by Lloyd “Gus” Sabin, 29 October 2026
Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance – Evolution (Evolution for short) is the latest story-based DLC released for the Terminator: Dark Fate franchise.
click images to enlarge
Earlier DLCs We Are Legion and Uprising introduced new factions and a very welcome strategic layer to the game.
Evolution adds a new eight-chapter campaign, set in Canada, where the player controls the human Resistance with Lieutenant Church. Chapters are set in mining complexes, snowy forests and factory-sized industrial/scientific labs, all in wintry, snowy backdrops. Tactically, everything I enjoyed in earlier chapters is here: destructible environments, fluid tactical combat, great sound effects and music…Evolution continues with what was good before.
A new technical blip has emerged, however. Loading times in Evolution are very long. I do not remember them being this long in previous game versions. Once the chapters are loaded, gameplay is smooth, though.
Both the Resistance and Legion have augmentations and new units which take some time to earn. Missions types include partisan sabotage, infiltration, siege combat and assaults. At different points amid these missions, the Terminator universe is expanded and hints are dropped on the future of the in-game world, including alliances of necessity between the Resistance and Legion and new conflict between them. ‘Integrator’ units, augmented human troops, also make an appearance which I loved, but could have used more of. Customization like that gave me Alien: Dark Descent and Cyberpunk 2077 vibes which I loved.
Other new units will make Terminator fans squeal with delight, but again they are not easy to get by any means. That said, they include:
- Multi-barrel plasma mortar (artillery)
- LAV-AT – armored tank destroyer
- Leopard C2 – Canadian medium tank
- Augmented human troops – Resistance troops enhanced with cybernetic technology (Integrators) designed for assault against Legion machines and positions.
If you enjoy the Terminator universe, Evolution will make you happy as it pushes the story forward to what feels like a decisive point. Keep in mind it is a scripted campaign, so some of the freedom introduced in the previous DLCs is not there, and the newly introduced units can take time to earn. With patience, Evolution can satisfy. It is a short DLC but I myself appreciate that Slitherine is still supporting the game.
I would be amiss if I also did not mention how, in the Year of Our Lord 2026, I fully enjoyed declaring war on AI…I am sure many players will find that extremely satisfying as well.
And I also must say, as I have in other posts on this Terminator franchise over the last few years: please Sliterhine, for the love of all that is holy, take the assets used here and apply them towards a new WWII Eastern Front game.
Evolution just further proves how incredible a game like that would look and play, and I really think an eastern front game along those lines would be just incredibly stunning. I’ll beg if I have to.
If you are a Terminator completionist or love all things set in the Terminator universe, grab Evolution when you can. It doesn’t push the game’s mechanics forward in any dramatic way but it does introduce interesting unit customization with Integrators and for me, that was squeal-worthy. It also advances the story well. Technically the game runs slower but once loaded up, ’tis smooth.
Here’s to hoping the next DLC chapter will incorporate more similar unit tech ideas. The idea of technological Evolution is awesome, and (HINT HINT) can be applied to historical games as well, as we all know.
Pretty please, Slitherine?
Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance Series
We Are Legion ~ Uprising ~ Evolution ~ Forum Thread
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