How to Start Playing Beyond All Reason

Beyond All Reason is a free-to-play, epic-scale real-time strategy game for Windows and Linux. To start playing, go to beyondallreason.info, download the game client, and work through the in-game tutorial and the site's Guides and Commands sections before jumping into skirmishes or multiplayer. The game is currently in ALPHA, so expect ongoing balance and feature changes.

Step 1: Check Your Platform and Download

The official site states the game runs on Windows and Linux. There is no mention of macOS or console support, so if you are on those platforms, you will need another option.

1. Open beyondallreason.info.
2. Use the Play for Free button (it appears in the main navigation and in the hero section) to reach the download.
3. Install the client and launch it.

The site describes the game as free to play and does not list any payment platforms or pricing tiers, so there is no purchase step in the flow described.

Step 2: Learn the Controls and Core Loop

Before your first real match, the site points new players to two resources:

• Guides — written walkthroughs for getting started.
• Commands Overview — the control scheme and command set.

The core loop you are learning is economic: grow your resource income, then convert it into production. The site frames this as "the careful balance of exponentially growing your resource income and the production of devastating war machines." You choose between a few precise early strikes or mass-producing bombers, for example.

What the simulation actually does

Every unit, projectile, and explosion is simulated in real time. That means:

• Projectile ballistics are fully simulated.
• Explosions have physics.
• Terrain can be deformed.

This matters tactically: radar cannot penetrate mountains, and nuclear warfare physically alters the terrain. Maps therefore play differently from one another, and terrain shape determines which strategies and units are effective.

Step 3: Pick a Faction and Understand Unit Roles

The site lists 2 factions with 400 unique units in the main description, and the navigation shows unit trees for Armada and Cortex, plus a Legion section. There are also Alien Raptors and Scavengers entries.

Unit classes shown on the site include:

The site states there are over 10 different unit classes, including all-terrain Experimental units. Every unit has a defined role, and the intended approach is to mix and match to create your own tactics. Use the Compare Units page when you want to weigh two options directly.

Step 4: Choose a Game Mode

The site lists these modes:

• Skirmishes — single-player-style matches against bots.
• Scenarios — pre-built situations.
• Co-op — team up against AI.
• Multiplayer — play against other people.

If you are brand new, skirmish or co-op is the lower-pressure entry point; multiplayer assumes you already understand the economy and unit counters.

Step 5: Use the Supporting Resources

The site's navigation gives you a full set of references:

• FAQ — common questions answered.
• Code of Conduct — expected behavior, worth reading before multiplayer.
• Replays and Leaderboard — see how others play and where you stand.
• Maps, Screenshots, Gameplay, Units, Commands.
• News, Devlog, Balance Changes, Roadmap — track what is changing during ALPHA.
• Lore — background universe, newly added ("The Lore is Here").
• Watch Trailer — a quick visual overview before you commit time.

Common Sticking Points

• ALPHA status: the site labels the game ALPHA, so balance changes and roadmap items are active. Do not treat current unit stats as final.
• Platform limits: Windows and Linux only, per the site.
• No pricing page: the site presents the game as free to play, but it does not publish a pricing or payment page, so there is nothing further to check on cost.
• Terrain is not cosmetic: mountains block radar and nukes reshape the map, so scouting and map reading are part of the skill curve, not optional extras.

A Practical First Session

1. Download and install from beyondallreason.info.
2. Read the Commands Overview and skim one Guide.
3. Play a Skirmish against bots to feel the economy and build order.
4. Open Compare Units to understand one counter matchup you struggled with.
5. Try Co-op with others before Multiplayer.
6. Check the FAQ and Code of Conduct before your first ranked or public match.