New strategy hit? Here's why this RTS is climbing the Steam charts

One of the biggest surprises on Steam's Popular New Releases chart right now is Machinefall. In fact, the game currently holds the No. 2 spot, even ahead of the recently released 1.0 version of Palworld. So why is it attracting so much attention? The answer is its setting – or, more accurately, its scale. Without exaggeration, the entire planet serves as the game's map.

Machinefall drops players into a post-apocalyptic future where swarms of mechanical insects have nearly wiped out civilization. Starting with only a handful of survivors somewhere on the world map, players establish their first base and gradually work to rebuild humanity. Technological progress begins almost from scratch, with access only to primitive tools and basic structures. Over the course of several eras, players unlock new resources, buildings and weapons before eventually reaching the atomic age. Throughout the journey, however, robotic insect swarms repeatedly threaten their growing settlements.

The entire planet as your battlefield

What truly sets Machinefall apart is its enormous scale. The entire Earth serves as the playable map, and the camera can zoom seamlessly from a global overview all the way down to individual units and city streets. As a result, gameplay constantly shifts between macro- and micromanagement. One moment players are planning new outposts on the other side of the planet, and the next they are trying to hold together a crumbling frontline.

The game has been well received by early players so far. At the time of writing, it has accumulated 34 user reviews, 88% of which are positive. Despite its 1.0 release, however, reviews suggest that the game still needs some polish, with bugs and performance issues being the most common complaints. Players also note that the selection of buildings and units is still fairly limited, and the lack of a multiplayer mode has been criticized as well. Anyone interested in giving Machinefall a try can still take advantage of the 15% launch discount until July 24, 2026, reducing the regular price from $14.99 to $12.74. Steam Deck compatibility (currently available on Amazon for $740) is currently listed as Unknown.