Tactical RPGs come in many forms, from Japanese role-playing games like Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics to challenging roguelites such as Mewgenics and Into the Breach. The XCOM and Jagged Alliance series are considered classics in the genre, and the new game Warhounds, planned for release in 2026, is hoping to capture the magic of those titles. Warhounds looks promising and could be exactly what XCOM fans have been waiting for, building on the successful formula of its predecessors with some exciting new features.
The XCOM series hasn’t had a new release since 2021, when XCOM: Legends, a mobile game, came out and was later discontinued in 2024. Firaxis and 2K haven’t announced any plans for future XCOM games, leaving fans wondering what’s next. If you’re an XCOM enthusiast hoping for another large-scale tactical RPG similar to 2016’s XCOM 2, Warhounds could be a good fit.
Warhounds Features at a Glance
- A campaign inspired by old-school action movies set in an alternate-future Africa
- Decision-making and strategizing based on physics and lines of sight, not RNG
- Customization of hired fighters with a broad selection of class options
- Upgrade the base and manage units between missions
Warhounds Wears Its Inspirations on Its Sleeve
- Check out Warhounds on Steam
As a huge fan of tactical RPGs, I was immediately excited about Warhounds. The developers have openly said it’s inspired by classics like XCOM and Jagged Alliance, and you can feel that influence. It’s all about commanding a squad of mercenaries in challenging, turn-based battles where your choices actually matter and affect how the story unfolds. What’s really cool is that Warhounds seems designed for both veterans and new players – you can customize the difficulty and length of missions, so you can jump in for a quick session or really get lost in a longer, more strategic fight. It’s all about controlling your own experience!
The team behind Warhounds is actively listening to players and has already made changes based on their feedback. For example, they removed AI-generated character portraits after players expressed their dislike and replaced them with screenshots of the characters as they appear in the game.
The Story and Setting of Warhounds
In the game Warhounds, the world is falling apart as powerful, new military groups rise up. Players manage a team of mercenaries – the Warhounds – and complete secret missions and contracts to fight these groups. The game is set in an alternate 2035 Africa, and players will explore diverse locations – from savannas and jungles to deserts, slums, modern cities, military installations, and ancient ruins – all while trying to achieve their goals.
The Gameplay of Warhounds
What makes Warhounds stand out is its gameplay, which offers a fresh take on the classic tactical RPG style. Like other games of this type, you’ll start by building a team of strong fighters. When creating your mercenary squad in Warhounds, you can choose from five main classes, such as:
- Assault
- Specialist
- Sniper
- Machine Gunner
- Grenadier
Just like the classes in XCOM, each unit in Warhounds has unique strengths and weaknesses. This means players need to carefully plan and choose the right team for each mission. Fortunately, Warhounds also lets you manage your mercenary company between missions, so you can prepare for whatever challenges lie ahead.
In Warhounds, players return to base to build their team by hiring new mercenaries, much like in Jagged Alliance 3. They can also improve their units, buy gear, and treat injuries. Your choices at base matter, impacting future missions and the overall story. You can choose to support different factions or build strong relationships between your mercenaries, improving their teamwork and chances of success.
Warhounds Aims to Solve XCOM’s Biggest Problem
As a huge fan of the XCOM series, one thing that always gets under my skin is how frustrating the hit percentages can be. You’ll line up a perfect shot, the game tells you it’s like 89% certain to hit, and then… it misses! It’s because of that random number generator deciding everything. Warhounds is aiming to fix that, and honestly, it’s about time. They want to give us more control, letting our decisions matter more than just hoping the dice roll in our favor. It’s about skill, not luck, and that’s what I’ve been wanting for ages.
Loadout Logic
Tap on a weapon to rotate it or press R while dragging.
Results
Instead of relying on percentages, Warhounds calculates damage in a realistic way, taking into account things like where players and enemies are positioned, the height of the terrain, and how weapons and the environment work. This means players can strategically plan their moves, knowing that a well-aimed shot will hit its target. This is a bold new direction for tactical RPGs, and if it works well, it could influence both indie developers and major game studios in the future.
We don’t have a specific release date for Warhounds yet, only that it’s planned for 2026. If you’re a fan of tactical RPGs, you can try out the demo on Steam to see how the game’s unique, non-random mechanics feel. Until a new XCOM game is announced, Warhounds could become the go-to choice for players in this genre, assuming it delivers on all its features in a polished and well-integrated way.
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2026-04-21 01:07