We have seen a lot of tower defense games lately. From the cozy to the chaotic, the genre is experiencing a bit of a renaissance. But every once in a while, a project pops up on Reddit that makes you stop scrolling and say, "Okay, that looks stressful—in a good way." That is exactly what happened when solo developer Hairy Penguin dropped the trailer for Axom: Conquest on the r/Games subreddit.
Described as a mashup between the legendary StarCraft and the anxiety-inducing They Are Billions, this indie title is promising to inject some serious adrenaline into the base-building formula. If you love turtle-ing up in an RTS only to watch thousands of enemies crash against your walls like water, this might be your next obsession.
The Physics of the Swarm
The standout feature of Axom: Conquest isn’t just the towers—it is the enemies. In many TD games, enemies walk in a polite single-file line toward their death. Here, the developer has implemented a physics-driven system where the alien hordes behave more like a fluid. They don’t just walk; they climb over each other.
This "World War Z" style mechanic means your walls aren’t just health bars; they are physical barriers that can be overwhelmed by the sheer mass of bodies. Seeing a wave of aliens pile up to scale your defenses adds a terrifying layer of realism to the strategy. You aren’t just managing DPS (Damage Per Second); you are managing the flow of a living, breathing swarm.
Roguelite Progression Meets RTS
Unlike a traditional RTS campaign where you follow a linear story, Axom: Conquest embraces the roguelite loop. Every run is procedurally generated, meaning the terrain—and the strategic chokepoints that come with it—changes every time you hit play. This prevents the "puzzle solution" problem many TD games suffer from, where there is only one optimal build.
The developer has also teased a class system similar to Brotato, allowing for distinct playstyles:
- Procedural Maps: No two planets are the same. You have to adapt your base layout to the random resource nodes and terrain features.
- Insane Upgrades: The game promises the kind of game-breaking power spikes that make roguelites so addictive. We are talking about synergies that can turn a humble turret into a screen-clearing monster.
- Economy Management: It isn’t just about shooting; you have to expand outwards, build refineries, and protect your resource lines.
Why Strategy Fans Are Excited
The comparison to They Are Billions is a bold one to make. That game defined the "survival RTS" subgenre. However, Axom: Conquest seems to be carving its own niche by focusing on shorter, repeatable runs rather than 3-hour endurance tests. It respects your time while still testing your tactical limits.
Genre Mashup Comparison
| Feature | They Are Billions | Axom: Conquest |
|---|---|---|
| Enemy Behavior | Pathfinding Swarm | Physics-Based Climbing |
| Game Structure | Long Survival Missions | Roguelite Runs (Wave Based) |
| Map Design | Procedural | Procedural + Verticality |
| Progression | Tech Tree | Permanent Upgrades & Classes |
A Solo Developer’s Passion Project
Perhaps the most charming part of this story is the developer behind it. Hairy Penguin (yes, that is their name) has been engaging directly with the community on Reddit, taking feedback and sharing the highs and lows of indie development. In an era of faceless AAA corporations, supporting a dev who is actively listening to players feels refreshing.
The game already has a playable demo on Steam, allowing curious tacticians to test the waters before the full release. Early feedback highlights the satisfying "crunch" of the combat and the genuine panic that sets in when the physics engine allows enemies to spill over your walls.
Conclusion
Axom: Conquest is shaping up to be a hidden gem for 2026. It takes the best parts of base-building and fuses them with the infinite replayability of a roguelite. If you have ever wanted to feel like the commander in a sci-fi action movie, desperately holding the line against an infinite alien horde, this is the game for you. Go check out the demo and see how long your walls can hold.
FAQs
1. Is there a demo available?
Yes! Hairy Penguin has released a playable demo on the Steam store page, so you can try the core mechanics right now.
2. When is the full release date?
The game is currently targeting a release in March 2026, giving the developer plenty of time to refine features based on demo feedback.
3. Is this game multiplayer?
Currently, Axom: Conquest is a single-player experience focused on PVE (Player vs Environment) survival.
4. Does it have controller support?
While it is designed as an RTS/Tower Defense (which usually favors Mouse & Keyboard), you should check the Steam page for the latest updates on controller compatibility.
5. How is it different from StarCraft?
While inspired by StarCraft‘s aesthetic and unit control, Axom: Conquest is strictly a defense game. You aren’t building an army to attack an enemy base; you are building a fortress to survive incoming waves.