Pesky Orcs!

Pesky Orcs! is a strategy game about the age-old conflict between the kingdoms of Humans and Orcs. As a human general, you direct your troops across the battlefield and try to survive increasingly powerful enemy hordes. Your hero does not attack directly: soldiers, mages and archers automatically strike enemies within reach of their weapons.

Command your troops

You decide where your units move, dodge enemy attacks, thrown axes and summoned fireballs, and use special abilities such as protective shields, healing spells and pillars of fire. Explore randomly generated maps to find altars and treasures that can help in battle. Defeated Orc generals and especially large beasts drop banners, which let you summon reinforcements instantly, from foot soldiers to magic-wielding archangels.

Return to the village

When your army falls, your hero revives at an idyllic medieval village. Spend the gold you have earned to construct buildings and buy upgrades. These can let you start later battles with more soldiers, summon a spiky aura of thorns or increase the fire rate of all your units. Your next run starts without saved currency unless you have unlocked the relevant inventions.

Grow stronger with each run

Each attempt unlocks content, including biomes, costumes, upgrades and enemies. You can find dozens of costumes for your general, and build up your army as you prepare to face the final boss: an ancient demon.

Units and upgrades

The game includes dozens of units, upgrades, buildings and spells, alongside randomly generated battlefields across different worlds. Its handcrafted retro pixel art and soundtrack draw on PC games and gaming music from the 1990s.