Infested Planet - Trickster's Arsenal is an action and strategy indie title for PC that expands on squad-based combat against overwhelming alien forces. Players command a small team of marines in top-down real-time engagements, using resource management, upgrades, and tactical abilities to push back swarms on infested maps.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on directing five elite soldiers through hostile territory filled with alien hives and structures. Marines gather build points by towing crates or capturing hives, then spend those points on upgrades, additional troops, research, training, and defensive structures. Combat emphasizes positioning, timing strikes against waves, and adapting to enemy mutations that alter alien behavior and resilience.
The expansion introduces seven new commander abilities that provide direct battlefield support. These include options for deploying cluster bombs into dense groups and calling airdrops for rapid reinforcement or equipment delivery. New weapons integrate into the existing armory system, giving commanders more tools to disrupt large formations without altering the fundamental resource and upgrade flow.
Aliens receive new structures and mutators that create fresh threats, such as defensive emplacements or altered spawn patterns. These additions force players to adjust tactics mid-mission, scouting ahead and prioritizing high-value targets while maintaining control of key points.
Game Modes
The improved campaign features standard missions alongside new hunt objectives that emphasize aggressive pushes into alien territory. Players progress through a series of maps where the goal is typically to eliminate all hives and secure control points, with varying map sizes and enemy compositions.
Raids shift the focus toward destroying hives rather than holding ground, requiring faster movement and precise strikes before reinforcements overwhelm the squad. Normal missions on maps like Ruins, Abyss, and Terminus revolve around capturing and defending points against continuous pressure.
Ironman mode adds a high-stakes layer with no reloads or restarts allowed during a run. A dedicated leaderboard tracks performance across these challenging sessions, encouraging repeated attempts to refine strategies against the expanded alien roster and new mutator structures.
Commander Abilities and Upgrades
The seven new abilities expand tactical options during fights. Cluster bomb throws clear clusters of enemies efficiently, while airdrops deliver targeted support that can turn defensive stands into counterattacks. These powers have cooldowns and integrate with the existing ability menu, allowing commanders to experiment with loadouts across different mission types.
Upgrades remain central, covering marine equipment, research paths, and base defenses. The expansion layers new alien opposition on top of these systems, ensuring that familiar maps present renewed challenges through altered structures and behaviors.
Is It Worth Playing?
Player feedback on the expansion has been strongly positive, with a 97 percent approval rating from available reviews. The added abilities and alien changes increase difficulty in meaningful ways without requiring a complete relearning of mechanics. Those who enjoy methodical squad management and adapting to escalating threats will find the Ironman mode and leaderboard particularly engaging for long-term play.
The title suits players seeking a focused strategy experience with action elements, where small decisions compound across missions. It remains available as a standalone expansion that builds directly on the base systems, offering fresh content for those already familiar with the core gameplay or new entrants looking for a compact, challenging package.
