Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance

This game is a mix of wargame, xcom and lemmings.
Only reason I purchased TDF was Slitherines track record of unique strategy games.
Superficially, it appears to be a pause/play tactical meta. 50 hours in, I was not wrong but it is certainly a unique one.


Its a wargame because tactical micromanagement is critical to success. Strategy depends on you refining your divisions equipment and staffing.
You need to manage manpower and logistics units to reinforce, resupply and travel between sites.
Angle your tanks to front face the enemy. Consider armor ratings of buildings and ensure your troops are facing the correct way to ensure you don't miss the first shot.
Despite the many reviews citing difficulty - I did not find the campaign difficult - but it does punish mistakes.
Infantry trying to creep past a blind corner? Be prepared for a plasma MG to microwave your troops. Attend to this with recon, stealth and a prudent mix of antivehicle capability.
Trying to roll around with a mechanised blob? Urban terrain will digest you whole, with arty to finish whats left.
Ran out of fuel? Unless you have a flank defensive position to protect your fuel/supply trucks, be prepared to walk home.

It's an xcom-esque game - because units matter.
If you want your rangers to have firepower, EMP or scouting capability? Make sure they survive and upgrade them. If they die, start again with a new squad.
If you want to survive against air units - invest in ATGM's, upgrade and protect them.
Want to drive tanks? Protect your driving units, and upgrade technicians to drive tanks and don't let them die.
Vehicle upgrades are at the core of this game. Whether its strapping pinetrees to your semi-trailers, or retrofitting terminator tech to your Humvee.
The meta is to protect your high value units, and use them decisively.
You can lose this game if you run out of appropriately upgraded units and vehicles.

It's a lemmings game, because the variety of enemy units come in waves - as do your re-inforcements. Locking down your supply and reinforcement routes are a key part of this game. The enemy just keeps on coming. Don't waste time.

If you don't like micro, dont bother with this game.
If you are keen for a wargame with X-com character dynamics and a deep vehicle mechanics unique to TDF - this game is a unique approach to a classic genre.

Criminally Underrated. One of the most detailed RTS games I’ve ever played. - Highly recomended
I swear, this game is super underrated. The level of detail is insane. When an Abrams tank fires AP rounds and hits a Legion tank, you can literally see parts getting blown off. Not only that—those AP shells actually work like they should. One time I pierced through three Legion tanks in a row with a single AP shot. Nuts.
Missiles hitting buildings? You’ll see debris from upper floors collapsing to the ground. It’s not just visual fluff—the destruction feels real. And yes, every building in the game is destructible. You can even shoot through small gaps in structures. I’ve had bullets fly through three narrow openings and hit the enemy clean—as long as there's no obstacle. That level of physics and interaction? Crazy satisfying.
Gameplay-wise, it’s like if Empire Earth or Age of Empires removed base-building and went full combat mode. You can order your units to garrison buildings, set up perimeters, and shoot from inside. That alone adds so much tactical depth. It’s honestly awesome.
But here's the big letdown… No Scenario Editor.
This is the part that broke my heart a bit. After you finish the campaign, there’s… nothing else. I thought I could keep using my fully-upgraded army in some kind of endgame mode or post-campaign missions—but nope. That’s it. “Wait… that’s all?” is literally what I said when the last mission ended.
There’s no replayability after that. Which is such a shame, because the mechanics and gameplay are TOO GOOD to be used once and done.
Please, we need a Scenario Editor. Not just Skirmish—an actual map editor where we can build layouts, place units, and create our own missions. Like, give us Midland or Oklahoma maps and let us go wild. Imagine building your own "defend the block" mission where Legion keeps throwing waves and waves of enemies, and you try to hold them off with your customized troops and fortifications.
My dream scenario?
That one mission in Midland where you’re told to “regroup at the block to the north”—man, I’ve spent hours there just setting up defenses. I kept wishing Legion would just keep coming endlessly, so I could test how solid my setup was.
There are a few buildings in that area I always use as key defense points, and I genuinely love spending time optimizing them. I’ve played this game for over 100 hours, and a huge chunk of that was just trying to perfect moments like that.
If we had a proper editor, I’d make a map where I throw one trillion Legion units at my fully-upgraded army just to see how long I can last. Let me be the Founder, let me pick what units I want, and let me go nuts. That’s the dream.
Final words – thank you devs
I bought this game full price, and I have zero regrets. You guys made something truly special. The mechanics, the realism, the tactical gameplay—this is easily one of the best RTS games I’ve played in years.
But please, give this game the long-term love it deserves. Add a scenario editor or some kind of replayable mode, and I swear this game could have a cult following. It’s already got the foundation.
Thanks again for making such a detailed and immersive experience. I really hope you see this review.

