Faster Than Light campaign style keeps it fresh between runs. The voice acting is amazing, believable, and the feel of each character is very engrossing. I appreciate the game's direction of pinning, flanking, and maneuvers rather than brute force and overwatch. Takes the defensive turtle mind and forces you to adapt and use the team together instead of coddling one unit the entire…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is an early access review. I think this game has so much potential! Gameplay is very smooth and makes a lot of fun with challenging tactics but there are several concept issues that I usually find very irritating with similar games. First and the most terrible: Time limits as a general concept in a tactical game are a no go for me. If I want to play a turn based game, I want to think about a good tactic and play it out and not stupidly run after an enemy to match the time limit. This get´s…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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