- Warhounds Steam Next Fest demo showcases deep turn-based tactical combat reminiscent of XCOM and Jagged Alliance
- Customizable difficulty includes ironman mode, permadeath chances, and enemy stat modifiers for tailored challenges
- Tactical combat relies on cover destruction, flanking, overwatch cones, and action point management
- Base building starts on a hijacked ship where you manage barracks, hire recruits, and plan covert operations
- Friendly fire is active, meaning positioning and line of fire must be carefully calculated before shooting
Warhounds Steam Next Fest Demo Overview
The Warhounds Steam Next Fest demo offers an in-depth look at a turn-based tactical game set in East Africa. You command a squad of mercenaries hired to protect President Canindo, only to find the capital under attack by enemy forces. The demo provides a substantial experience, including story missions, tactical combat tutorials, base capture, and mercenary recruitment systems.
Video Highlights:
- Full playthrough of the palace evacuation mission
- Detailed look at difficulty customization and save modes
- Ship hijacking mission with drone enemy encounters
- Base building interface and recruit hiring system
- Combat mechanics including overwatch, flanking, and cover destruction
The demo confirms that Warhounds draws heavy inspiration from classic turn-based tactics games. The setting involves a fictional East African country where the Demat faction is seizing power. Your mercenary squad, the Warhounds, must navigate political instability while engaging in grid-based tactical combat.
All content shown in the Steam Next Fest demo is subject to change. The build is still in development, and final release versions may feature different balancing, graphics, and voice acting.
Difficulty Settings and Save Modes
Warhounds features a robust difficulty customization system that goes beyond simple easy-normal-hard selections. Players can tailor multiple aspects of the game to create their preferred experience level.
| Setting Category | Options Available | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Save Mode | Free, Limited, Balls of Steel | Free allows saves anytime except story missions; Limited saves at mission start/end; Balls of Steel is ironman with one auto-save |
| Soldier Death | Off, Chance, High Chance, First Loss | Controls whether soldiers die instantly at 0 HP or receive heavy injuries instead |
| Enemy Superiority | On/Off | Enemies start at max level or higher with bonus HP |
| Accurate Enemies | On/Off | All enemies receive a bonus to accuracy |
| Numerous Enemies | On/Off | Increases the number of enemies per mission |
| Mission Timers | On/Off | Some missions have limited turn counts |
The Seasoned difficulty serves as the recommended starting point for new players. It provides a balanced experience without overwhelming modifiers. However, veteran XCOM players may want to experiment with custom settings for added challenge.
For your first Warhounds Steam Next Fest run, select Seasoned difficulty with Free save mode and Soldier Death set to Chance. This gives you flexibility to learn mechanics without excessive punishment while maintaining meaningful stakes.
Core Combat Mechanics
Tactical combat in Warhounds revolves around action points (AP), cover utilization, and positional advantage. Each soldier typically has 5 AP that can be spent on movement, shooting, abilities, and reloading.
Cover System
Cover is the foundation of survival in Warhounds. The game features two main cover types:
| Cover Type | Protection Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full Cover | High damage reduction | Blocks most incoming fire; best for defensive positioning |
| Half Cover | Moderate damage reduction | Provides some protection but vulnerable to flanking |
| Breakable Cover | Variable | Most cover objects can be destroyed by weapons and grenades |
Key Combat Actions
Overwatch
- Costs 2 AP
- Creates a surveillance cone
- Attacks enemies entering the zone
- Cone shape varies by weapon type
- Lasts for one enemy turn
Aimed Shot
- Costs 1 AP
- Increases accuracy on next shot
- Useful for low-percentage hits
- Consumes current turn action
Sprint
- Grants 1 extra MP
- Allows repositioning in same turn
- Still enables overwatch after moving
- Critical for emergency relocations
Warhounds features active friendly fire. Shots that miss their intended target can hit allies in the line of fire. Always check your firing lane before pulling the trigger, especially with shotguns and explosive weapons.
Hit Chance Factors
The chance to hit depends on multiple variables that players must constantly evaluate:
- Accuracy of the soldier
- Weapon type and its effective range
- Distance to the target
- Target position and cover quality
- Flanking status of the target
Flanking is particularly powerful. When you attack an enemy from the side or rear, their cover bonus is negated, dramatically increasing your hit chance. Coordinating squad movements to set up flank shots is essential for difficult encounters.
Soldier Classes and Abilities
The Warhounds Steam Next Fest demo introduces several soldier archetypes, each with unique abilities and combat roles. Understanding these roles is critical for building an effective squad.
| Soldier Type | Primary Weapon | Special Ability | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assault Trooper | Shotgun | Close-quarters damage | Breaching and close-range elimination |
| Sniper | SVD Rifle | Long-range precision | Counter-sniping and high-value target removal |
| Rifleman | Assault Rifle | Suppressive Fire (3 AP) | Cover destruction and area denial |
| Medic | Sidearm | First Aid | Healing allies and restoring HP |
| Support | Rifle | Grant Ally 1 AP | Action point economy and team buffs |
The demo features several enemy archetypes including standard militia troopers, assault troopers with shotguns and bulletproof vests, snipers that prevent your soldiers from acting at long range, and military drones that pose a significant threat to exposed units.
Special Abilities Breakdown
Each soldier class brings a unique ability that can turn the tide of battle:
- Suppressive Fire uses heavy machine guns to destroy cover and deal area damage, costing 3 of 5 AP
- First Aid heals a nearby ally or performs self-heal, with limited charges per mission
- Grant AP transfers an action point to an ally, enabling extra shots or movements
- Sprint provides one additional movement point for the current turn
Managing these abilities across your squad creates opportunities for creative tactical plays. For example, using Grant AP on a sniper can enable a critical counter-snipe shot when normal AP would fall short.
