Live Hard, Die Hard

Live Hard, Die Hard is a squad-management simulation with real-time tactical battles. In the year 20XX, an alien invasion pushes humanity to the brink of extinction. As commander of an elite special forces unit, you have four weeks to build a strike team for a final assault on the aliens’ central command, the Terminal Core.

Prepare the unit

Each week has a Base Management phase and an Expedition phase. You manage your base, gather resources and develop the soldiers who will take part in the final operation. The game gives you a limited time to shape your team before the assault begins.

Each soldier has their own Branch-Skills, Body Mods and Genomes. Research, Support Devices and Squad Direction let you enhance them and unlock new commander abilities, with each choice changing your squad.

Command in battle

Soldiers march and fight automatically, while your orders determine how the battle unfolds. You can call retreats, deploy reinforcements, use skills and time artillery strikes.

Wounded soldiers are evacuated for treatment, but losses put greater strain on those still fighting. Holding the line for too long can cause your formation to collapse, so you must balance recovery against resistance.

Adapt to the aliens

Aliens you kill can be dissected for random Side Effects: unpredictable powers that can alter the battlefield in your favor. You can stack and combine these effects to strengthen your squad. Choosing whether to prioritize treatment or dissection affects your unit and humanity’s future.

Support your soldiers

Fierce battles take a mental toll as well as causing physical wounds. As commander, you can reward soldiers for their efforts; these gestures of gratitude help keep their spirits from breaking.