Turn Based Lovers
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So, should you consider checking out Oaken even if you are burnt out on deck-building games? I would say yes. The deck building is only a tiny portion of the game. If you are into roguelike or grid-based tactical games, then you will enjoy this one.
Wandering Sword is a great wuxia title that encompasses a myriad of different Chinese martial arts and Wuxia tropes, served in an amazing HD-2D presentation that gives justice to the theme and aesthetics of ancient China, resulting in an immersive world for you to explore. Coupled with an innovative combat system, open-world exploration, life-skilling activities, and great stories that immersive breaking mechanics unfortunately plague. The game is now out on Steam, so check it out if you’re interested.
Cross Tails is tantalizingly close to perfection in the grand scheme of things. The lack of mouse support and some issues with English localization are blemishes that mar an otherwise stellar experience. However, these are not insurmountable obstacles. From where I stand, I see a universe of untapped potential waiting to be realized. This game could ascend to the pantheon of gaming classics with a few refinements. In conclusion, Cross Tails is a mesmerizing blend of compelling stories, breathtaking graphics, intricate combat systems, and emotionally charged dialogues. It’s a game that doesn’t just entertain; it lingers in your soul, inviting you to dream, explore, and hope in a world where legends come to life.
I really like Jagged Alliance 3. I am already at 120 hours in the game and have had a lot of fun figuring it out. Even with the aspects of Jagged Alliance 3 that I was less thrilled with, I still had a lot of time with it and expect to return to the game to try out future mod content and (hopefully!) whatever DLC that Haemimont Games releases. I definitely recommend this title if you like squad-based turn-based tactical games!
Every character I’ve interacted with so far seems to have unique personalities and art designs – they’re all highly identifiable in both appearance and dialogue. Graphics and animations are good enough for an indie game of this type but there’s nothing you would call clean or flashy. I don’t mind this one; I just thought I would toss it in to cover my bases. Is it the “best” indie game to come out in years? No, not really. Even if the main story wasn’t that good, I still adored every second of Raging Bytes. There was a lot of passion put into this game. The game probably won’t blow your mind, but it has enough content and meat to justify the price. It has all the gameplay elements I look for in a post-apocalyptic turn-based RPG. The game has a really long story with many different missions and enemy types to explore, filled with all sorts of cool characters and locations to explore. I definitely recommend it!
Trails to Revere is not a kind game to newcomers. If you want to start this series, there is a lot to learn. Whether it is the story, the ornament system, or anything else, you might find yourself reading, rereading, and rereading to get your head around everything. On the other hand, if you are someone that has played all the games or even a few of them, there is just so much here that will please you. Whether it is all the characters from other games, the end to two arcs, or a beginning of a new one, Trails to Reverie is one for the fans, and it is another great addition to the series.
I had a lot of fun playing Miasma Chronicles. It was top on my wishlist since the moment I saw it announced. I thoroughly enjoyed their first game Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. I am happy to report that I enjoyed this game even more. The unforgiving combat was, of course, my favorite part of the game. Being that I am a turn-based lover. However, the story was also just as good. All of the characters were memorable and enjoyable. The story was exciting and kept me interested the whole way through. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. I think one of the biggest things for me was the environment. The game just felt so alive. Everywhere I went, people or monsters were carrying on a conversation. The Miasma was always twirling and twisting. Threatening anything and everything around it. The interactions with the characters and the environment felt so real and genuine. I won’t be surprised if Miasma Chronicles continues to hold one of my top spots at the end of the year. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about the game. If you loved the developer’s first game, you will love this one even more. If you are into turn-based games, which is probably why you are here, then stop waiting and go get this game. You aren’t going to regret it.
Definitely one of the greatest modern strategy RPGs and a worthy successor to the classics like Fire Emblem, Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics. It's able to take the best from the famous games that inspired it, while adding plenty of unique and interesting features of its own. If you own a Switch and enjoy turn-based RPGs - then what are you waiting for?
