Tribes
A compact turn-based strategy game on an isometric island.
Lead a tribe across a small isometric map: found cities, research technologies, harvest the land and outfight rival tribes within thirty rounds. Every action has a hotkey and a match fits in a lunch break.
Download Tribes 0.1.0-preview.1
Download for Windows · 64-bitinstaller · 26 MB · 0.1.0-preview.1Download for Mac · Apple Siliconapp · 21 MB · 0.1.0-preview.1Download for Windows · 64-bitportable ZIP · 35 MB · 0.1.0-preview.1
Free, no account needed. Everything the game needs is included; Python is not required. Release notes: Tribes 0.1.0-preview.1.
All files and checksums
| File | Platform | Minimum OS | Size | Signed | SHA-256 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tribes-0.1.0-preview.1-windows-x64-portable.zip | Windows 64-bit, portable ZIP | Windows 10 | 35 MB | No | 61916911c7de4de7620ca13255c367d4afcd638108e63fd17dc9a1acc86befb0 |
| Tribes-0.1.0-preview.1-windows-x64-setup.exe | Windows 64-bit, installer | Windows 10 | 26 MB | No | 0c9a62f91945386082e403724ed8c62efd0f79b37949ae7cd62976f70eef741c |
| Tribes-0.1.0-preview.1-darwin-arm64-app.zip | Mac Apple Silicon, app | macOS 14 on Apple Silicon | 21 MB | No | ef17781416632574b0f87668dd9057eeca62005394e0cd1a2a6a53b2bd0f8daf |
Install
Windows
- Download the installer above and open the file when the download finishes.
- Follow the installer with its default folder. It installs for your Windows account only; no administrator password or Python is needed.
- Leave Play Tribes selected on the last page, or open Start and type Tribes later.
Unsigned build. If Windows shows Windows protected your PC, choose More info → Run anyway. That prompt appears because this build is not yet code-signed; check the SHA-256 below if you want to verify the file. PCs with Smart App Control may refuse unsigned apps entirely.
Mac (Apple Silicon)
- Download the Mac app above. In Finder, open Downloads and double-click the ZIP to extract Tribes.app.
- Drag Tribes.app into Applications. Replace an older copy when updating; your saves and settings are kept.
- Double-click Tribes.app to play.
Not yet notarized. If macOS says it cannot verify the developer, open System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll to the message about the app, choose Open Anyway and confirm. This is needed once per version.
Play online: two-player competitive match
Two human tribes take alternating turns on a server-owned map. Create a room, share the code, and play at your own pace; the turn waits for you while you are connected.
Create a room
- Open Tribes and choose Multiplayer. Leave Online selected.
- Choose Create room, then Copy invite link and send it to your friend in any chat.
- Stay on the waiting screen. The game starts when your friend connects.
Join a room
- Open the invite link your friend sent, or copy just the room code from it.
- In Multiplayer choose Paste code, then Join room.
- Lost your connection? Reopen the game on the same computer and choose Rejoin last room.
Rooms stay open for 15 minutes without both players. Invite links look like https://games.tachyon-ai.eu/join/tribes-v1/abc123 and contain only the game and room code, never your private seat.
Your first match
- Select your warrior with Enter and move it to explore the island.
- Press T to open the technology list and pick the first research.
- Capture neutral villages with C to grow your tribe.
- End your turn with E; the game shows whose turn it is at the top.
- Hold the most cities and the largest empire when round 30 ends.
Screenshots
What is in the game
- Cities, parks, technologies, territory and a surviving army all count towards the final score.
- A tech tree that changes how you harvest, move and fight.
- AI tribes that recruit, research and concede when they cannot rebuild.
- High scores recorded locally, with a results screen that explains every point.
- Keyboard-first controls: the keycaps on screen show every shortcut.
Requirements
- Windows: Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit, with OpenGL 3.3 graphics drivers.
- Mac: macOS 14 or later on Apple Silicon (M1 or newer).
- Online play: an internet connection; both players need the same version.
Known issues
- The installer is unsigned and the Mac app is not notarized; see the first-launch notes above.
- Online matches are two human tribes only; offline games add AI tribes.
- English only.
Help and data
- Player guide and issue tracker. Include the game version, your OS and the exact message.
- Saves and settings live in
%USERPROFILE%\.tribeson Windows and~/.tribeson a Mac. Uninstalling keeps them; delete the folder to reset. - Online rooms store match state and private seat tokens until the room expires.
- Free and open source under the MIT license (source). Nunito font under the SIL Open Font License.