MENACE vs GreedFall: The Dying World

• Perspective: Isometric / Top-Down
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Sci-Fi (Wayback System)
• Platforms: PC, Xbox
• Release Window: 2026
• Unique Feature: A deep turn-based tactical game featuring a high-stakes, persistent campaign with permanent losses, drawing inspiration from Battle Brothers and XCOM.

• Squads: The player commands multiple squads, each consisting of a leader and up to nine 'squatties'. Squads act as a single unit in combat, relying on synergy and discipline.
  Marines, Mercenaries, Criminals

• Promotion Points: Earned by completing missions and used to customize Squad Leader perk trees.
• Strategic Assets: Temporary benefits gained during operations (e.g., mortar base, intelligence network) that provide tactical advantages on the battlefield.

• Sci-Fi
• Tactical RPG
• Turn-Based Strategy
• Squad Management
• Permanent Loss
• Military Simulation

• Infantry Weapon (Primary): Assault Rifles, etc.
  The main weapon used by all squatties. Weapon selection is crucial as damage, penetration, and suppression capacity vary. The R14 A2 ARC Assault Rifle is an example.
• Infantry Special Weapon: Heavy Weapons
  Specialist weapons like RPGs, Sniper Rifles, Flamethrowers, and EMP Cannons. They can only be used when the squad is Deployed (crouched).
• Vehicle Weapons: Modular Weapons
  Heavy weapons like MMGs, light flamethrowers, or plasma rifles that are mounted on vehicles and chosen via modular weapon slots.

• Infantry Armor: Armor determines the squad's Armor Value. Different classes have different armor ratings (Class 2 for shrapnel, Class 3 for SMG calibers, Class 6 for heavy protection). Armor has durability and can be repaired during missions.

• Uniforms and Armor Variants: Customization is functional and aesthetic, with various armor types and accessories that can be equipped, influencing tactical performance (e.g., reducing suppression intake or increasing mobility).

Progression is persistent and tied to the campaign's strategic layer. Players upgrade the mobile HQ (TCRN Impetus) to gain benefits like Intel Components (for seeing enemy positions). Squad Leaders gain promotion points from missions to customize their unique perk trees. The entire strike force benefits from acquired equipment (spoils of war, black market buys) and temporary 'Strategic Assets' (e.g., mortar base, auxiliary infantry) gained during Operations.

A classless progression system allows for deep customization. Players invest in Attributes like Strength, Willpower, and Focus (for action points) and Skill Trees such as Protector (Tank), Hunter (Ranged), and Doneigad (Magic). Talents like Diplomacy, Stealth, and Alchemy offer non-combat solutions to quests, allowing players to talk, sneak, or bribe their way through obstacles. A robust crafting system at workbenches allows for visual and statistical upgrades to gear, which can even help players blend into specific social circles.

The game features multiple planets with different biomes, each containing complex 'Operations'. Operations are mini-campaigns with 3–5 procedural missions and branching paths on a single planet. The maps are detailed, tactical, and feature environmental factors like varying terrain, dynamic weather, and night cycles that limit visibility and line of sight.

The game features several large, interconnected semi-open regions rather than one continuous landmass. Key locations include Olima (the City of Stars), Uxantis (the Nauts' capital), and the war-torn Deutan Empire. Each region is distinct, ranging from dense urban centers with cobblestone streets to treacherous mountain passes and coastal shipyards. Players use a Travel Interface to move between these locations, which are populated with unique fauna, secret paths, and faction-specific settlements that react to the player's presence.

• TCRN Impetus: Mobile Headquarters
  The player's central base of operations, used for managing budgets, recruiting troops, upgrading components, and providing orbital support to ground troops.
• AATV / Troop Carriers / MLRS: Ground Vehicles
  Various vehicles used by squad leaders, including All-Terrain Attack Vehicles and Troop Carriers. They are immune to suppression and provide transport and heavy fire support.

• The Commander: Player Character
  The player, who commands the TCRN Impetus strike cruiser and all ground operations.
• Squad Leaders: Squad Commander
  Unique, handwritten characters (e.g., Edwin Pike, Jean Sai) who lead the infantry, vehicles, and mechs. They have unique perks and promotion paths.
• Squatties: Infantry
  The un-named, standard squad members. They are a finite resource, and their permanent loss in combat significantly reduces squad effectiveness.

• Operations (Mini-Campaigns)
  A series of 3–5 procedural missions on a single planet with branching paths. The goal is to complete all objectives to earn high rewards. Losses carry over between missions.
• Mission Prep
  The phase before deployment. Players review intel, position squads, and adjust loadouts based on the mission's logistics limit.

There are no multiplayer modes. The game is designed as a narrative-driven, single-player RPG focusing on party management of AI companions. The developers chose to focus entirely on the tactical Real-Time with Pause systems and branching dialogue trees, ensuring that the solo experience remained the core priority without the balance complications of cooperative or competitive play.

The 'Standard Edition' includes the base game. The 'Doneigad Edition' features the 'Vows of the Ancestors' DLC, a digital artbook, and the orchestral soundtrack. A 'Grand Master's Physical Collection' includes a resin statue of Vriden Gerr, a cloth map of Gacane, and a Steelbook case. Early Access participants received the 'Explorer's Garb' cosmetic set and a unique starting weapon, the 'Root-Carved Blade', as a thank-you for their support during the development phase.

