About the Game

Tessara: Strategic Conquest is a real-time strategy auto-battler where you command a growing empire on a hex-grid map. Your base automatically produces drones that venture out to claim territory based on your strategic directives. Between runs, invest Research Points into a deep upgrade tree to unlock new abilities, strategies, and late-game specializations.

What starts as a single tile and a button becomes a sprawling war machine. Every upgrade you unlock permanently changes how you play — from automated drone production to buildable structures, from faction specializations to prestige multipliers. The upgrade tree is the tutorial, drip-feeding new mechanics one satisfying unlock at a time.

Built with React, TypeScript, and the Canvas API, Tessara delivers smooth hex-grid gameplay with a polished UI and deep strategic systems — all running directly in your browser.

By the Numbers

38 Upgrades

7 Scenarios

50+ Achievements

4 Strategies

6 Prestige Levels

5× Max Game Speed

Key Features

⬡ Hex Grid Strategy

Smooth pathfinding and territory capture on hexagonal tiles. Watch your empire spread across the map as drones claim territory in real time.

🤖 Automated Drone Control

Drones spawn, move, and fight automatically based on your chosen strategy. Set your directives and watch your war machine execute.

🧠 Deep Upgrade Tree

38 upgrades across Combat, Production, Utility, Strategic, and Special branches. Every unlock permanently changes how you play.

🔄 Roguelite Progression

Quick 5-10 minute runs feed into a deep meta-progression system. The "just one more run" loop will keep you coming back for hours.

⚔️ Multiple AI Opponents

Face up to 3 AI enemies with distinct personalities and strategic behaviors. Enable AI Boost for harder enemies and bonus rewards.

🏗️ Buildable Structures

Deploy Sentry Towers for automated defense and Barricade Walls to create chokepoints and funnel enemies into kill zones.

Strategic Depth

4 Strategies: Blitzkrieg pushes toward enemy spawns, Fortress expands defensively, Prosperity maximizes economy, and Equilibrium balances all approaches
Multi-Currency System: Research Points (base currency), Advanced Data (mid-game), and Faction Essence (late-game) create meaningful progression gates
Combat Mastery: Choose the Berserker, Fortress, or Immortal path to specialize your drones
Faction Specialization: Discover and master factions hidden throughout the upgrade tree, each with unique bonuses and playstyles
Prestige System: Reset your progress for permanent RP multipliers up to 3× — for players who want to go deep
Win Conditions: Territory control, elimination, or survival — each mode plays differently
Rally Points: Place flags to direct your drones with precision, overriding their default strategy for tactical control

Tessara: Strategic Conquest

Command your drones. Capture territory. Build your empire.

🚧 Coming Soon

Free to play • No download required • Built for desktop browsers

How to Play

The Core Loop

Start at the Hub: Review your upgrades, select a scenario, and choose a strategy
Enter a Run: Your base spawns drones that automatically capture territory
Win the Round: Achieve the victory condition before time runs out
Earn Rewards: Gain Research Points based on your performance
Upgrade: Spend RP on permanent upgrades between runs
Progress: Unlock new scenarios, achievements, and late-game systems

Controls

Mouse Drag: Pan the camera across the map
Mouse Wheel: Zoom in and out
Right Click: Place rally points for drone control
ESC: Pause menu
Space: Toggle pause

Tech Stack

Technology	Purpose
React 19	UI Framework
TypeScript 5.9	Type-Safe Development
Vite 7	Build Tool & Dev Server
Zustand 5	State Management
Howler.js	Audio Playback
Canvas API	Game Rendering

Development Story

From Prototype to Strategic Conquest

Tessara started in December 2025 as a simple experiment — could a hex grid with colored tiles and automated units be fun to watch? The answer was yes, but "fun to watch" wasn't enough. The prototype played well for 20 minutes, but there was no reason to come back.

The breakthrough came in January 2026 when the whole project pivoted to a roguelite structure. Instead of standalone matches, every game became a "run" that feeds into permanent progression. That single design decision transformed a forgettable tech demo into something with real staying power. The upgrade tree became the tutorial, the meta-progression became the hook, and suddenly "just one more run" turned into hours of play.

What followed was one of the most intense development sprints imaginable — 38 upgrades, 7 scenarios, 50+ achievements, faction systems, prestige levels, and a complete AI overhaul, all built in a matter of weeks. The game went from concept to feature-complete in under two months.

Want the full story? Check out the Tessara Development Log for weekly entries covering the entire journey — from the first hex grid render to the final polish pass.