Relic Entertainment, the acclaimed developer behind Company of Heroes, is set to launch a new, smaller-scale turn-based strategy game titled Earth vs. Mars this Summer on PC via Steam. In this innovative game, players are tasked with defending our planet from an extraterrestrial invasion by Martian forces. The unique gameplay mechanic involves creating "bizarre and powerful creature-human hybrids" using the Splice-O-Tron. Some of the intriguing hybrid examples include the Squirrel-Cow, Human-Rhino, and Cheetah-Fly. The game draws inspiration from the beloved Nintendo DS classic, Advance Wars, adding a fresh twist to the genre.

According to Relic, "For decades, Martians have been secretly visiting Earth, abducting humans and animals to harvest their atomic essence. Now, they’ve returned with a full-scale invasion, and it’s up to a ragtag group of commanders to lead Earth’s resistance." Players will take charge of Earth's military, facing off against advanced Martian technology, including high-tech saucers, grav-tanks, and elite alien warriors, in a desperate fight for survival.

Earth vs. Mars - First Screenshots

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Earth vs. Mars features a comprehensive 30+ mission single-player campaign, engaging online multiplayer where players can choose to play as either the Earth or Martian faction, a challenging VS Mode against the game's AI, and a versatile map editor for custom gameplay experiences.

“We are excited to bring a Relic Twist to the Advance Wars style of gameplay, infusing some Relic DNA, while harkening back to some of our earlier titles,” said Relic CEO Justin Dowdeswell. He further elaborated on Relic's new strategy, stating, “Relic Entertainment recently announced a new approach: Alongside continuing to work on the traditional RTS titles that we’re known for, we’re also going to work on smaller Indie style games in order to explore new sub-genres, experiment, get our creative juices going, and release games more frequently.” If you're eager to dive into this thrilling new adventure, you can wishlist Earth vs. Mars on Steam now.