indiegame.fan
Hold & Advance header art

Hold & Advance

2D action sandbox about exploring an underground world, crafting and tactically defending alien stations. Build turrets, combine modules and repel enemy waves to unlock powerful upgrades that radically change your playstyle.

Steam Page
Developer
Publisher
Release
Coming Soon
Steam Reviews
No reviews yet

Does this feel indie?

Vote based on whether this game feels indie to you. You can change your vote at any time. Results earn an IGF score after 10 accepted votes.
No votes yet
Vote on More Games
Game contextLatest: IGF Team
ContextThe evidence factors used to assess whether this game belongs on IndieGame.Fan.Status
Notes
Latest Contributor: IGF TeamEdit notes
Search Google: Who developed Hold & Advance?Developer scaleThe operating scale of the game's developer.
Search Google: Who published Hold & Advance?Publisher scaleThe operating scale of the game's publisher.
Search Google: Is Hold & Advance self-published or published by BaltaZar?Publisher statusHow the game's publishing relationship is classified.
Search Google: How is Hold & Advance and BaltaZar funded?FundingThe known source of funding behind the game.
Search Google: Who controls the creative direction and IP for Hold & Advance and BaltaZar?Creative controlWho appears to retain creative control of the game.
Search Google: What is the release status of Hold & Advance?Release statusWhether and how the game has been released.

Media

7 items

About the Game

Descend deeper into an underground world, discover abandoned alien stations and use them to craft powerful upgrades. Every time you start a station, it attracts enemy waves, so going in unprepared is almost a guaranteed failure – turrets, drones, mines and traps become your main weapons and tools for controlling the battlefield.

The world is split into several zones, from the relatively safe surface to the dangerous core deep below. Each zone has its own visuals, enemies and resources. New abilities gained at the stations - like double jump, jetpack or mini‑map – do not just make your character stronger, they unlock previously inaccessible areas and completely change how you move and explore.

Key Features

  • Hand‑crafted underground world that gradually opens up as you grow stronger

  • Tactical defense of alien stations using turrets, drones, mines and traps

  • Modular turret system: sockets and modules let you customize attack types, behavior and synergies for each threat

  • Radical upgrades that change your playstyle: go from cautious exploration and manual gathering to free flight, full map awareness and near‑total control over the environment

  • Tactics over reflexes: success depends on preparation, positioning, defense setup and resource management rather than perfect aim

  • "Risk for reward" day–night system: at night enemies are tougher and more frequent, but resources are far more abundant

Defend Stations, Earn Radical Upgrades

All key upgrades are crafted exclusively at alien stations. Starting a crafting process takes real time and triggers an enemy wave that will focus on destroying your station and defenses. Prepare the area beforehand: place turrets, lay mines, and pick the right weapons. Every successful defense unlocks new abilities, weapons and tools that noticeably change your experience and open the next step in your progression.

Grow Stronger, Play Differently

Progression is built around new capabilities, not just bigger numbers. Early on you manually gather resources, carefully sneak through caves and barely survive the first waves. By the end you move freely around the world, see the map and resource locations, experiment with complex module setups and confidently handle the toughest defense scenarios.

Tactics Matter More Than Reflexes

Victory depends on how you prepare for incoming threats. Choose which weapons to bring, where to build sockets, which modules to combine and how to split resources between scouting and fortifying your position. Failure is not a disaster: if a defense attempt goes wrong, you get your resources back, the station only needs minor repairs, and you can quickly try a different strategy without sinking into exhausting grind.

Risk for Reward

The day–night cycle adds an extra tactical layer. Daytime is safer and more comfortable for exploration; at night enemies become tougher and more numerous, but resource gains grow as well. Whether you keep pushing forward in the dark or wait for sunrise is entirely your call, depending on your goals and your appetite for risk.