We've been quiet for a few weeks, and there's a good reason for that. We've been building something new.
Meet Tessara: Strategic Conquest. A tactical hex-grid strategy game with roguelite meta-progression, automated drone combat, and a "just one more run" loop that has been eating our evenings for the past two months. It started as a simple experiment in December, could we make colored tiles spreading across a hex grid feel satisfying? And, it turned into the most ambitious project we've ever taken on.
The concept is simple on the surface: your base produces drones, those drones capture territory, and you fight AI opponents for control of the map. But underneath that sits a deep progression system with 38 permanent upgrades, a multi-currency economy, faction specializations, prestige levels, and over 50 achievements to chase. What makes it tick is the roguelite loop — every match is a quick 5-10 minute run, and the Research Points you earn go into upgrades that permanently change how you play. Start with nothing but a single tile and a button. End with automated drone swarms, sentry towers, barricade walls, and an army that executes your chosen strategy without you lifting a finger.
Halfway through development, the project went through a major pivot. The original prototype was fun for about 20 minutes and then you were done — no reason to play again. Inspired by games like Vampire Survivors, we restructured the entire thing around a Hub → Run → Results → Upgrade loop, and suddenly it all clicked. The upgrade tree became the tutorial, the meta-progression became the hook, and "one more run" started turning into hours. That pivot was the single most important decision in the project's history.
We've been documenting the entire journey in the Tessara Development Log, weekly entries from the very first hex grid render through the roguelite pivot and all the way to the current polish phase. It's honest, sometimes messy, and covers every decision, mistake, and breakthrough along the way. If you're into game dev or just curious about how a project like this comes together, it's worth a read.
Tessara is feature-complete and currently in the final testing and polish phase. We're getting close to a public release. Keep an eye on the game page for launch updates.
We're genuinely proud of this one. It's the deepest, most polished game we've ever built, and we can't wait for people to get their hands on it.
— The LastPlace Games Team