Frustrated with the lack of sequels to XCOM and Jagged Alliance, 20 indie developers became the overwatch they wanted to see in the world. That vision is now called Warhounds, a gritty turn-based tactics game with the features these devs have wanted for so long.
According to the team now christened Brightika, here are some of the innovations they hope you love as much as they do.
Fair ballistics with no RNG in close combat - every bullet is simulated independently, and there's no such thing as missing point-blank.
Cone-based Overwatch - cover zones, not abstract tiles.
Mission-based cinematic campaign - every operation is a self-contained tactical thriller.
Mobile base building aboard a ship, recruit management, faction diplomacy.
Veteran mercs with unique voices and bios, alongside fully customizable recruits.
Gear progression, healing, contracts, drones, exoskeleton armor and more.
After a closed playtest, 94 percent of players gave the game a positive rating with an Average score: 7.6/10. 95 percent wanted to keep playing and follow development. 95 percent? That's a number so high it might allow you to connect at point blank range in XCOM. Sorry, I had to.
Brightika says combat in Warhounds is not about rolling the dice, but owning your decisions. If you get that perfect shot, it's because you've earned it through smart positioning and tactics.
I'm a dedicated armchair general, and everything I've heard here intrigues me. We'll find out if Warhounds can walk the walk soon enough, as it's targeting a Spring 2026 release date.