Relic Entertainment just proved they don’t just make massive real-time strategy games. Their experimental indie label Relic Labs launched Earth vs Mars on Steam October 29, 2025, delivering an Advance Wars-inspired turn-based strategy experience with an absolutely unhinged premise: fight alien Martians using human volunteers spliced with animal DNA to create hybrid supersoldiers. Yes, you read that right. Cheetah-flies, human-rhinos, squirrel-cows – Earth’s ridiculous army is real and it’s your responsibility to command them to victory.
The Splice-O-Tron: Weaponizing Science Through Absurdity
Here’s the setup: Martians have been visiting Earth for decades, abducting humans and animals to harvest their “atomic essence.” Now they’re invading openly, forcing Earth’s Global Military Alliance to deploy a desperate secret weapon – the Splice-O-Tron machine that combines human volunteers with animal DNA to create bio-engineered supersoldiers. Colonel Marcus Shaw leads Earth’s forces while this splicing program generates an increasingly bizarre arsenal of creature hybrids.
The genius of Earth vs Mars is committing fully to the absurdity. This isn’t a game that winks at its premise – it celebrates it. You don’t just deploy regular soldiers against alien invaders. You deploy a rhino-human hybrid that charges through enemy lines. You rain acid from cheetah-flies zipping across the battlefield. Your squirrel-cow infantry strikes from forests with devastating effectiveness. The more ridiculous the concept, the more enthusiastically the game embraces it.
As campaigns progress, you unlock new hybrid creatures, powerful upgrades, and game-changing commander abilities. Simultaneously, the Martians evolve their forces with high-tech saucers, grav-tanks, elite alien warriors, and increasingly frightening mutant creations. The progression guarantees battles stay challenging while you’re simultaneously fielding weirder and more powerful units.
Earth’s Hybrid Supersoldier Arsenal
- Cheetah-Fly – Fast-moving unit raining acid from above
- Human-Rhino – Charging heavy unit devastating through enemy lines
- Squirrel-Cow – Tactical forest striker with unique positioning
- Additional hybrids unlocked throughout the campaign
- Human soldiers continuing as foundational military units
- Upgraded variants with special abilities and enhanced stats
- Commander-specific ultimate abilities changing battle outcomes
Relic Labs: The Indie Incubator Inside a Legendary Studio
Earth vs Mars represents the first release from Relic Labs, an experimental subsidiary within Relic Entertainment dedicated to creating smaller indie-style games alongside their traditional real-time strategy franchises like Company of Heroes and Dawn of War. Relic CEO Justin Dowdeswell explained the strategy: “Relic Labs will explore new sub-genres, experiment, get our creative juices going, and release games more frequently than our traditional AAA offerings.”
This approach makes perfect sense for a studio known for complex strategy games but sometimes locked into massive development cycles. By spinning up a separate indie-focused team, Relic can experiment with smaller scopes, different genres, and faster iteration without disrupting their core franchises. Earth vs Mars proves the gamble worked – a fully realized turn-based tactics game shipping from one of gaming’s most celebrated strategy studios.
Having a company like Relic Entertainment backing an indie-style game means resources and quality control that solo indie developers rarely access. You’re getting professional-grade development talent applying their RTS sensibilities to tactics-based gameplay. The result feels both authentically indie in creative ambition and genuinely polished in execution.
Advance Wars Lineage Done Right
Earth vs Mars wears its Advance Wars inspiration prominently but adds Relic Entertainment’s tactical DNA. The turn-based structure, grid-based movement, and unit positioning all echo the beloved Nintendo franchise. However, Relic’s experience with complex RTS gameplay layers additional strategic depth through hybrid unit interactions, commander abilities, and environmental factors that Advance Wars often simplified.
This combination works beautifully because neither the Advance Wars simplicity nor RTS complexity dominates. Early missions teach fundamentals through straightforward encounters. Campaign progression introduces complexity gradually. By endgame, players juggle complex unit synergies, map positioning, resource management, and opponent adaptation – exactly the kind of multi-layered thinking Relic pioneered in real-time strategy.
What makes Earth vs Mars more accessible than typical RTS games is the turn-based structure. You don’t manage timers or worry about reaction speed. Every decision happens methodically. You think through your turn, execute it, watch opponent responses, then plan your next move. This pacing appeals to strategy enthusiasts who love depth but prefer thoughtful gameplay over reflexive decision-making.
Campaign Progression and Difficulty Curve
The campaign walks players through Earth’s desperate defense against the Martian invasion. Early missions feature manageable force compositions and straightforward objectives. Gradually, Relic introduces new unit types, more complex map layouts, and increasingly aggressive Martian forces. Boss encounters against powerful unique Martian units create memorable story moments and punctuate campaign progression.
