Two factions with the same core loop
8-Bit Invaders! is a real-time strategy game where you gather resources, build a base, and push out units to beat the other side. You pick either the Galactic Marine Corps or the alien Cranioids. Both sides use the same basic plan: mine, build, fight, but the units and structures differ between them. The game runs on PC and keeps everything readable, so newcomers can follow what each unit does without a long learning curve. Maps come destructible and range from small to very large, so terrain matters when you place your HQ and lay out defenses.
Playing together
The 10 co-op missions are the main way your group teams up: two players take them on against the AI, working from their own bases to finish the objective. Beyond those, skirmish maps support 2, 4, 6 or 8 players against human and AI opponents of varying skill levels, which lets a larger group fill out a match or mix in bots. Online Co-op is available, and Remote Play Together lets someone join in through a friend's session. There is also PvP if you would rather split into opposing sides instead of cooperating. Cross-play with 8-Bit Armies and 8-Bit Hordes opens up larger battles where factions from different games meet on the same map.
Before you start
The single-player campaign runs 24 offline missions with achievements, and each victory grows your technology so your destructive power improves as you go. The campaign also includes the 'Conquer The Multiverse' scenarios, which send you into new worlds in real time. Expect the usual RTS pace: you are managing economy, base layout, and army control at the same time, and the action does not slow down much once armies collide. Frank Klepacki handles the soundtrack, so there is a loud score running under the fighting. The game comes from the team behind Star Wars: Empire at War, Universe at War, and Grey Goo, which should tell you what kind of base-building to expect.