The new free-to-play shooter on Steam from publisher Tencent Games takes you into the world of Lovecraft and offers a fight against aliens of all kinds. As a team, you shoot your way through nightmarish monsters and must fetch an artifact.
Which game is being referred to? “Rules of Engagement: The Grey State” is the new PvPvE game that aims to give you – in addition to a classic shooter experience – an alien nightmare.
The game appears to be a mix of the Lovecraft universe, the design of the PS5 game Returnal, and the horror of the Alien franchise. In its gameplay, Grey State Studios relies on the tried-and-true “Capture the Flag” method and sends you as a group into the horrific alien events.
Here you can see the announcement trailer for “Rules of Engagement: The Grey State”:
Entering the alien battle as a group of four
How does the game work? As one of four player types – called Striders – you can either go solo or with up to three teammates in search of a coveted artifact – only this time instead of a fedora and whip, it’s filled with bullets and body armor. Three of the four classes are already known:
- Sledge, an unstoppable juggernaut who carves his way through with a shield and hammer.
- Pyro, a chaotic pyromaniac who controls the battlefield with fire and gas.
- Phantom, a nimble assassin who strikes from the shadows with utmost precision.
The fourth player type remains under wraps. By the way, the game is played in the unstable and titular dimension “The Grey State.” This dimension is too dangerous for humanity, but contains exactly those valuable artifacts.
During the course of the game, the Striders will have to search for equipment and decide according to the developers: early extraction for limited rewards or hope for even greater gains and reach the artifact. The studio emphasizes that a good sense of strategy and careful character development should lead to success.
What is the roadmap for the shooter? “Rules of Engagement: The Grey State” is set to release in 2026 for PC and can already be added to your wishlist on Steam. It has also been announced that the shooter will be developed further in the long term – with regular content updates, adjustments to gameplay, and a “fair” free-to-play model with only cosmetic items in the in-game shop.
What do you think about the announcement and the alien horror of “Rules of Engagement”? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. If you’re generally interested in scary sci-fi shooters, you might also get lost in the gameplay trailer of Saros. The game by the Returnal creators is set to release on March 26, 2026: “Look, Mom, that’s me” – Actor proudly shows on TikTok that he is now an action hero in a PS5 game.
