What happens when a Diablo combat engineer teams up with a legendary Newgrounds artist to make their dream game? You get Battle Lads, a wild hybrid that plays like Civilization on the strategy map but transforms into Hades when battles break out. Developer Evan Greenstone spent over a decade writing combat and systems for Diablo III and IV at Blizzard, and now he’s channeling all that experience into an indie project that mashes together two genres that rarely mix.
Two Games in One Package
Battle Lads operates on two distinct layers. On the overworld map, you’re playing a light 4X strategy game similar to Civilization or Total War. You choose from wild tribes like Beasts, Ronin, Synths, and Slashers, then expand across a hex grid, managing resources and positioning armies.
But when armies collide, the game shifts completely. Suddenly you’re dropped into an action roguelike that plays like Hades with the whimsical charm of Castle Crashers. You fight alongside your troops as the chief of your tribe, barking commands while personally smashing through enemy forces. It’s chaotic tribal warfare where you’re both the general and the strongest warrior.
Diablo DNA
Greenstone’s decade-plus experience on Diablo shows in Battle Lads’ combat design. The action sequences feature responsive controls, satisfying hit feedback, and build variety that echoes what made Diablo’s combat so addictive. You can spec into different playstyles, from formidable solo fighter to horde leader commanding endless troops.
The roguelike structure means each campaign run offers different build opportunities. Unlock abilities, combine them in unexpected ways, and discover synergies that fundamentally change how battles play out. It’s the kind of depth that comes from someone who spent years refining action RPG systems at the highest level.
Quick Campaigns Built for Replayability
Unlike traditional 4X games that can stretch for dozens of hours per playthrough, Battle Lads emphasizes quick-paced campaigns designed for replayability. The roguelike elements ensure each run feels different through varied builds, tribal choices, and strategic decisions on the overworld map.
You might pursue a military conquest strategy in one run, building an unstoppable army. The next playthrough could focus on economic dominance, securing victories before battles even begin. Or you could go full action hero, personally fighting through enemy forces while your empire handles logistics. Multiple paths to victory keep the game fresh across repeated campaigns.
The Newgrounds Connection
Greenstone isn’t working alone. He’s partnered with MindChamber, a legendary artist from the Newgrounds community known for creating iconic Flash games like Newgrounds Rumble, Madness Accelerant, and Alloy Arena. That Newgrounds DNA brings a distinct visual personality to Battle Lads.
The art style evokes early 2000s Flash game aesthetics while being fully modernized for current platforms. It’s colorful, character-driven, and filled with personality. The tribal factions feel distinct visually, and the action sequences pop with energetic animation and exaggerated impact effects. This isn’t another photorealistic strategy game, it’s got style.
Variety Through Tribal Choices
Battle Lads features multiple playable tribes, each with unique units, abilities, and playstyles. The Beasts bring primal fury and overwhelming numbers. The Ronin offer disciplined warriors with precise strikes. The Synths provide high-tech advantages through advanced weaponry. The Slashers emphasize brutal close-quarters combat.
Each tribe changes both the strategic layer and the action combat. Different units mean different tactical options on the hex grid. Unique abilities alter how you approach direct combat encounters. Mastering all the tribes adds substantial replay value as you learn their distinct strengths and optimal strategies.
Balancing Two Genres
The biggest challenge with Battle Lads is balancing two fundamentally different gameplay styles. Strategy fans and action roguelike enthusiasts don’t always overlap. Some players might love the 4X layer but find the combat tedious. Others might adore the Hades-style battles but get bored managing the overworld.
Greenstone’s solution is making both layers meaningful without forcing players to excel at everything. You can lean heavily into the strategic side, building such a powerful empire that battles become trivial. Or you can focus on combat mastery, personally defeating superior enemy forces through skill. The game accommodates different play preferences rather than demanding equal competence in both genres.
Demo Coming February 2026
A public demo is scheduled for February 2026, giving players their first hands-on experience with how the 4X and action roguelike layers mesh together. The demo will showcase the core loop, tribal variety, and the transition between strategic planning and direct combat.
For those eager to play sooner, Greenstone is offering Steam playtest keys to players willing to provide feedback during development. Interested testers can reach out via Reddit or the game’s Discord server. Early access to development builds means your feedback could directly influence final balance and design decisions.
Why This Matters
AAA developers leaving major studios to pursue passion projects isn’t new, but Battle Lads represents something specific. Greenstone isn’t just making another action RPG or another Diablo clone. He’s attempting to merge two distinct genres in a way that services both rather than compromising either.
That ambition carries risk. Genre hybrids often struggle to satisfy fans of either component. But when executed well, they create experiences impossible within traditional genre boundaries. Games like X-COM Enemy Unknown proved that turn-based strategy and intense tactical combat could coexist beautifully. Battle Lads is attempting something similar with 4X strategy and action roguelikes.
