Calyx: The Sci-Fi Strategy Game Bringing Plant-Alien Warfare to Your Screen
If you’re a fan of real-time strategy (RTS) games with a twist, Calyx is one to watch in 2026. Developed and published by Studio 568, this indie sci-fi strategy title blends base building, resource management, and tactical combat — but with a unique enemy that sets it apart from the rest.
In Calyx, you take command of a lone space mining outpost on a barren alien world. After being awakened from cryo-sleep, your mission is simple in theory: build, defend, and survive. However, the planet is far from lifeless. A hostile plant-alien force — known simply as the Calyx — spreads quickly across the landscape, forcing you to balance mining, base defense, and strategic offense if you want to stay alive.
The gameplay mixes the familiar with innovative mechanics. You’ll construct power networks, set up harvesters, refine ore, and send it to orbit for credits — but that’s only the beginning. Walls, turrets, tanks, and artillery are essential tools for pushing back the ever-encroaching green menace. The AI system that assists you is outdated, adding an extra layer of challenge and atmosphere as you fend off waves of alien roots and flora.
What makes Calyx especially interesting is how the enemy isn’t just another army — it grows. The plant life spreads over the map, forcing you to adapt and rethink your strategies constantly. Will you dig in and create an impenetrable fortress? Or will you build mobile forces to take the fight straight to the Calyx before it gains too much ground? It’s a strategic puzzle that keeps players engaged and thinking ahead.
As of January 2026, Calyx is launching into Early Access on Steam, giving players a chance to influence its development with feedback and playtesting. The Early Access version includes a campaign with 16 maps, skirmish modes, tech trees, and multiple difficulty settings. This means there’s already plenty to enjoy — and much more to look forward to in future updates.
For fans of strategy games who crave something fresh and challenging, Calyx is shaping up to be a standout title. Its blend of classic RTS mechanics with a dynamic, evolving threat makes for an addictive experience that’s easy to sink hours into. Whether you’re defending against creeping vines or unleashing orbital lasers, Calyx delivers a unique base-builder adventure worth exploring.
