XCOM: Enemy Unknown
“VIGILO CONFIDO YOU ALIEN FU**ERS-”
-Cpt. Heavy McHeavyface, before launching a rocket at a Berserker.
! The rocket misses, killing a VIP plus the rest of his team near the evac point in the process.
TL:DR:
XCOM: Enemy Unknown is an intense game, almost nerve-wracking at times, but generally rewarding as you plan and fight your way through droves of alien invaders with a variety of classes, equipment and abilities. You might find yourself save-scumming (reloading saves for better results), but that happens to the best of us. The game will push you to take risks and deal with consequences, both in long-term strategy with base, crew and international management, and in short-term with tactical combat. While lacking in a few aspects such as a deeper plot, and leaves some optimization work to be desired, Enemy Unknown will get your tactical thinking at full throttle for a steady incursion of (sometimes brutal) enemy forces.
– Real player with 365.4 hrs in game
Read More: Best Turn-Based Strategy Sci-fi Games.
JUST TO CLEAR THINGS UP
This review is for XCOM ENEMY UNKNOWN (INCLUDING ALL DLC) ONLY.
XCOM Enemy Unknown has an expansion pack called XCOM Enemy Within . I’m not going to include that in the review because I’m planning to write a separate review for it. This review will only be about the BASE GAME + ALL DLC.
Also, I have not played the original XCOM games (shame on me, I know) so I won’t be making any comparisons to those.
– Real player with 329.1 hrs in game
Phoenix Point: Year One Edition
Been following this game since announcement, could only buy it recently
Not as polished or filled with content as reboot XCOM titles and has a lot of balance issues, but i like it, i hope devs will keep on supporting the game.
The biggest difference from other x-com-like games is that you can aim at different body parts similar to fallout’s VATS system, effectively letting you disable individual bodyparts of enemy units or strike the least protected spots to maximize damage as guns fire projectiles and not just mimick that feel, making cover work as actual cover and not just decrease a chance to hit and damage received
– Real player with 344.1 hrs in game
Phoenix Point is an evolution of the turn-based tactics genre. The free-aim system allows the player the control to make meaningful decisions in placement and in utilizing the soldiers rather than praying to RNG-esus to give us a good roll. Snipers don’t miss shots right in-front of their faces, there are no ‘99% but whoops it missed!’ moments. For this alone it’s a worthwhile and substantial upgrade to classic tactics games.
The over-world is on par with X-Com 2 with the player moving from point to point looking for cities and supplies in addition to trading opportunities. The great bulk of the player’s time in the over-world should be spent either moving to a mission or moving between havens to trade resources. One of the major missed elements of Phoenix Point, and what I see giving players an endless amount of consternation is in finding enough resources to make it through the game. I’ve also noticed the achievement for ‘Trading 10,000 Resources’ is also under 10%.
– Real player with 177.2 hrs in game
Wanna Survive
simple but good strategy game, I’ve enjoyed it a lot in my first hours.
After a while sadly, the game started to show its flaws. The second part of the game ramps up the difficulty so much that the game ended up not being fun anymore. It becomes more about exploiting the enemy AI and retrying. You are surrounded by a ton of enemies and you have to proceed by trial and error (played the game in original mode, which is hard mode).
Sure the game gives you the possibility to go back by one turn by paying in-game currency, but redoing the same turn over and over because you don’t want to lose any characters is not fun.
– Real player with 11.5 hrs in game
Read More: Best Turn-Based Strategy Turn-Based Tactics Games.
The game is a neat little hidden gem. With the gradual introduction as the stages go on of new characters with abilities, there is always something new to learn in order to make the dynamic of the group work better in fights. Wanna Survive has a very steep difficulty curve, in which things seem to go from 0 to 100 very fast. This isn’t neccesarily a bad thing upon reflection, but it definitely left me frustrated to begin with- however, one can’t say that the game is boring because it is too easy. I’ve played through to the end once, and though I won’t be replaying immediately to check off the last few achievements I can see myself picking it up once more for a second playthrough in the near future, which would take the amount of time I got out of this game to roughly 10-11 hours once all done.
– Real player with 7.4 hrs in game
Breach & Clear
I was fortunate enough to come by Breach & Clear by accident. I found it when it was on sale, but I would have paid full price, it is that good.
