Underplayed Gems

Strain Tactics (2017)

Strain Tactics cover
Developer
Touch Dimensions Interactive
Platforms
Windows
Genres
Action, Adventure, Indie, RPG, Strategy
Rating
4.3 of 5, 241 player ratings
Typical playtime
about 9.6 hours
Where to get it
Steam
The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A deliberate, squad-focused tactical experience where you pause to plan each move against swarming aliens, balancing resource management with customizable loadouts.

tacticalreal-time with pausegorycustomizabletop-downsquad-basedpost-apocalypticstrategic

What players say

Players praise the strategic depth, unit customization, and satisfying combat, but nearly all mention clunky controls inherited from the mobile port. Many compare it favorably to Rimworld's RTS combat, while frustration with friendly fire and awkward interface is common. Long-time players note development appears stalled.

Screenshots

Strain Tactics screenshot 1Strain Tactics screenshot 2Strain Tactics screenshot 3Strain Tactics screenshot 4Strain Tactics screenshot 5

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.