How did commanders in films such as Aliens feel when they led a special unit into an alien-infested area and commanded everything via screens? Traptics and Firesquid aim to answer this question with Xenopurge!
In Xenopurge, players take on the role of a commander who leads an elite unit in battle against an alien threat known as the Xenos. It is a tactical auto-battler game. As part of M.A.C.E. (Mercer's Advanced Combat Enterprises), the mission is clear: to purge all aliens and keep humanity safe - inspired by Alien and Space Hulk, combined with retro-futuristic aesthetics. The game incorporates real-time strategy (RTS) elements and auto-battler mechanics, as well as a roguelite mission cycle.
The game is centred on the fantasy of being in a command room, directing missions and responding to unpredictable dangers. The commander is located far away and controls the task force via a multi-screen command centre. Here, the player can issue real-time commands, manage resources and act tactically. The player leads their troops through procedurally generated maps with variable layouts, enemies and missions, such as search, escort, extraction and destruction. Although players can issue orders to their troops from a list of instructions, the range of direct actions available to impact the battlefield is limited, since the units act autonomously based on the orders given. The focus is therefore more on anticipation and planning than reaction and control.
Xenopurge © Traptics and Firesquid
Xenopurge is all about fast, tactical missions. A round can be completed in around an hour. Underpinning this is a roguelite progression system that gives players more options. After each run, your command skills improve and you can unlock new recruits.
Xenopurge is developed by Traptics, a small game development studio founded in 2012 and located in Athens, Greece. Their last game was Homeseek, a post-apocalyptic strategy title released in 2023. Xenopurge is the studio's sixth game.
"When we started Xenopurge, we didn't know exactly what it would become. We just chased the creation of a specific feeling. That sense of tension for the squad you command, watching their every move from the screen, dreading what they might find around each corner. Along the way, an amazing community gathered around the project, helping it grow into something beyond what we ever imagined. As we approach full release, this isn't the end of development; it's the next step in fulfilling our promise to you, the players. And believe me, we're just getting started. There's so much more we can't wait to bring to Xenopurge." Mike Papagathangelou, Co-Founder & Game Designer @ Traptics
The game is published by Firesquid, a French indie game publisher specialising in strategy games. "Firesquid aims to create a catalog of strategy titles that modernize and revisit the genre, while delighting our players the world over," said the publisher. The people working at Firesquid benefit from the opportunity to work on both sides of the industry, as both developer and publisher. The company aims to co-market, co-fund and publish projects with creative, resourceful teams behind them. Firesquid's sister company, Lightbulb Crew, developed Othercide (2020).
Xenopurge © Traptics and Firesquid
On 20 November 2025, Firesquid and Traptics released the full 1.0 version of Xenopurge on Steam. It is priced at €12.49. The game was in Early Access for around six months prior to this. Version 1.0 includes the full story campaign, additional difficulty levels, commands and weapons, and four different squads (with four variants each) to lead: The Sentinel Strike, The Huntsman Corps, The Synthetic Division and The Bioweave Cell Squad. The latter squad collects enemies' DNA in order to use bio-modifications and evolve over time, acquiring unique capacities in the process.
Xenopurge brings an exciting auto-battler experience to life, offering players an immersive atmosphere and a unique premise.
