A turn-based tactics game in which three mechs defend cities from giant insects on an 8x8 grid. Every enemy attack is shown in advance, so each turn is a perfect-information puzzle.
L1What it is
From the makers of FTL. Humanity's last cities are under attack by the Vek, giant creatures emerging from the ground. You control a squad of three mechs from a group of time travellers. If you lose, one pilot jumps back to another timeline and tries again. A run takes one to two hours.
L2How it plays
The key idea: enemies telegraph their attacks one turn ahead. Your job is not to kill everything but to push, pull and block so that attacks miss buildings and hit other enemies instead. Every mission is a small puzzle with several good answers. Different squads change the rules completely: one pulls enemies, one sets fires, one freezes.
L3Pixels & sound
Clean, readable pixel art with clear icons for every effect, which matters more here than beauty. The soundtrack by Ben Prunty is moody and fits long thinking sessions.
L4Coming back
Many squads to unlock, pilots with special abilities, achievements that ask for specific challenges, and the free Advanced Edition update that added new squads, enemies, weapons and a harder difficulty. You can play this for a very long time.
L5Value & tech
Very cheap for its depth and runs on anything, including the Steam Deck where it is Verified and plays well with touch or controller. Mouse is ideal on desktop.
Power-ups
- Every turn is a satisfying puzzle
- No randomness in enemy actions: losses are your mistakes
- Huge variety of squads
- Excellent value
Game overs
- Can feel abstract and dry
- Story is minimal
Score sheet
- Gameplay 30%
- 9.8
- Feel & controls 20%
- 8.6
- Pixels & sound 20%
- 8.2
- Replay 15%
- 9.2
- Value 15%
- 9.4
Weighted: 9.8 × 30% + 8.6 × 20% + 8.2 × 20% + 9.2 × 15% + 9.4 × 15% = 9.09, shown as 9.1.
The verdict
Verdict
Into the Breach is close to perfect tactics design: small, readable and endlessly deep. Every turn feels like solving a puzzle, and the free Advanced Edition makes it even better.
By the Game Pick Review editorial desk · Updated 3 Oct 2026 · How we score · Spotted an error?
