Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that it would be bringing an entirely new Halo title to Windows 8 devices. The game – Halo: Spartan Assault – would be set between the events of Halo 3 and Halo 4, and feature an entirely new story set within the Halo universe.

Here’s the official synopsis:

The game takes place between Halo 3 and Halo 4 with the first missions of the Spartan Ops program – diving deeper into the backstory of Human-Covenant wars. You play as either Commander Sarah Palmer or Spartan Davis stationed aboard the UNSC Infinity and you battle against Covenant forces with 25 missions (as part of 5 operations with 5 missions each).

As for the gameplay, it’s a twin-stick top-down shooter. Think of it like Geometry Wars, but with an actual plot. It will also probably be a bit easier. On most devices, you will control it via digital analog sticks, but you can also use a mouse and keyboard on PCs and tablets that support them.

As an added bonus, Halo: Spartan Assault connects with your Halo 4 career. By playing the mobile title, you can earn up to 50,000 XP in Halo 4 as well as a unique emblem. You can also earn bonus content in the upcoming Halo 4 Champions Bundle DLC.

If you want to see it in action, here’s the launch trailer for Halo: Spartan Assault:

Halo: Spartan Assault is now available for your Windows 8 phone, tablet or PC. It will set you back $6.99.