You absolutely have to play Mechabellum as it now has a free edition

22 Sep 2026 at 9:07 am UTC | Last updated: 22 Sep 2026 at 9:47 am UTC
By Liam Squires-Hand

Mechabellum is an auto-battler that's a bit like future space chess in a way, it has some truly epic battles and just had a massive upgrade with a free edition.

I was hooked on it for quite some time, and it is easily one of the best auto-battlers ever made. Now you have no excuse not to try it out, and potentially kick my butt in online matches. It also works to perfection on Linux platforms with Proton 11. The free edition is pretty darn generous too giving you only a few limitations.

Mechabellum 2.0 just released which is a really big overhaul for the game with new modes and content:

2.0 Highlights

• Star Expedition: A brand-new mode blending roguelite elements with asynchronous battles, playable solo or co-op.
• Centurion: A versatile new mech built to shake up the battlefield.
• Expanded Arsenal: New Reinforcement Cards, Techs, and Specialists.
• Mechabellum Free Edition: The perfect entry point for newcomers to jump into the action.

Some shots of me playing it on Fedora KDE 44:

This new Star Expedition is a great addition to it too, answering the call from players to have more modes in the game with less time pressure:

Star Expedition

• Solo & 2-Player Co-op: You can embark on the Star Expedition solo, or team up with a friend. In co-op mode, both commanders will lead their own independent armies onto a shared battlefield, coordinating tactics and positioning together to take on the enemy.
• Dynamic Adventures: A vast pool of random variables ensures that no two expeditions are ever the same. Constantly shifting units, tech upgrades, reinforcements, and diverse player mirrors will thoroughly test your ability to adapt to the unexpected.
• RelaxedAsynchronous Combat: The asynchronous battle system imposes no round timer, giving you ample time to plan your deployments and execute strategies entirely at your own pace.
• Rich Expedition Rewards: Every run yields unique expedition rewards. Strategically leveraging these perks will set you up for even greater triumphs on your next run.
• Multi-dimensional Leaderboard: Climb global, regional, or friends-only rankings to test your skills against other commanders across your preferred dimension.

See the new trailer below:

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Play it. This is one that really deserves more players.

The full complete game is also 40% off until October 1st.

Steam Deck 🟡 PlayableRelease Date: 📅 26th September 2024Platform: ⚛ Proton / Wine (Windows)Devs:Game River, DreamhavenOfficial links:Humble StoreSteam Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com. Tags: Proton, Autobattler, Indie Game, Steam | Apps: Mechabellum 5 Likes Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:GOG expand their Preservation Program with more games and now 3D scans of box art tooDXVK-Sarek 1.13.0 is a big release for older GPUs to play modern games on LinuxProton Experimental updated with fixes for STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT, EA App, Borderlands 4The new 18 minute Fable gameplay has sold me - I want it All posts need to follow our rules. Please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Readers can also email us for any issues or concerns.