Awesome use of the warfare engine to make what is honestly probably the best Terminator game of all time. It's really a shame the developers had to use the "Dark Fate" timeline, which sucks; Legion just doesn't have the same feel as Skynet, and the aesthetics and overall situation of humanity in that timeline feel a lot less hopeless than what we saw of the Future War in the 80s and 90s.

You'll see a lot of people complain about the difficulty. As it's intended to be, yeah this is probably one of the hardest tactics games I've ever played, especially when you're juggling between multiple objectives. You'll need to make liberal use of the pause button, allowing a few seconds to unfold, and then cycling to your other positions. And this is an RT*T*, real time tactics. You won't be able to just "attack move to win" across the map. You'll need sound strategy, a good understanding of the mechanics and honestly quite a bit of luck (nothing more infuriating than watching three ATGMs in a row zing past their intended targets) in order to pull off a successful playthrough.

The difficulty can be adjusted though, and on normal it's fairly forgiving. Adjust the supply use sliders to give yourself either an enjoyable or frustrating experience. I like it turned down enough to give me an actual army which can take afford casualties, instead of having to save-scum my way through because I keep losing my only tank.

The AI is hard, but fair. If you know are clever, or just know in advance, it's easy enough to use proper tactics to set up blocking positions and ambushes. You can bait enemy units into chasing a unit into an killzone, sometimes. If you're getting smacked with artillery, push out scouts and search for high-camo enemy spotters. The first time I played Oklahoma City was a NIGHTMARE because I treated the game more like starcraft up until that point than the actual game that it is. Think smart, advance properly, and watch your men smash those metal motherf****rs into bits. Fail to plan, blob from one point to another, and Legion will not feel pity, or remorse or fear. It will not stop, EVER, until you are dead.

Great game, wish it was longer, eagerly anticipating the DLC.

I have not beaten the game yet, but from the amount I have experienced. I am surprised by how good it was.
My only issue is the fact the game takes place in the Dark Fate Timeline.
We don't play as the Resistance but as the Founders, and the only "Resistance" group is called Movement.
Don't get me started on calling Skynet Legion, it's Skynet. Period.
Also Cartel? What?
The Story is so dumb but ignoring that, the game is genuinely good.

This is a very fun game but it really needs some sort of procedural mode that you can explore and fight all around the world map. ya know, scavenging and recruiting units while trying to slowly dislodge the terminators from the region. something free form. the campaign ends up feeling way too short and most of the fun units and tactics you don't get until the last mission or two if you're lucky. something free form where you start with limited units and can recruit or train new units with resources with the only goal being to push the enemy back would give so much more depth to the entire system. Also, it kinda sucks that founders units are only available through mission rewards and finds, not for purchase.
To add to this review after playing the game for a while longer. i have found the game kinda railroads into certain tactics and mission plans. I would love to see more missions with more freedom on how you approach them. The best missions in the game were the ones with more free form takes like Mount Taylor and the third mission in mexico. alot of the missions feel like there is only one or two approaches you can use. The worst offender of this by far is the attack on the main integrator camp. you are rail roaded into a head on tank battle with the only maneuvering option is a frontal charge because the map is tiny. Even though it's one of the few missions you can bring in helicopters in the first wave, and with a wider map, you could so do a flanking air assault or some other options, it forces you into a fight. I do love how creativity can be rewarded in the game, but it feels like there are so few missions that you can be creative in.

i never thought id see a terminator game where time travel is actually a gameplay mechanic (save scumming)

Really great game! I wanted Terminator rts since I was a child in the 90s and now I finally got it! Reminds me of an old hidden gem called Soldiers of Anarchy, which was a post-apocalyptic strategy as well with very similar game mechanics. Simply put, as the game progress you gain more troopers and vehicles for your resistance army. Every unit that survive the mission can be used in the later missions. But the bigger your army gets the more resources it uses. To maintain balance you can either buy resources in the settlements (on the tactical map), scrap vehicles that you found or disband your troopers. Your personnel also gains experience which unlocks slots where you can put new abilities. You can even rename your squads which is a nice touch. No base building but you can deploy defensive platforms (after you buy or find some). The game is quite tactical and you must choose carefully what to do. Like using the correct weapons depending on what type of enemy you are attacking, covering your units behind the buildings and so on.
Im glad we finally got a great Terminator strategy game and I absolutely cannot wait for the upcoming conquest mode that has been announced! After that it will be 10/10 for me! (Ok, 9/10 since it's Legion and not Skynet :)