I am about six hours into Powerplay, the new early access RTS from Montreal studio Frantic, and it has its hooks in me.

If you grew up commanding armies in Command and Conquer, the vibe here will feel instantly familiar. This time, though, your war machine runs on a genuine industrial supply chain rather than a magic resource counter.

It is rough in the places early access games usually are, but underneath those rough edges is a really promising strategy game.

Quick Facts:

What Powerplay Actually Is

At its core, Powerplay is a resource first RTS.

Rather than dumping you straight into a brawl, the game wants you to harvest minerals, build up an economy, and then turn that economy into troops and armored vehicles.

The units are old school sprites, bright and colorful, popping against a moody, doom and gloom backdrop, and honestly, that contrast gives the whole thing a nice bit of atmosphere. It looks like the RTS games I grew up with, and I mean that as a compliment.

Let's Do The Conveyor Belt Twist

The twist, and the part that sets it apart from a straight Command and Conquer clone, is the logistics layer. Buildings like refineries need to be physically connected with conveyor belts to run efficiently.

That means a big part of the game is laying out and optimizing your supply lines, not just plopping down structures.

When the distance is too great, or the terrain will not let you connect a belt, you can fall back on transport trucks to haul materials across the gap.

It is a smart system, and it adds a satisfying Factorio flavor to the familiar RTS loop.

On content, the early access build gives you a campaign, a skirmish mode, and a sandbox map editor. That is a healthy amount to chew on for a game this early in its life.

What I Like

• The Command and Conquer vibe is strong and authentic. If you loved classic RTS games, this scratches that exact itch.
• The art direction works. Vibrant sprite units against a dark industrial backdrop give it real personality.
• The conveyor belt supply system is genuinely fun. Planning and optimizing your production lines adds a layer most RTS games do not have.
• Transport trucks are a clever fallback when belts will not reach, so a bad bit of terrain or location placement never fully stops your economy.
• There is plenty to do already, between the campaign, skirmish, and sandbox map editor.

What Needs Work

This is early access, and it shows. None of these are dealbreakers, but they are the things I most want the developer to tighten up.

• The AI pathfinding needs work. Trucks and armored vehicles will sometimes take the worst route around a tree blocking the path. I've also watched units circle the same obstacle over and over until they finally sort it out.
• Soldiers are made of paper. Infantry hit points feel too low right now, so foot soldiers die very quickly. That makes them feel disposable, in a way that is not always fun.
• The game needs more tutorial. It does not do enough to explain what the various buildings and units actually do, so a lot of early learning, admittedly, comes from trial and error.

The Verdict

Powerplay is a fun, promising RTS that already nails the feel it is going for.

• The Command and Conquer bones are solid, the conveyor belt logistics give it a genuine identity, and the retro presentation is a treat.
• It is held back for now by shaky pathfinding, fragile infantry, and a thin tutorial, all very fixable early access problems.
• If the developer keeps building on this foundation, it could become something special.
• As it stands, it is well worth a look for RTS fans who do not mind a few rough edges while it grows into its full potential.

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