Armaphract is a tactical tank sim dropping you into urban warfare across a ruined desert megacity

Indie developer aeoridev is working on Armaphract – a tactical tank simulator set in the streets of a shattered desert megacity. The game is targeting a Q4 2026 release, and alpha builds are already available to try on itch.io.

In Armaphract, you command a mercenary tank company fighting against superior enemy forces. Survival comes down to tactics and smart maneuvering – going head-to-head with a stronger opponent tends to end badly.

The pacing is deliberately slow, punctuated by sudden bursts of action. You can play methodically, pausing to plan every move, or push aggressively and adapt as things unfold. Precise routes can be drawn out using waypoints, covering all angles while keeping full control over both vehicles and infantry.

The urban environment shapes everything. Desert streets are full of choke points and potential ambushes lurking in the alleys. Powerful ordnance can wipe out clustered enemy forces or bring down buildings to open up new routes. Smoke can stage a push or cover a retreat.

Enemies in Armaphract follow the same rules you do – setting ambushes, launching flanking attacks, and regrouping when threatened. That approach to AI should make every engagement unpredictable and worth thinking through.

A modular loadout system lets you tailor your forces to the situation. That might mean a column of superheavy tanks loaded with ERA, or infantry in buildings supported by IFVs armed with ATGMs. Modules can be mixed and matched based on need or doctrine.

The simulation tracks individual crew stats, module health, and precise armor penetration values. ERA works specifically against tandem warheads, surviving crew will try to cover for fallen crewmates in other roles (with mixed results), and fires extinguish faster once a vehicle is out of combat.

The campaign sends you through sand and streets of abandoned districts toward the forgotten edge of the city. Powerful factions control different territories – you can slip through quietly or hunt down their elite units directly. Managing the convoy, crew, and resources is part of running the mercenary company, and choices range from honorable to purely self-interested.

Unique characters with different specializations, experience, and skills can join the company along the way. There are also rival mercenaries to contend with and lucrative contracts to take as the city slowly wakes up.

The developer regularly shares progress on social media. Recent updates include a new SIGINT recon mechanic, where special modules let units detect nearby electronic and infrared emissions without line of sight. Heavier units carry a larger signature, reducing detection range and increasing noise.

aeoridev also showed off an updated K-75 tank model, various smoke types, an improved armory interface with unit stats, and a reworked module and armor display for better visualization of directional damage.

The game's Steam page is already live for wishlisting.