Mission Walkthrough: Palace Evacuation
The opening mission of the Warhounds demo throws you directly into combat as the Demat faction attacks the presidential palace. Here is a step-by-step approach to completing this mission successfully.
Secure the Landing Zone
Move your squad forward and eliminate the initial militia forces on the platform. Use the right-side flanking route to catch enemies in crossfire. Position at least one soldier on overwatch covering the main approach.
Advance Through the Palace
Push through corridors using full cover whenever possible. Watch for enemies at windows and doorways. Use grenades to destroy grouped enemies and their cover. Check objects of interest for narrative context and potential intel.
Locate President Canindo
The president is actively fighting and must be escorted. Once found, he becomes a controllable unit with a First Aid ability. Keep him in full cover and avoid exposing him to enemy fire.
Reach the Extraction Point
Navigate to the garden where a helicopter will extract your squad. Clear the final enemy wave before ending your turn near the landing zone. Use overwatch to intercept any remaining enemies during their turn.
Completing the palace evacuation transitions the story to a maritime setting. Your squad will need to hijack a ship to establish a mobile base of operations, opening up the strategic layer of the game.
Base Building and Recruitment
After hijacking the ship, the Warhounds demo reveals its strategic management layer. This is where you handle recruitment, base upgrades, and mission planning between tactical encounters.
Recruitment System
The personnel computer allows you to hire new soldiers for your mercenary company. Recruits cost money both upfront and as monthly salaries.
| Recruit Type | Availability | Cost Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh Recruits | Immediately available | ~$300/month | Basic stats, arrive right away |
| Veterans | Unlocked later | Higher salary | Better stats and abilities, follow updates for availability |
Each recruit has unique traits that can affect gameplay. Some examples from the demo include:
- Claustrophobia - May affect performance in enclosed spaces
- Contusion history - Minor difficulties in certain conditions
- Emotional personality - Prone to reflection, depends on others' opinions
Hire a balanced mix of classes early. Prioritize getting a dedicated medic and at least one sniper alongside your assault troops. With approximately $100,000 starting funds, you can comfortably fill your initial six-slot roster.
Base Compartments
The hijacked ship serves as your headquarters. Compartments can be rebuilt and upgraded:
- Barracks - Increases soldier capacity beyond the initial six slots
- Workplace - Arranged for planning operations and managing personnel files
- Construction takes time - Compartments are not instantly available after ordering upgrades
Post-Palace Priority Checklist:
- Hire six soldiers to fill initial roster capacity
- Construct barracks expansion for future recruitment
- Send squad on covert spying mission for enemy intel
- Rest soldiers before venturing on next combat mission
- Check for veteran recruit availability in personnel files
Advanced Tips and Enemy Strategies
Mastering Warhounds requires understanding enemy behavior and exploiting tactical advantages. Here are advanced strategies demonstrated in the Steam Next Fest demo.
Counter-Sniper Tactics
Enemy snipers are extremely dangerous, capable of pinning down your soldiers and preventing actions at long range. When you encounter a sniper:
- Identify their position quickly using overwatch triggers
- Use your own sniper for counter-sniping at maximum range
- Break line of sight with full cover if you cannot eliminate them immediately
- Never leave allies exposed in the open when a sniper is active
Drone Encounters
Military drones appear during the ship hijacking mission and represent a significant threat. Drones can appear unexpectedly when opening doors to new areas.
When encountering drones, immediately move exposed allies to full cover. Drones deal heavy damage and can eliminate weakened soldiers. Use grenades to damage groups and destroy any cover the drone might use. Prioritize drone elimination over standard infantry.
Cover Destruction Strategy
Most cover in Warhounds can be destroyed. This creates a dynamic battlefield where defensive positions degrade over time:
| Method | AP Cost | Effectiveness | Best Used Against |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grenade | 1 AP | Destroys cover in radius, damages all enemies nearby | Grouped enemies behind breakable cover |
| Suppressive Fire | 3 AP | Destroys cover via sustained fire | Single enemy in fortified position |
| Shotgun Blast | 1 AP | Moderate cover damage at close range | Close-quarters cover denial |
Line of Fire Management
One of the most punishing mechanics in Warhounds is friendly fire. The demo demonstrates how easily a poorly positioned shot can hit an ally:
- Always check firing lanes before shooting
- Reposition flanking soldiers out of the shooter's cone
- Use grenades instead of gunfire when allies are near the target
- Shotguns are particularly dangerous due to their spread pattern in close quarters
FAQ
Q: What type of game is Warhounds?
Warhounds is a turn-based tactical combat game similar to XCOM and Jagged Alliance. You command a squad of mercenaries in a fictional East African setting, engaging in grid-based combat with cover mechanics, action points, and base management systems.
Q: Is the Warhounds Steam Next Fest demo still available?
Steam Next Fest demos are typically time-limited events. The demo was showcased during the 2026 Steam Next Fest period. Check the official Steam store page for current availability, as the demo may have been removed or updated after the festival ended.
Q: Does Warhounds have permadeath?
Warhounds features customizable soldier death settings. You can choose to have soldiers always receive heavy injuries at 0 HP, or enable chances of instant death. The Balls of Steel save mode combined with high death chance creates a true permadeath experience similar to XCOM's ironman mode.
Q: Can you control the president in combat?
Yes, during the palace evacuation mission, President Canindo becomes a controllable unit. He has a First Aid ability and can be positioned in cover, placed on overwatch, and moved around the battlefield like any other soldier.
Q: How does friendly fire work in Warhounds?
Friendly fire is always active in Warhounds. If your shot misses its target, it can hit any ally standing in the line of fire. This makes positioning critical, especially when using shotguns at close range or firing through narrow corridors where teammates may be flanking.