A brand new trailer just dropped for this quietly hyped early 2026 strategy RPG, but you can get your hands on it right now instead (depending on which platform you’re on, of course).
X-COM fans aren’t going to be treated to a new game in the franchise any time soon, but you are going to be able to get your hands on the next closest thing once February 2026 rolls around.
MENACE, an upcoming tactical RPG from developers Overhype Studios and publisher Hooded Horse, has been slowly creeping up the Steam wishlist charts for a while now.
In fact, I was going to say that it’s ranked on the #56 spot on the Steam wishlist charts, but that probably won’t be the case by the time this article goes live, because it seems that it’s already jumped up a spot following the release of its latest cinematic trailer (have a look at that below).
Either way, that’s a pretty high ranking for a game that’s not being covered an awful lot online, so what’s got people rushing to Steam to wishlist it?
That likely has to do with the rather positive reception to the demo that went live on Steam at the end of last month, which currently has a “Very Positive” rating on the platform, with roughly 87% of the 1,000+ reviews being positive.
Alternatively, it could have something to do with the financial and critical success of Overhype Studios’ Battle Brothers, as its positive reception won the developer a lot of die-hard fans back in 2017.
For the time being, if you simply cannot wait to try it out for yourself, that’s the only way you’ll be able to play it until its Early Access release in February 2026.
However, if you aren’t sure you want to take a risk on this one, you will also be able to play it on day one through the Xbox Game Pass Game Preview program, but only on PC.
From what I can tell, there are no current plans to bring MENACE to either Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X, nor is it scheduled for release on PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch 2.
I’d wager that the devs are waiting to see how the Early Access/Game Preview build of the game performs before they announce any potential console ports of its full release.
But hey, at least you’ll be able to try it out for free through PC Game Pass… that is, if Xbox Game Pass even has any subscribers left by the time February 2026 rolls around.
This sounds exciting! It’s great to see the PC Game Pass expanding with new titles, especially with a day-one RPG. The trailer must be stunning, and I appreciate the opportunity to try out the demo. Looking forward to more updates!
the addition of day one RPGs. It really opens up opportunities for gamers to try out new experiences without committing to full purchases. Plus, having a demo available allows players to gauge if it’s their style before diving in!
Absolutely! The day one RPGs are a game-changer, especially for those who might be hesitant to invest in new titles. This could encourage more creativity in the genre, as developers know players will have immediate access. It’ll be exciting to see how this shapes the future of RPGs!
I agree; day one RPGs really do make gaming more accessible! It’s great to see developers recognizing this trend, as it encourages more players to dive into new experiences without the upfront cost. The stunning visuals in the trailer also suggest that this RPG could set a new standard for graphics in the genre!