Kriegsfront Tactics Preview: Tactical Mech Combat in a Beautifully Crafted World | PAX East 2025

I love tactics games, so when I had the chance to play Kriegsfront Tactics at PAX East, I jumped at it. What I expected to be a straightforward mech tactics game turned out to be an immersive experience set in a beautifully crafted world—one that I, unfortunately, proceeded to obliterate.

The demo was short, but what I played left a strong impression. I enjoyed my time with it and can’t wait to dive back in once the full game releases.

The first thing that jumped out at me was just how stunning this game looks. The trailer videos I watched before heading to PAX didn’t do it justice. Kriegsfront Tactics is set in an alternate 1970s Southeast Asia, and the world feels alive—lush forests, crumbling ruins, towering mountains, and Buddhist temples create a vibrant backdrop. It's not just for show either; the terrain plays a tactical role, offering plenty of cover for enemy units.

As I marched my mechs into enemy territory, I deployed a few units equipped with area-bombing capabilities—perfect for clearing out dense cover and exposing hidden enemies. But this strategy came at a cost: the forest and ruins were reduced to rubble in the process.

Watching trees and temples explode in detailed animations was undeniably impressive—but I couldn’t help feeling guilty about leveling such a beautifully designed landscape. I even found myself hesitating to destroy what looked like historically significant structures. Of course, the enemy took full advantage of the cover. Eventually, I had no choice but to demolish the buildings to flush them out.

The game also captures the uncertainty of war through its use of fog of war. My visibility was limited, with much of the terrain ahead obscured—forcing me to make decisions without fully knowing what lies ahead. Early on, I often charged forward without taking cover, thinking my squad of mechs could steamroll the opposition. But that overconfidence came at a cost: hidden snipers lurking in the fog would pick off my units before I could react.

One of the things that stood out to me was how distinct each mech felt. Each unit came equipped with its own unique weapons and role on the battlefield. I’ve already mentioned the mechs capable of blanket bombing, but I also had access to a long-range sniper unit, a standard machine gun mech, and even a melee-focused brawler. The variety added a strategic layer to every encounter, pushing me to think carefully about positioning and unit composition.

During the demo, one of my mechs was taken down, and the dev team let me know that in the full game, that would mean losing the pilot permanently—Kriegsfront Tactics features permadeath. I didn’t get to see much of the story in the demo, but from what I experienced, the characters already feel distinct and memorable enough that losing a pilot due to a careless mistake would feel awful.

I wasn’t ready for the demo to end—and now I’m eagerly waiting for the full release. If you’re a fan of tactics games or just love the idea of mech warfare in a rich, atmospheric world, Kriegsfront Tactics should absolutely be on your radar. Be sure to wishlist it on Steam—and if you’re curious, there’s a playable demo available now.