Steam game

Shades Of War

A fast-paced mini-RTS where you spread your color across the map, build towns and defenses, forge (and betray) alliances, and battle up to 8 colonies at once. Expand, fortify, and dominate the grid in chaotic territory-control warfare.

$5.99 December 26, 2025

By Raven Knepp

Windows Controller: full
View on Steam
Shades Of War - Raven Knepp. Popular. Released December 26, 2025
Screenshot of Shades Of War gameplay showing in-action mechanics Screenshot 2 of Shades Of War - additional gameplay view Screenshot 3 of Shades Of War - more gameplay footage Screenshot 4 of Shades Of War - final gameplay screenshot

Overview

About this game

🌈 Shades of War

A lightning-fast mini-RTS where every pixel of color is a battlefield.

Shades of War is a frantic, territory-control strategy game where you expand, fortify, and dominate by literally painting the world in your color. Build towns, raise defenses, unleash sprayers and cannons, form shaky alliances, and watch the map shift in real time as every faction fights for control of the grid.

Matches are short, explosive, and endlessly replayable — perfect for players who love fast decisions, evolving strategies, and watching a map erupt into chaos.

🗺️ Paint the World, One Cell at a Time

Place towers to spray your color across the battlefield, claim land, and generate income. But be warned: enemies are doing the same, and territory can flip in seconds.

Every tile matters.
Every tower is a statement.

⚔️ 8 Colonies. 4 Players. 1 Map.

Up to 4 human players (local split screen), 8 human players (online) with 8 total colonies battle at once, each with unique personalities and relationships.

  • Fight

  • Trade

  • Ally (only ONE ally allowed… choose carefully)

  • Betray (even more carefully)

The diplomacy can be as deadly as the combat.

🏰 Build an Economy Worth Fighting For

Towns generate income — and income fuels your army.

Upgrade your towns with:

  • Farms for heavy economy

  • Guard Towers for built-in defense

  • Castles, Sprayers, Turrets, Healing units, AA, Cannons, Miniguns, and more

Expand wisely or die early.

🧠 Reactive AI That Pushes Back

AI colonies don’t just rush blindly. They react to your territory, economy, aggression, and alliances.
Some are cautious. Some are opportunistic. Some are psychotic.

Pick a fight with the wrong neighbor?
Good luck.

🎮 Campaign + Battle Maps

Play through:

  • 20 handcrafted campaign missions across varied biomes

  • 10 battle maps for endless skirmishes

From deserts to frozen wastes to chaotic multi-front wars — every map has unique pressures and opportunities.

🏰 Build your own maps and share them with friends

with the new map editor 

place tiles in the ground layer to set playable area

select layers to build up set pieces like hills and mountains

once your happy with your layout change the background, name your master piece then battle it out with your friends.

you can share your maps by simply giving them yourmapname.ini from your custom_maps folder

🏆 Win by Strategy or Sheer Chaos

Victory comes in two flavors:

  • Be the last colony standing, or

  • Control 80% of the map and drown the world in your color

Either way, there’s nothing more satisfying than watching your color envelop the battlefield.

If fast RTS action, map-painting chaos, and ruthless AI diplomacy sound fun… you’re home. Welcome to Shades of War.

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