Menace From Overhype and Hooded Horse Will Be Released in February 2026

The first game in Hooded Horse's 2026 line-up is Menace, a sci-fi turn-based tactics RPG from Overhype Studios (Battle Brothers) in Hamburg. It will be released on PC via Early Access in February 2026, as well as on launch day via PC Game Pass.

Not this year, but on 5 February 2026 - that's the Early Access release date for Menace. The sci-fi, turn-based tactical RPG will be coming to Steam, GOG, the Epic Games Store and the Microsoft Store. It will be available on day one via PC Game Pass (Game Preview). Menace is the second game from Overhype Studios, who released the highly acclaimed Battle Brothers in 2017. Hooded Horse is the publisher.

Players interested in the game can try the demo, which is now available on Steam. It provides a complete, procedurally generated operation and some army-building options to enhance replayability. This is primarily a combat-focused demo, with elements such as the strategic layer left out.

Fans of Jagged Alliance, X-COM, Battle Brothers and possibly Total War should feel right at home with this game. Overhype and Hooded Horse described it as follows: "Lead a strike force of marines, misfits, and miscreants in the Wayback system, a lawless frontier far from the core worlds, beset by pirates, warlords, morally bankrupt corporations, and fractured local governments who struggle for dominance. Aboard the TCRN Impetus, players will lead an ensemble cast of colourful characters who will lead their forces, whether that’s fielding mechs, tanks, or infantry squads. Cut off from civilization, players must utilize whatever resources and weapons they can buy or scrounge, with a vast array of equipment, weapons, and armors to choose from when assembling their squads and vehicles. As the Marines take losses, they'll need to replenish their numbers from the ranks of mercenaries or even criminals they encounter. Travelling from planet to planet, players will need to plan out multi-staged operations, ensuring there is enough manpower and equipment to meet all objectives. And just as some semblance of order emerges ... the Menace arrives."

And during the Tokyo Direct 2025 showcase, Hooded Horse and Takibi Games - a one-person studio founded by Yuji Nakamura in 2022 - presented a new trailer for Mars Tactics and confirmed a release date of May 2026.

Hooded Horse is a publisher of strategic and tactical games. Its portfolio includes Manor Lords, Against the Storm, Endless Legend 2, Old World, Norland and Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era and 9 Kings (in collaboration with Instinct3). In the coming months, Hexxen: Hunters from Ulisses Spiele Digital, Drill Keeper from ShoulderByte, Menace from Overhype Studios (February 2026), and Super Fantasy Kingdom from Super Fantasy Games (24 October 2025) will also be released. All of these games originate from Germany. Hooded Horse has also taken over the distribution of Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew from Mimimi Games.

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