It’s been five years since the Mass Effect Legendary Edition was released and a lot longer still since Commander Shepard first dominated the Reapers across the galaxy. And sure, the ending to the trilogy might have landed with as much impact as soggy bread, but overall, the trilogy brought us dozens of hours of immersive space battles, tough choices and characters that stuck with us long after the adventure ended.

While we wait for more intergalactic politics and space battles (I’m ignoring you completely, Mass Effect Andromeda), there is a free demo over on Steam that might be worth a second look. Combining the bombastic scale of Mass Effect’s battle against ancient alien enemies and the RTS gameplay of Total War, Sanctuary: Shattered Sun might just scratch that space itch for strategy fans. Super weapons at the ready, it’s time for some devastating destructive fun!

Sanctuary: Shattered Sun is a next-gen RTS title that allows for destruction on an epic scale. When regular weapons aren’t enough, you can literally reshape the landscape with devastating weapons. Going scorched earth has never been so satisfying. The demo offers a couple of scenarios to give players a taste of the combat, gameplay, visuals and enemies you’ll encounter in the full game. The full release also promises a multiplayer mode and a story-rich single-player campaign.

Weapons that literally break the map seem to be the order of the day. Why shoot at your enemy’s ships when you can freeze the sea and trap them in ice? Or instead of a frontal assault on an enemy base, why not obliterate it with the sun as you pull it from the sky. The creators boast many fantastical ways to defeat your foes and encourage experimenting. This free-to-play demo will give you a taste of what to expect from the full release.

Steam

Sanctuary: Shattered Sun is set to release in August 2026, so if the demo tickles your fancy, then you don’t have long to wait for the full game to come out. The demo currently has a rating of ‘Very Positive’ on Steam, with some fans praising it as the spiritual successor to Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance. High praise indeed. While we wait for Mass Effect 5 and a possible Commander Shepard replacement, this might scratch that space battle itch until then.

So, if Mass Effect Legendary Edition or high-scale epic battles in space are your thing, then Sanctuary: Shattered Sun might just fill that Dune II-sized hole in your life. Best of all, you can play it right now for free over on Steam. While most gamers are losing their minds waiting for a new Grand Theft Auto VI trailer, it’s nice to get a free demo to try before you buy. Sanctuary: Shattered Sun might just steal Total War: WARHAMMER III’s crown when it launches in August.

Systems

Released

May 14, 2021

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence

Developer(s)

BioWare

Publisher(s)

Electronic Arts

Engine

Unreal Engine 4