Star Wars Zero Company Hands

While Star Wars games span a wide spectrum of genres, the absence of a genuine tactical experience within the iconic universe remains a surprising omission.

Bit Reactor, drawing on seasoned talent from the strategy community, has seized this opportunity with Star Wars Zero Company, a turn‑based tactics game that places players in the midst of a galaxy‑wide conflict.

My initial dive into the title began at its opening sequence, where players meet Hawks, a custom‑crafted protagonist.

Hawks, a disgraced Republic officer now hustling with Zero Company—a ragtag mercenary outfit—finds himself thrust into the Clone Wars when the Republic enlists the group for a covert mission.

The Separatists, leveraging the paramilitary Infinite Coil, have been sowing chaos across star systems, creating openings for their invasion.

Complicating matters, the Infinite Coil’s leader, Kundri Fathom, has been infected by the Shadow Plague, a pathogen that enhances physical prowess, forcing Zero Company to confront both the threat and the disease.

The game offers a fresh lens on the Clone Wars, spotlighting the era’s shadowy intrigue and ruthless power grabs. Players are invited to revisit the familiar battlefield, now populated with clankers, Droidekas, and Jedi, and to uncover the hidden machinations that drive the conflict.

Zero Company’s roster is a charming mix of misfits drawn from across the Star Wars galaxy. Players can customize their Hawk to any species, and will be joined by a battle‑scarred Clone Trooper, a masterless Jedi Padawan, a snarky Mandalorian, and more. Their banter—both in and out of combat—adds levity, while the cutscenes, brought to life by a talented voice cast, deliver well‑crafted storytelling.

Early impressions suggest that Bit Reactor has positioned Zero Company at the heart of the narrative. Each companion feels endearing, and the looming threat of permanent death forces players to weigh their choices carefully. The game steers clear of pandering to nostalgia by inserting fan‑favorite characters, though it remains to be seen whether this approach carries through to the credits.

The tactical loop blends elements of X‑COM and Marvel’s Midnight Suns. Action points (AP) are the core resource, with each unit starting the turn with three points to spend on movement, shooting, utilities, or overwatch. Defeating enemies generates Advantage, which can be invested in powerful class skills that can swing the tide of battle.

Each unit brings its own flavor to the battlefield. For instance, Trick the Clone Trooper wields a single‑shot rocket launcher that costs a hefty 10 Advantage, while Hawks can spend far less to rally an ally, restoring one Action Point. These limited‑use abilities inject a layer of tactical depth, forcing players to weigh each decision carefully as they progress through encounters.

Among the roster, my personal favorite is Cly Kullervo, a Mandalorian bounty hunter who can charge foes with electric darts and then unleash a concussive blast that reverberates around every dart‑laden target. Pair that with a jetpack that lets her zip across the map, and it’s clear why she’s a blast to play.

The real thrill of Zero Company stems from its inherent difficulty. Enemies land hard blows, the Infinite Coil accrues permanent power‑ups as you advance, and certain units demand specialized tactics to defeat. It’s a welcome departure from a genre that often lets you simply dump your strongest troops into the front lines and expect victory.

However, the game’s technical polish lags behind its visual and thematic strengths. While the Star‑Wars aesthetic shines and the design pays homage to one of the franchise’s most iconic eras, players may encounter occasional loading delays and, more critically, gameplay‑related bugs that disrupt the experience. Despite the occasional hiccup, the game has yet to suffer crashes or significant performance issues during play.

In its current state, Zero Company suffers from a cascade of technical hiccups that undermine its tactical depth. The camera lags and unit movement feels erratic, a consequence of the absence of grid‑based navigation. Even more disruptive are enemies that teleport across the battlefield, overwatch checks that fail to trigger, and melee strikes that simply don’t register. These flaws leave players frustrated, and the situation is likely to worsen on higher difficulty settings.

Given that perma‑death is a cornerstone of the game’s design, observing units fall to such avoidable errors is especially disheartening. With the launch only a few weeks away, the presence of these serious bugs—alongside a host of cosmetic glitches I encountered—raises concerns about the title’s readiness. I sincerely hope the development team can iron out these issues before release, or else the core appeal of Zero Company may be compromised at launch.

Outside of combat, players return to The Den, the Ring of Kafrene’s central hub. Here they can upgrade units using Focus Points earned from missions, customize weapons, equip utility items, explore the black market, and even recruit randomly generated operators to accompany them on future missions. The Den also offers its own progression tree, unlocking new facilities as players advance, though I didn’t have the chance to fully explore this aspect during my playthrough.

Once preparations are complete, the Holotable becomes the gateway to fresh missions and operations. Standard turn‑based encounters and quick, story‑driven decisions both populate the table, each demanding limited resources and offering rewards. Because these opportunities expire after a set period, players must prioritize wisely and cannot tackle everything at once.