The first thing to know about Terra Invicta, the ambitious space strategy game from the makers of The Long War mod for XCOM, is that it is very big. It’s probably bigger than you think. After a delay announced last year, Terra Invicta is out today on Steam Early Access and on GOG, and there’s enough for two full games already.
Terra Invicta is a grand strategy game where you play as a faction that forms in response to humanity’s first contact with aliens. They’ve arrived, they’ve got a plan, and it’s up to you to act. This isn’t an XCOM game, though – in the opening hours of the campaign, you’ll play a game more akin to Paradox’s lineup of strategy games, sending a handful of agents around the world to bolster support for your faction. other agents and research new technologies that will help you fight (or embrace) the alien invasion.
A lot is already happening at this level. The Earth is simulated to a surprising degree of granularity, from the levels of political unrest in individual countries to the amount of anthropogenic climate change taking place at any given time. However, Terra Invicta also includes an almost overwhelmingly detailed simulation of space battles.
Not only will you manage the politics and logistics of an Earth-based faction seeking to industrialize nearby space, you’ll also design, operate, and lead a fleet of space-based battleships and habitation stations. Once you’ve gone into space, you’ll be able to discover a whole world of naval tactics and Newtonian physics, as well as enemy habs to infiltrate and take over.
It’s a lot to take in, so proceed with caution if you’re new to big strategy games. If you’re up for a challenge that requires you to bite your nails for tens of hours, Terra Invicta may be just what you’ve been waiting for. You can find it on both Steam and GOG if you’re ready to dive in.