IMPERATIVE
Tactical Squad Infantry RTS
FEATURES
Infantry Squad Tactical
Step into the role of Commander in a sandbox-style, tactical real-time strategy where every tactical decision matters. You lead an elite special forces unit, recruiting persistent operatives whose unique attributes, specialisations, and skill sets form the backbone of your specialised operations team.
Mission by mission, you’ll receive overarching objectives—yet you’re free to tackle them however you see fit, roaming an open sandbox world to plan your perfect approach.
Authentic MilSim
Experience the grind of authentic milsim combat: from realistic weapon handling and ballistics to suppression effects and nuanced damage modelling, every firefight demands precision.
Procedurally generated, dynamic scenarios pit you against a tactically capable AI enemy.
Singleplayer or join forces cooperatively, you’ll need advanced combat maneuvers and tight squad coordination to outwit and defeat your foes.
Persistent Characters
Between missions, the human cost of warfare comes home. Manage your roster, invest in upgrades shaped by each operative’s battlefield experience, and unlock powerful commander tactics that elevate your combat execution.
Every decision carries weight, with permanent injuries or even losses underscoring the high emotional stakes at play.
Intense Battle Immersion
Imperative transcends conventional strategy games by weaving visceral, on-the-ground squad tactics into the full weight of operational command.
Engagements play out as persistent developing firefights, ebbing and flowing across contested terrain, strained supply lines, and casualty evacuation routes. You’ll employ real-world tactics and need to dynamically threat assess evolving situations while coordinating suppressive fire and tactical positioning, keeping your team ahead of the enemy.
Every logistical choice, every tactical maneuver, and every casualty has ripple effects on future operations, making each mission a relentless test of leadership, planning, and adaptability.
Summary
Imperative is a sandbox, tactical, infantry-focused, real-time strategy game where players command an elite special forces unit. As the Commander, you’ll recruit operatives based on their unique attributes, specialisations, and skill sets, forging a highly specialised combat team. Given overarching objectives but complete freedom in tackling them, you’ll plan and execute missions using advanced combat maneuvers to outwit and defeat the enemy.
Missions unfold in procedural, dynamic scenarios, demanding precise execution and tight coordination among your squad. The emotional stakes are high: every decision carries lasting consequences, including permanent injuries or losses, underscoring the importance of thorough planning, tactical positioning, and rapid adaptation to changing conditions. Between missions, you’ll manage your roster and invest in upgrades that reflect each member’s battlefield experiences.
This blend of squad-focused gameplay and strategic command captures the intensity of real-life special operations, challenging you to balance responsibility, precision, and the human cost of modern warfare.
Road Map
2025 Q4
Prototype & Playtest
After creating a basic prototype, we will conduct closed playtesting to gather data on the combat mechanisms and general gameplay.
2026 Q1
Closed Playtesting
Playtesting and refinement particularily focused on the combat mechanics will continue over this time period.
2026 Q2
Combat Refined
With the combat mechanics refined introduction of character attributes and skills will begin.
2026 Q3
Character Features
A full character system will be implemented to enable the building of teams and assigning characters, including persistent stats and attributes.
2026 Q4
Character Refinement
Continues refinement of the character system and combat system through closed playtesting.
2027 Q1
Open Alpha Playtest
The first open testing to stress the refined systems.
2027 Q2
Steam Demo
Launch of the Steam page and a release of a demo with single level and basic weapons and characters.
2027 Q3
Additional Content
Additional content, such as maps, weapons, and characters added, including closed testing on the newly added content.
2027 Q4
Open Bravo Testing
Extensive open testing on all new content, character and combat systems. Iterative changes over a prolonged testing phase.
2028 Q1
Early Access Release
Early access on Steam release.