Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids

Aliens in jars. Robots on your side. Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids blends third-person action with real-time strategy: you build bases, farm precious “Brainium,” and command bot armies while your hero fights on the front line. It’s from Snapshot Games (Julian Gollop of X-COM fame) and launched August 26, 2025 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

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Launch Trailer

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Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids

Release: August 26, 2025

Genre: Action-Strategy (RTS + Third-Person)

Developer / Publisher: Snapshot Games / Arc Games

Platforms: PC — Steam (wishlist/buy)

What it is

Build & battle: harvest Brainium, drop structures, and spawn bots, then jump into third-person to smash Brainioids yourself.
Command View: zoom out to direct squads and set rally points mid-fight.
Co-op & PvP: 2-player couch co-op, online 1v1/2v2, and cross-platform support. There’s also a free Friend’s Pass so a buddy can join without owning the game.

Heroes and bots push the lane while Brainioid fire arcs across the sky.

How it plays

Missions are short, pick-up-and-play bursts where you fortify a foothold, push objectives, and swap constantly between macro (unit commands) and micro (hero weapons, vehicles, and abilities). The tone is comic-book loud and family-friendly; the brain-in-jar baddies pop like balloons, and even boss fights feel playful rather than grim.

Should you play it?

If you like accessible strategy with a hands-on hero, Chip ‘n Clawz lands. Critics have it in the mid-to-high 70s on OpenCritic, while Steam user sentiment is currently positive overall. It’s not the densest RTS around, but the co-op chaos, cross-play, and brisk mission design make it easy to recommend if you want strategy without spreadsheets.