Cepheus Protocol

Cepheus Protocol

Halcyon Winds · 2020 · Sandbox, Zombies, RTS, Survival, Post-apocalyptic

PC
Mostly Positive77% · 2,90079playing now
Best price 25 Fair price
$14.92-25%
lowest tracked $7.72
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Standard Edition · Steam
$19.99
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Standard Edition · Epic Games
$19.99
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Gameseal
Standard Edition · Steam
$14.92
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Screenshots

About Cepheus Protocol

✦ AI summary

Command CERC forces across the Bay Area in this hybrid RTS-shooter where you defend your aircraft carrier base and battle infected hordes that can turn your own units against you. Tackle the Pangu Virus pandemic solo or with up to 16 players in co-op, blending real-time strategy commanding with third-person combat while researching the alien pathogen and hunting down Patient Zero.

An Open World RTS Military Survival Game. Command CERC (Center for Epidemic Research and Control) to stop a pandemic-level event from consuming the Bay Area. The Pangu Virus threatens humanity as it spreads, turning native inhabitants into infected, relentless swarms. Can you adapt, survive, and reclaim control?

Hardcore RTS Military Combat Meets Survival Horror

  • Aircraft Carrier Operations
    Your mobile base of operations in Pandemic Mode. If it’s destroyed, you lose. Defend it at all costs and utilize Winters, now a rebuildable hero, to lead your forces.
  • A New Threat Rises
    Battle infected hordes that can infect and turn your own units. Command land, sea, and air forces to hold the line in this unforgiving world.
  • Co-Op Multiplayer up to 16 players in true RTS/TPS hybrid combat!
    Share control of CERC operations with up to 16 players. Pool resources, coordinate tactics, and fight as a team against the infection.

Dynamic Gameplay Systems

  • Command the Operator
    Control the battlefield in Third-Person Shooter mode or use the Operator as a hero unit in RTS mode. Adapt your strategies to survive.
  • Doctrine Tree Progression
    Unlock new support options, powerful weapons, and unique units by leveling up through the Doctrine tree.
  • Customize Pandemic Mode
    Create your perfect challenge. Turn off infected types, adjust gameplay options, and create custom scenarios to tailor the experience.
  • Character Progression
    Improve your characters’ health and targeting efficiency as they gain experience through combat.

Innovative Mechanics and Features

  • Line of Sight and Hearing AI
    Experience cutting-edge AI that hunts your units based on what they can see and hear. Stay stealthy, or face overwhelming swarms.
  • Massive, Detailed Maps
    Explore sprawling urban environments filled with varied locales. Plan every attack, defense, and civilian evacuation carefully to ensure survival.
  • Dynamic Civilian Diplomacy  (Legacy Only Coming in Q2 to rebuild)
    Interact with rogue civilian groups. Recruit them to your cause, negotiate alliances, or defend yourself from hostile factions.
  • Civilian Evacuation (Legacy Only Coming in March to rebuild)
    Manage who lives and dies with an intricate Civilian Administration Structure. Customize your intake system or use preset templates to make critical decisions.

Destroy the Infection

  • Research the Pangu Virus
    Delve into the secrets of the alien pathogen and find a way to kill Patient 0 before it’s too late.
  • Hunt Patient 0 and Their Lieutenants
    Stop the infection from spreading by targeting its leaders. Destroy their expanding hordes before they consume every province.
  • Dynamic Provincial Events
    Encounter unexpected challenges as rogue civilian combatants and infected groups form dynamically across the map. Your reputation and decisions will shape the world around you.
  • Enhanced Operator Customization
    Tailor weapons, abilities, and appearance. Drive vehicles, gain progression perks, and refine your playstyle for maximum impact.

Planned Features

  • DNA Research System
    Develop a proper progression tree to counter the virus, protect your units, and evolve your strategies.
  • Canon Campaign Mode
    Experience the official Cepheus Protocol story, inspired by the novel and side stories

DLC & expansions

🎁 Complete the collection

Base game + 5 of 7 DLC at today's best prices (some DLC unpriced).

$33.87
to own everything

What Steam players say

Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.

Not recommended Jul 15, 2026
mid
1 found this helpful
Recommended Jul 16, 2026
i think the game hase alot of things to fix but i am enjoing it i would recomande the game for thoes who want rts zombie game
Recommended Jul 15, 2026
good game
Recommended Jul 15, 2026
i Bought the game in 2023, it wasn't my thing so i refunded it now it is my thing so i bought it and it crashed almost instantly tried changing all settings to low it works! then crashes after 40 minutes and i forgot to save love it tho so i might keep it this time but i wouldn't buy for 20$
Recommended Jul 15, 2026
Cool RTS zombie game. Does it have some jank, sure but still in early access and the next update will fix most of the issues I noticed. Graphics are good, units and buildings look detailed. The pandemic mode was pretty cool, evacuating people before the infection gets to far out of control. It ramped up in difficulty for real when the main part of the island was super infected and I had to hold the line to the evac point. Main points of concern. * Pathing - being updated in next patch * civilian unrest: when the civilians pop out of the buildings.. they ALL focus instantly on defense buildings where it takes 2 to 3 seconds for your guys to react. I can't tell you how many turrets and generators I lost because they just pop right out of the building. - Fix suggestion, give them a delay before they can shoot of 2, 3 seconds also. * AI infection difficulty scaling - I understand you want to make the enemy adaptable to each fight, but holy cow.. Send out a convoy with tanks and spec ops.. get mauled by 8 car throwing behomoths and one car will kill 6-8 troopers. They respawn so fast that I can't keep up with the big guys.. So I go air force and 1000 birds and like…
Recommended Jul 13, 2026
Highly underrated RTS, you might wanna rebalance the birds though, they chew units and juggernauts make it hard to gain ground. You might say its a tower defense, but really its not. In all actuality, it is a pure RTS at its core. I love the game, some polishing of the animations and more unit sizes would make this more of a blast. It gives me Resident Evil Umbrella Corps RTS vibes. It's hard to make a RTS that checks the boxes like this one does. Gameplay 9/10 - Intuitive UI 8/10 - Gets the job done and is pretty enjoyable AI 8/10 - Further fixes and it will be amazing Enemies 7/10 - Bird swarms and dual juggernauts with base stats will have you praying Environment 8/10 - Further reworks or changes to it, will make it amazing. Overall: 9/10 - Plenty to do and addictive, keep the RTS form factor since this is purely what makes it appealing to me! Bugs: Sometimes units will freeze in place or not follow orders, then again I played at higher units. Needing reworked: Contextual animations, AI, and enemy balancing

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