Sunrider: Mask of Arcadius follows Captain Kayto Shields after his homeworld is destroyed and his nation conquered. Aboard the newly minted Sunrider, he sets out with his First Officer to find allies, reclaim his home planet, and oppose a force bent on subjugating sentient life. The game is the second installment in the Sunrider trilogy and includes the content of First Arrival, framing its strategy around a larger space-opera story of political intrigue, moral decisions, and romance.
That narrative is paired with turn-based tactical missions in which players command a squadron of mechs and manage the assault carrier. Each mech has distinctive weapons and equipment, giving pilots different battlefield roles; success calls for using their strengths and weaknesses while limiting casualties. Resources also demand choices: funds must be divided among research, weapons, and outfitting mechs to suit a preferred play style. Between battles, conversations with allies build relationships and reveal squadmates’ backstories, with opportunities to shape their destinies.
The format moves between character-focused interludes, strategic preparation, and battles across the galaxy, so its identity is not simply that of a tactical combat game. It combines squad management and resource allocation with a continuing story of survival and political conflict.
