Relaywardens is an action strategy game on PC where players command a squad of space mercenaries against waves of alien creatures. The experience centers on building and managing forces to survive overwhelming enemy numbers while clearing a planet of threats through resource collection and unit upgrades.
Gameplay
Players lead squads composed of melee and ranged mercenaries into battles against massive alien hordes. Combat requires adapting to varied enemy behaviors, including flying units that demand ranged fire, jumping creatures that close distances quickly, and standard melee or ranged foes that test positioning and composition. Defeating enemies yields crystals used to recruit additional soldiers, unlock automatic abilities, and apply upgrades that strengthen the overall army. The core loop involves experimenting with troop combinations and ability synergies to create effective builds capable of handling escalating wave difficulty. Automatic abilities activate during fights to support ongoing survival without constant manual input, allowing focus on squad management and threat prioritization.
Game Modes
The game emphasizes progressive wave survival against increasing numbers of enemies. Sessions revolve around defending positions while expanding squad capabilities through crystal rewards and upgrades. Different enemy types appear across waves, requiring players to adjust unit mixes and ability selections on the fly to maintain momentum toward clearing the planet.
Key Mechanics and Progression
Resource management plays a central role, with crystals serving as the primary currency for recruitment and enhancements. Upgrades target individual units or army-wide traits, while abilities provide passive or triggered support during engagements. Squad building encourages mixing melee units for frontline control with ranged options for handling aerial or distant threats. The progression system rewards successful wave clears by unlocking more powerful combinations, enabling stronger responses to later, more dangerous enemy compositions.
Is It Worth Playing?
Relaywardens suits players who enjoy action strategy titles focused on squad composition, resource-driven upgrades, and surviving intense horde encounters. The emphasis on combining unit types and experimenting with abilities offers depth for those interested in build crafting within a wave-based framework. Availability on PC makes it accessible for sessions centered on incremental army improvement and adaptation to enemy variety. Those seeking straightforward mercenary command against alien forces will find the mechanics align directly with that premise.
