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What kind of strategy game is Zero Company?
Star Wars Zero Company is a single-player turn-based tactics game set near the end of the Clone Wars. EA describes a cinematic original story in which former Republic officer Hawks leads an unconventional squad against the Separatist-aligned Infinite Coil. Its battles are only part of the experience: the game also includes investigations, customizable characters, squad bonds, and choices made at the Den, the team’s base. EA’s game page outlines those campaign features.
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Combat and risk
According to the StarWars.com gameplay guide, each operator gets three action points to spend on movement, attacks, and abilities. Combat choices include taking cover, setting overwatch, calling for a teammate’s attack, rallying an injured operator, and using Advantage points for special abilities. Missions have marked objectives, and difficulty can be adjusted outside combat.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minutePermadeath is optional. When it is enabled, the guide says an operator dies after accumulating three injuries. That specific rule matters if you are comparing games: injury, recovery, and permanent-loss systems vary, so do not assume another tactics game handles risk the same way.
#1 Best Overall
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Decisions between battles
At the Den, Hawks chooses tactical missions and operations. Operations are non-combat assignments that consume Intel and can yield items, credits, or influence; some can affect teammate bonds. Because you cannot take every mission and operation, deciding what to prioritize is part of the campaign strategy, not just downtime between fights.
A PC Gamer hands-on preview published March 26, 2026 also describes third-person exploration outside combat and a design intended to combine exploration, tactical battles, and cinematic presentation. That is a preview account, not a substitute for a review of the released game. Read the preview.
Rank #2
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Choose by what you liked most
For squad tactics and campaign management: XCOM 2
XCOM 2 is the clearest match if you want to plan squad turns, build soldiers, and improve a headquarters between missions. Its Steam store description lists five soldier classes with skill trees, tactical guerrilla combat, and research and upgrades aboard the mobile Avenger headquarters. Those features overlap with the tactical and strategic sides of Zero Company, but the premise is different: XCOM 2 is about resistance against an alien occupation of Earth, not a Star Wars conflict.
For the Clone Wars story and squad relationships: Zero Company
If what you want is an original Star Wars narrative and a specific squad to get to know, Zero Company is the more direct choice. EA describes its cinematic story and squad bonds, while the official guide recommends speaking with teammates to learn their backstories and unlock personal missions. A mechanically similar game cannot provide that setting or those characters.
Rank #3
- In Proteus, two players duel across a regular chessboard – but their chessmen are six-sided dice.
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- Players gain points by capturing their opponent’s dice. The player who captures the most pieces will not necessarily be the winner; it depends on the value of the captured pieces.
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For a guided introduction to tactics: Zero Company’s adjustable options
The official guide says Zero Company includes tutorials, on-screen tips, and adjustable difficulty. These are useful features if you are learning turn-based tactics, but they do not establish that the game is universally easier than XCOM 2 or other strategy games. Pick based on the support you want, then adjust difficulty to suit your play.
Compare the mechanics that matter to you
“Turn-based strategy” covers games with very different priorities. Before choosing, decide which of these questions matters most:
Rank #4
- Boss Monster Racing: Dive into Dungeon Kart for turn-based tactical thrills in the Boss Monster universe!
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- What should a battle ask of you? In Zero Company, the documented action-point system centers on movement, cover, attacks, abilities, and positioning. If that mix is what you enjoyed, look for games that emphasize deliberate squad turns rather than assuming every turn-based game will feel alike.
- How much campaign management do you want? XCOM 2 explicitly combines tactical encounters with research and upgrades aboard the Avenger. Choose it if you want base development and squad growth to shape your missions.
- Do you prefer a written story or squad stories that develop through play? Zero Company emphasizes an authored Star Wars story, bonds, backstories, and personal missions. Consider whether those character relationships are essential or whether tactical systems are enough.
- How should mistakes affect your team? Check whether injuries can be recovered from, whether permadeath is optional, and how characters can be permanently lost. In Zero Company, the guide documents optional permadeath and a three-injury death threshold when it is on.
Platforms, release, and price context
EA announced that Zero Company would be available on August 28, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series consoles. Its launch announcement listed the Digital Deluxe Edition at suggested retail prices of $59.99 on PC and $69.99 on consoles, and described a Collector’s Edition with physical themed items. These are launch-announcement figures, not confirmed current prices; check your regional store for current cost and availability. EA listed PC availability through the EA app, Steam, and Epic Games Store. See EA’s launch information.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
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- DRAGON TOKEN: This Risk game includes a dragon token. Players must destroy the dragon before it destroys their troops. A lucky roll can subdue the dragon and get it out of a player's territory
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