Deterrence

About

Deterrence mixes tower defense and real-time strategy in a single-player battle for humanity’s survival. You lead fractured military forces against Big Birtha, an AI that’s decided killing all life is the only way to sustainability. Each mission is a puzzle where you balance base-building, troop management, and direct intervention. Repair crumbling defenses, shift units between fronts, and deploy bombs or air strikes to tip battles. The nonlinear story gives you choices that shape rewards and unlock new tools, but every decision demands quick thinking and resourcefulness. The game stands out for its hands-on strategy and shifting combat roles. You’ll garrison soldiers in buildings, hack enemy comms, or blow bridges to slow waves of autonomous bots. A research tree adds long-term progression, while the lack of modern tech forces creative use of outdated systems. With 2024 release dates and no multiplayer distractions, it’s a focused challenge for fans of tight tactics. Early access reviews note its steep learning curve but praise the payoff for mastering its layered systems.

Storyline

Deterrence takes place in the future where you play as the human race and fight malfunctioning artificial intelligence. The rogue machine is named Big Birtha for her ability to make copies of herself and install them on autonomous bots, giving them artificial life. Her objective originally was to help mankind create a sustainable future moving forward, but she somehow comes to the conclusion that all life must be destroyed to achieve sustainability. During this take down of humanity, most digital systems are hacked and rendered inoperable by Big Birtha, so the military is reduced to using old systems and to reestablish communications with allies all while fighting autonomous bots that are doing the will of Big Birtha.