Trails of Cold Steel IV is the grand finale of an epic series, which spans over a decade. As with Marvel movies, the more games you've played from the Trails, the better the experience. That's not to say new players won't enjoy it, as it is a good start to the series. The fans, however, would get way more out of it.
Mechajammer is a tough cyberpunk to love - with difficult combat, limited story and NPCs, and serious balancing issues with its character creation. Some players might still find something to enjoy, especially thanks to its intriguing PSX era graphics and fascinating synth-heavy soundtrack.
The best way to describe Royal Frontier is Oregon Trail with orcs. Who doesn't love a mishmash of genres?
Monark is a mostly solid JRPG with higher-than-average difficulty and a serviceable plot. While it won't surprise anyone with its unimpressive 3D graphics and a mediocre soundtrack, the characters and lore should indeed satisfy most fans of the genre.
Ignited Steel: Mech Tactics is a fun game that'll scratch that tactical mecha combat itch. It learns from its predecessors and adds new mechanics that are fun to explore and exploit. It doesn't take too many risks, but it's a quite good first game from an indie studio. With new additional content and balance patches, it will surely become even better.
Hero's Hour is an all-around incredible time, taking its classic 90s inspirations to our modern age by keeping all the strategic bits intact and serving a plate of immediate turn-based strategic gameplay, that is endlessly entertaining.
Ultimately, Punk Wars stands out as a fun game with a rough-around-the-edges indie charm. It could do with some polish; some map and texture packs would be a welcome addition in the short term, and a fifth faction could drive interest further down the road. For right now, it’s definitely worth playing through at least one of the campaigns, especially at the low price point of $20 US. There is also a free demo available called Punk Wars: Prologue if you’d like to try it first. The full game is available for Windows and Mac on both Steam and GOG and, at the time of this writing, is 10% off on both platforms.
I like Griftlands. It’s fun, and it does introduce new ideas, in the roguelite deckbuilder realm. I wish it did a bit more to make itself feel different from the other games in the genre. Combat is certainly somewhat too close to Slay the Spire and others. However, the setting and the negotiation system are great and really worth checking out. While I don’t intend to replay Griftlands, like I’ve done with other deckbuilders, I very much enjoyed my time with it.
Rise of the Third Power, I initially thought it would be a pirate-adventure, but it has to do more with war and manipulation. The battles are fun for a while but a speed option would have been preferable to those that wanted an in-between story mode (one-shot kills) and regular battles that sometimes took a while. I finished the game in about 16 hours but I still had some side-quests to do. I also skipped regular battles via story mode so that cut down on the finish time . I only did regular mode for bosses. The music was great, but I wasn't a fan of the character portraits that clashed with the game in my opinion. I also did not like the story as the circular storyline had me as a player felt like I accomplished nothing or questioning why things happened the way they did or. A skip scene option also would have been nice as scenes can be long.
Kemco RPGs have a look that can attract new and young fans but their gameplay is usually of the traditional RPG variety that classic and older fans may prefer. They usually don't have blockbuster budgets to work with so there usually isn't any cinematics or voice acting but most of that is made apparent with a quick look. Should if you are a RPG fan, Kemco is probably a company you have heard of as their games are low in price and you know what they bring to the table. This one is interesting enough that it warrants a look.
For a 15-year-old game, Lost Odyssey still holds up. The graphics may look outdated by today's standards, but the combat system and the story are some of the best from this genre. That alone makes it a must-play for any fan of JRPGs, especially those that have an Xbox of some type. It is made even more accessible through their backward compatibility program. Sadly, there is no other way to experience this gem at the time of writing.
Lemnis Gate carries with it many of the tried-and-true aspects of a team shooter that have become beloved in the genre while adding a unique timeline element that makes it its own unique entity. If it weren't for its shockingly low population of active players, this one seems like it would become a fan favorite.