You don’t lose the game if you fail objectives-only if you lose all your Power Grid-so you’ll constantly be weighing up the pros of one move against the cons of another.

If you succeed, they’ll grant certain rewards, either Power Grid points, Reactor Cores (which power up your mechs’ abilities and weapons), or Reputation, a currency you’ll spend on weapons and other gear to equip your mechs for the run. You might need to protect a coal plant or speeding train, to kill at least seven enemies, or to destroy a dam. Each island features a set of levels from which you’ll choose four to battle on before playing the fifth one to protect your HQ from a final assault, and each level has different objectives. Each campaign run takes place across four themed islands. One of Into the Breach’s greatest strengths is that while its tactics are exacting and complex, its strategy involves a good deal of choice and variety. I move my Boulder Mech in and lob a rock between them, pushing both away so both attacks will hit nothing. What if my Hook Mech pulls the bug attacking the city with its grapple? OK, the city’s still in danger because the bug charges in a straight line, but now it’s sitting a tile away from the bug attacking the train, and… I’m a genius. This is why, despite each battle taking place on just 64 tiles and across five short turns, I routinely spend 30 minutes on them, agonising over my choices. There are always many options, but you’re rarely sure you’re making the best ones. If you’re clever, you can make them attack each other or push them into bug-killing water. Thinning the Vek’s numbers is always a good idea, but they’re not always about killing, since most can also move them, relocating their attacks. You also have amazing weapons on your side.

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