The Indie Advantage
Working independently gives Greenstone creative freedom impossible at a major publisher. No executive committees demanding the game fit established market categories. No pressure to add monetization or live service elements. Just a clear vision executed by someone with the technical chops and industry experience to pull it off.
The partnership with MindChamber adds authenticity to the project’s Newgrounds-inspired aesthetic. These aren’t corporate employees trying to capture indie energy, they’re actual indie creators with decades of experience making games on their own terms. That pedigree shows in the game’s personality and willingness to try something genuinely different.
Community Development
Battle Lads is being developed with community input from the start. The Discord server serves as a direct line between Greenstone and potential players. Feedback from playtesters shapes balance changes, feature priorities, and quality-of-life improvements.
This approach means the final game should reflect what players actually want rather than what developers assumed they’d want. Early access to development builds lets the community stress-test mechanics and identify pain points before the public demo launches. It’s an iterative process that takes advantage of indie development’s flexibility.
Release Timeline
Beyond the February 2026 public demo, Battle Lads doesn’t have a firm release date. As an indie project, launch timing depends on development progress, community feedback, and reaching quality benchmarks rather than hitting publisher-mandated deadlines.
The game is available to wishlist on Steam right now. Wishlisting helps gauge player interest and ensures you’ll receive notifications about the demo, playtest opportunities, and eventual full release.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Battle Lads?
Battle Lads is a hybrid strategy action game that combines light 4X gameplay on a hex grid with action roguelike combat. When armies clash during the strategy phase, players dive into Hades-style battles as the chief of their tribe, fighting alongside troops in chaotic real-time combat.
Who is developing Battle Lads?
The game is created by Evan Greenstone, who spent over ten years as a gameplay engineer on Diablo III and IV, and artist MindChamber, known for legendary Newgrounds games like Newgrounds Rumble and Madness Accelerant. They’re operating under the studio name Burning Bagel Games.
When will Battle Lads be released?
A public demo is scheduled for February 2026. The full release date has not been announced yet. Players can get early access to playtest builds by contacting the developer directly via Reddit or Discord.
What tribes can you play as in Battle Lads?
The game features multiple playable tribes including Beasts, Ronin, Synths, and Slashers. Each tribe has unique units, abilities, and playstyles that affect both strategic and combat gameplay.
How does Battle Lads combine strategy and action gameplay?
The overworld uses light 4X mechanics similar to Civilization with hex-based movement and empire building. When armies meet in battle, the game transitions to an action roguelike where you directly control your tribal chief fighting alongside troops in real-time combat inspired by Hades and Castle Crashers.
What platforms will Battle Lads be available on?
Battle Lads is confirmed for PC via Steam. Additional platforms have not been announced at this time.
Can you focus on just strategy or just combat in Battle Lads?
Yes, the game is designed to accommodate different play preferences. You can build a powerful empire that makes battles easier, or focus on combat mastery to overcome strategic disadvantages through personal skill in the action sequences.
How long are Battle Lads campaigns?
Campaigns are designed to be quick-paced compared to traditional 4X games, emphasizing replayability through roguelike build variety rather than single lengthy playthroughs.
Conclusion
Battle Lads represents the kind of ambitious experimentation that indie development enables. Combining 4X strategy with action roguelike combat sounds risky on paper, potentially alienating fans of both genres. But Greenstone’s decade-plus experience crafting Diablo’s combat systems provides a strong foundation, and MindChamber’s distinct artistic vision gives the project personality that sets it apart from generic strategy games.
The real question is whether the two halves service each other or fight for dominance. Does managing the strategy layer feel like necessary context for epic battles, or does it become tedious busywork between action sequences? Do the combat encounters reward strategic preparation, or do they feel disconnected from overworld decisions? The February demo will provide answers.
What’s clear is that Battle Lads comes from genuine passion and expertise. This isn’t a cynical attempt to chase market trends or capitalize on popular genres. It’s a veteran developer channeling everything he learned at Blizzard into his dream project, partnering with an artist who shares his Newgrounds roots and creative vision. That authenticity matters, especially in a space crowded with formulaic strategy games and endless roguelike clones.
If you’re tired of games that play it safe within established genre boundaries, Battle Lads deserves attention. Wishlist it on Steam, join the Discord, and keep an eye out for that February demo. Whether you’re a 4X veteran curious about action combat or a roguelike fan intrigued by strategic empire building, this hybrid might surprise you. At minimum, it’s the only game where you’ll command armies across a hex grid one moment and personally bash enemy skulls the next. That’s worth something in an industry that too often confuses polish with creativity.