The difficulty progression respects player time. You’re rarely stuck requiring massive grinding or attempting the same mission dozens of times. Missions feel achievable while remaining challenging. When you finally overcome a difficult encounter through clever positioning and tactical unit synergies, the victory feels earned rather than frustrating.
One particular encounter involves “The Creep,” a mysterious organic weapon that hunts across the battlefield with its own AI. Fighting The Creep requires entirely different tactical approaches than standard military encounters. These unique challenges keep Earth vs Mars from becoming formulaic despite the turn-based structure encouraging systematic play.
| Element | Earth vs Mars | Advance Wars | Relic RTS DNA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit Complexity | Medium-High (specialized hybrids) | Simple (clear roles) | High (nuanced interactions) |
| Pacing | Turn-based thoughtful | Turn-based fast | Real-time reactive |
| Map Objectives | Standard and unique | Mostly standard | Objective-driven |
| Unit Upgrades | Campaign-based progression | Resource-based | Persistent advancement |
Theming That Works
Earth vs Mars could have played its premise straight – alien invasion, humanity fights back, typical sci-fi drama. Instead, the game leans into campy 1950s sci-fi aesthetics with announcer commentary, in-universe propaganda-style loading screens, and the fundamental absurdity of the Splice-O-Tron concept. This tonal commitment makes Earth vs Mars memorable rather than forgettable.
The character of Colonel Marcus Shaw embodies this perfectly. He’s portrayed as a capable military commander confronting truly ridiculous circumstances with deadpan professionalism. The supporting cast includes news anchors reporting on the invasion and scientists explaining the Splice-O-Tron in pseudo-technical jargon. Everything embraces the fun of the concept without undermining the legitimate strategy gameplay.
This tonal balance matters tremendously for strategy games. Too serious and they become exhausting. Too silly and they lose credibility. Earth vs Mars threads the needle beautifully – the ludicrous concept remains grounded in genuine strategic gameplay that demands thoughtful decision-making.
Launch Reception and Community Response
Steam players have responded positively to Earth vs Mars’ launch, with the game building a modest but engaged community. Players praise the unique unit designs, solid difficulty curve, and the tonal commitment to absurdity combined with tactical depth. Turn-based strategy fans familiar with Advance Wars and other tactics games recognize the quality Relic Entertainment brought to the indie space.
Strategy gaming communities on Reddit and Discord have embraced Earth vs Mars as something genuinely different from their typical offerings. The combination of Relic’s pedigree, the Advance Wars inspiration, and the hilarious hybrid unit concept created enough interest to launch with solid player engagement. Whether that momentum sustains long-term depends on community support and potential post-launch content.
FAQs
When did Earth vs Mars release?
Earth vs Mars launched October 29, 2025 on Steam as a full release from Relic Labs, the indie-focused subsidiary of Relic Entertainment.
What platforms is Earth vs Mars available on?
Currently, Earth vs Mars is available on PC via Steam. No console versions have been announced.
What does the Splice-O-Tron do?
The Splice-O-Tron combines human volunteers with animal DNA to create hybrid supersoldiers. Examples include cheetah-flies, human-rhinos, and squirrel-cows, each with unique combat abilities.
Is Earth vs Mars like Advance Wars?
Yes, Earth vs Mars uses Advance Wars as inspiration with turn-based tactical grid-based gameplay. However, Relic’s RTS experience adds additional strategic depth compared to Advance Wars’ simpler mechanics.
How long is the campaign?
The campaign provides approximately 20-30 hours of gameplay depending on difficulty and playstyle. Multiple difficulty options provide replayability.
Is there multiplayer?
Multiplayer hasn’t been confirmed for launch. The game ships with single-player campaign and skirmish modes against AI opponents.
What is Relic Labs?
Relic Labs is a new experimental division within Relic Entertainment dedicated to creating smaller indie-style games to explore new genres and release titles more frequently than their traditional AAA offerings.
Conclusion
Earth vs Mars launches as a delightful surprise from Relic Entertainment, proving that legendary real-time strategy developers can successfully create turn-based tactical games. The Advance Wars-inspired gameplay combined with ridiculous hybrid supersoldiers and Relic’s strategic depth creates something genuinely unique in the crowded tactics genre. Relic Labs’ commitment to maintaining creative experimentation alongside traditional franchises produces the kind of refreshing indie energy that emerges when established studios operate without AAA constraints. Whether Earth vs Mars becomes a long-term competitive staple or beloved niche experience depends on community engagement, but the launch establishes Relic Labs as a credible indie publisher with talent and vision. For strategy fans tired of similar offerings, Earth vs Mars offers exactly the kind of different experience that justifies giving new titles attention. Jump in and defend Earth with your most ridiculous hybrid army today.