Cortex Command

About

Cortex Command casts you as a cybernetic brain directing a squad of disposable bodies from a secure bunker. Switch between machines on the fly to mine resources, fight enemies, or build bases while avoiding direct danger. The terrain crumbles under fire, creating shifting paths and cover. Earn credits to upgrade weapons, hire more units, or program basic AI for automated tasks. Play solo or team up in co-op to outlast rivals in this resource-driven conflict. The game’s core loop of managing multiple units and adapting to chaos sets it apart. Its 2012 release introduced a fresh take on control mechanics that still feel sharp, blending real-time action with tactical planning. Set during a space-faring gold rush, the alien planet teems with hidden threats and secrets. Available on PC and Mac, it caters to strategy fans and rogue-like enthusiasts with its punishing but rewarding gameplay.

Storyline

Cortex Command is set a few hundred years into the future, where the now cybernetic human race is able to travel between stars and has already met several alien civilizations. Interstellar trade and prosperity reigns, but there is always an ever-expanding frontier to explore and exploit for precious resources. In this gold rush of galactic proportions, fantastic adventure and brutal competition awaits. You play as the boss of a small gold mining company that has just arrived at a newly discovered Earth-like planet. The large space ship that brought you here along with many other adventurers is called a TradeStar. It acts as a massive orbital safe haven and marketplace for the fortune seekers who venture down onto the planet's surface. Your purchases of bodies, guns, and equipment are sent from the TradeStar orbiting above and delivered to you by your choice of landing craft. However, it soon becomes clear that the planet isn't as pristine as initially thought, and you will have to quickly adapt from your humble beginnings in order to survive and ultimately discover the dangerous secrets of this alien world...