Cortex Command

Released Sep 2012

Choose between different factions, with their own set of expendable soldiers, mechas, and weapons. Protect your brain, mine gold, and destroy the enemy cortex in his bunker complex!

71% positive · 6,039 reviews

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Where to buy

Steam Updated 12 Oct 2026 $19.99

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Evaluation

Cortex Command launched in September 2012 and received a series of post-launch builds over the following years (Build 30 in April 2014, Build 31 in March 2015, Build 32 in December 2016, and Build 33 in July 2019). The final and most significant developer communication came on July 12, 2019, when Data Realms announced that Cortex Command's source code was being released publicly on GitHub. In that post, the developer explicitly framed this as a sendoff for the game — describing it as "letting our first baby out into the world" and stating their hope that open-sourcing it "will ensure CC lives on and stays vibrant for even longer." The language throughout that post treats Cortex Command as a completed chapter, with the developer having moved on to their new title, Planetoid Pioneers Online, which launched the same day. No further updates, patches, or announcements for Cortex Command have appeared after July 2019, and no unreleased DLC or future content commitments exist. The open-source release effectively marked the end of official development, with the community empowered to carry the game forward independently. The game is complete as shipped, with the open-source release on July 12, 2019 serving as the definitive conclusion of Data Realms' involvement.

Evidence

Data Realms announced Cortex Command going open source (Build 33), framing it as the end of official development. The post describes the game as 'our first baby' being 'let out into the world' and expresses hope the open source release will keep it alive — language consistent with concluding official support. This is the last developer communication about Cortex Command.

news post · Jul 12, 2019 source development ending

high

Build 32 released, focused on performance improvements, marking the second-to-last official update before the open source release.

news post · Dec 30, 2016 source content shipped

medium

Media

Details

Developer

Data Realms

Publisher

Data Realms, LLC

Achievements

Platform

Windows, macOS

Controller

full support

Steam Deck

Unsupported

Players

Single-player · Multiplayer

Strategy Indie Action 2D Physics Sandbox Pixel Graphics Moddable Local Co-Op Sci-fi Local Multiplayer Difficult Gore Platformer Split Screen

About this game

A project over eleven years in the making, Cortex Command has rich 2D pixel graphics coupled with an extremely detailed physics engine, which allows for highly replayable and emergent real-time action. There is also a turn-based strategic campaign mode which ties the tactical fights together, featuring persistent terrains that will accumulate the battle scars, debris, and bunker ruins through your entire campaign.

Choose from several unique technology factions, each featuring their own sets of expendable soldier bodies, mechas, weapons, tools, and landing craft. Protect your brain, mine the gold, and destroy the enemy cortex in his bunker complex!

Key Features:

Fully destructible environments - The gold you need to excavate is sprinkled throughout the terrain of each scene. Use special digging tools to blast your way into the dirt and debris. All the pieces of bodies and ships from your struggles will fall to the ground and permanently add to the battlefield. Get more powerful (and expensive) diggers and you can even tunnel into your enemies' bunkers from below!
Strategic metagame campaign – The intense, real-time tactical battles are put in a greater strategic context in the Campaign mode, thus giving each battle meaning and consequence. The gold-rich terrains on the planet and the defensive bunkers you build to defend them are persistent from fight to fight. This means there will be layers of debris, bunker ruins, tunnels, and corpses piled up in layers, telling the history of each place throughout each campaign played.
In-game buying menu - At any time and place during the game, bring up a powerful menu to order new bodies and equipment, all delivered at the location and by the transport ship of your choosing. Rockets are cheaper but unreliable and harder to land. Drop ships are far more expensive but can quickly deploy entire groups of puppets onto difficult terrain. Ships and equipment returned to the TradeStar are refunded to your account.
Build your own bunker - At the start of most missions, you are able to take your time and build your own command bunker from scratch. Easily design twisting tunnels and place doors, traps, and turrets to thwart your enemies' intrusions! Pre-deploy and equip bodies in and around your installation to prepare yourself for your objectives. Don't spend too much though, or you won't have enough funds left when the mission starts!
Four-player cooperative and/or versus multiplayer - Gather your friends and plug in those game controllers! Play skirmish or campaign missions with or against up to three of your buddies. 2 vs 2, 1 vs. 3, 4 vs. the CPU - it's up to you! (rhyme intended). Flexible control settings allow you to use the keyboard, keyboard + mouse, or any generic game controller you can find and plug in.
Built-in editors and modding - Several in-game editors allow you to easily create your own stuff. The game's engine is built to make it very simple to modify and add your own content. Design your own missions, guys, ships, weapons, tools, bombs, and shields - and easily share them with your friends. Join and download some fantastic mods from the community at the Data Realms Fan Forums.

Last evaluated Jun 28, 2026