Initial post-launch support focuses on 'The De Vespe Conspiracy' expansion, which delves into the internal power struggle of the Congregation of Merchants. Free updates have introduced 'New Game Plus' mode and a 'Photo Mode'. The developers have also committed to 'The Gacane Chronicles', a series of free community-driven updates that add new side quests and legendary monsters based on player feedback and statistical data from the first six months of release.

• Q: What is MENACE?
  A: MENACE is a deep, single-player turn-based tactical RPG with permanent losses, drawing inspiration from Battle Brothers and XCOM. Players command a strike cruiser and lead squads in tactical sci-fi battles.
• Q: Does it have permadeath?
  A: Yes. If a Squad Leader or any of their infantry members ('squatties') dies in combat, they are permanently removed from the manpower pool, emphasizing the high stakes of every mission.
• Q: What is the 'Per-Faction Turn Order'?
  A: It is a unique turn structure where every faction on the map (including enemies) takes a turn to move one unit. If the enemy outnumbers the player, they may move several units in a row, creating massive pressure and forcing careful positioning.
• Q: Is there a multiplayer mode?
  A: No, the game is a strictly single-player experience with a focus on a deep campaign and strategic management.

• Q: Is GreedFall: The Dying World a sequel?
  A: No, it is a direct prequel set three years before the events of the 2019 GreedFall.
• Q: Can I play the whole game in action mode?
  A: Yes, the 'Focused' combat profile automates companion actions, making it feel more like a traditional action-RPG.
• Q: How long does the prologue last?
  A: The prologue on Teer Fradee typically takes 3 to 5 hours before you reach the Old Continent.
• Q: Are there romance options?
  A: Yes, players can pursue deep relationships and romances with several of the eight companions.
• Q: What is the Malichor?
  A: It is a deadly, terminal plague ravaging Gacane that causes physical decay and madness, central to the game's plot.

Utilizing an evolved version of the Silk Engine, the game employs a 'Golden Era' aesthetic inspired by 17th-century paintings. This results in dramatic lighting, deep shadows, and high-contrast environments. While environmental detail is high, facial animations have been criticized for reuse of assets from the 2019 title. The game supports Ray-Traced Global Illumination on PC and high-end consoles, enhancing the atmosphere of the foggy Gacane streets.

The score is composed by Olivier Derivière, featuring a live orchestra and traditional instruments to blend the 'Old World' industrial sounds with 'Teer Fradee' tribal melodies. The sound design emphasizes the environment, with the creaking of wooden ships in Uxantis and the mechanical hum of Bridge Alliance laboratories. Voice acting is fully localized in several languages, with a unique fictional native tongue created specifically for the indigenous tribes.

The UI features a 'Tracking Vision' mode which highlights environmental clues and enemies in a greyscale filter. The tactical menu is a sleek, minimalist overlay that appears when the game is paused, showing cooldowns, action queues, and status effects clearly. The inventory management follows a grid-based system, categorized by gear type, with a dedicated tab for quest items and documents. Some critics have noted that the UI can feel cluttered during complex 4-vs-10 combat encounters.

The game includes a 'Story Mode' with an 'Infinite Health' toggle, allowing players to skip combat entirely. Other features include highly customizable subtitle sizes, colorblind modes (Protanopia, Deuteranopia, Tritanopia), and a 'Tactical Slowdown' option that replaces the full pause with a 90% speed reduction for those who want a more dynamic but manageable pace. Camera shake and motion blur can be completely disabled to assist players with motion sickness.

• OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. The game is highly accessible and supports a wide range of hardware.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will be excellent on all modern gaming hardware. Good cooling is essential for long sessions.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Not a critical factor for this title, as it is not graphically intensive.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game is not demanding enough to stress modern cooling systems.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Any modern mobile CPU will handle the game with ease.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Not a critical feature, but beneficial for reducing latency in any game.
• Game Name: MENACE

• Performance varies significantly due to optimization levels at launch; SSD is mandatory for asset streaming in dense cities like Olima.
• Laptop Performance Note: Mobile GPUs may struggle with high-density NPC areas. Ensure 'High Performance' mode is active to prevent aggressive CPU downclocking during tactical pause transitions.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Minimum 85W TGP for stable 1080p; 115W+ recommended for 1440p.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: High thermal load during city exploration; undervolting recommended.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Game is CPU-heavy in urban hubs; avoid 'Silent' profiles.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Bypass Optimus for a 10-15% FPS gain in Uxantis.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: DLSS 3.5, FSR 3.1, and XeSS supported.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Volumetric Lighting and Crowd Density have the highest performance cost.
• Game Name: GreedFall: The Dying World

• G P U T G P: Not a critical factor for this title, as it is not graphically intensive.
• Cooling Thermals: The game is not demanding enough to stress modern cooling systems.
• C P U Power Limits: Any modern mobile CPU will handle the game with ease.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Not a critical feature, but beneficial for reducing latency in any game.

• G P U T G P: Minimum 85W TGP for stable 1080p; 115W+ recommended for 1440p.
• Cooling Thermals: High thermal load during city exploration; undervolting recommended.
• C P U Power Limits: Game is CPU-heavy in urban hubs; avoid 'Silent' profiles.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Bypass Optimus for a 10-15% FPS gain in Uxantis.