It differs from most turn-based strategy games in that you plan each operator’s movements and actions in what the game calls ‘Phases,’ but then they carry out those orders at the same time. The operators engage targets automatically, meaning you don’t have to micromanage the shooting or reloading (there is no reloading). They do have a set cone of fire, so you have to position them right, but once you give the go order, they’ll shoot-and-scoot like professional soldiers. One aspect I enjoy is the ability to observe to action from a number of views. You can see the entire battlespace for above, or select individual operators to follow over the shoulder. Phases can be veiwed multiple times form multiple angles, so don’t be afraid of missing anything.
– Real player with 116.2 hrs in game
Breach and Clear is a turn-based strategy game in which you control four members of a squad of your own design. While there is no over-arching story, the game offers plenty of scenarios and challenges to overcome.
Pros:
- There’s quite a bit of content: three types of gameplay (“Terrorist Hunt,” “Bomb Defusal,” and “Escape Plan”) across 35 settings (in seven campaign scenarios). That’s 105 levels in the core game. On top of that, there’s a lot of replay value here, especially if you care about earning achievements, acquiring different gear, or improving your mission rating.
– Real player with 73.9 hrs in game
Dungeon Deathball
Fun tactics game. It plays like into-the-breach-lite.
What this game does better than into the breach:
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Every turn is more connected. Enemies can only move a small amount and won’t jump across the map and target something else unlike ITB.
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Enemies can be manipulated easily; A big part of mastering the game involves manipulating enemies which is really fun
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The orange monsters and goalies chases the ball
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Cyan monsters that chases players.
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You can stand in an enemies attack range to make them attack you the next turn
– Real player with 102.7 hrs in game
Quick note: My actual playtime at the time of writing this is closer to 8-10 hours, as I’ve been playing it since the first public demo on itch, months before Early Access release.
Dungeon Deathball is a compact, turn-based strategy game, in part inspired by Into the Breach - it shows you exactly what enemies are going to do next turn and also allows you to turn them against each other by pushing them around. Unlike ItB, it’s a very easy game to pick up and play a quick round or two while on a short break.
– Real player with 45.2 hrs in game
Epicinium
Really fun strategy game with an environmental twist. This premise has you doubting between going all-in for the win and playing more conservatively to preserve the environment. I played beta for the past two years and the final version is even more polished! Server issues on launch day aside, great game and I certainly recommend it.
Extra fun when playing with friends, the AI is a decent matchup for beginners but can be predictable at times.
Update: Even better with the map editor and workshop update. You can now play with your friends on maps that you created yourself.
– Real player with 54.1 hrs in game
I would rate this:
Overall - 7/10
Strategy - 10/10
Graphics - 7/10
Originality - 9/10
Replay ability - 4/10
This game is great fun and it seemingly has the perfect balance of R.N.G. and strategy. I have never found myself in a spot where bad R.N.G. couldn’t have been avoided. Playing with friends is great if you can, but the AI are a good challenge. (The AI NeuralNewt on hard can put up a great fight.) This game isn’t really complete yet, I heard of some additions and maybe a campaign being added later on but the game as it is is fantastic- in concept. As I said don’t let its retro graphics fool you. It can drag out and be a bit and become, well, less nuanced to state it simply, and after playing it for a while, both through playing many rounds and/or long games.
– Real player with 46.6 hrs in game
Heroes of Might & Magic V
Update: This game works perfectly for me on windows 10 as well!
Okay first off, for all those who want this game but read the system requirements and thought “Oh drat, I cannot play this on my system, I have a windows 8 and it says up to XP only”. I have GREAT news for you-I have this game, on a cheap 350 dollar notebook from walmart. It has a windows 8 OS. This game-runs PERFECTLY on it. I did not even need to change or alter any compatibility settings or mess with the graphics or audio configuration. On default layout, no changes at all-it runs perfectly. Now, obviously, I cannot guarantee this will be true for absolutely everyone. I can however say given how cheap my own computer system is-I think this game would work for almost everyone running a windows 8 system. Probably also the same with windows 7 but I cannot say for certain on that one.
– Real player with 254.4 hrs in game
Being a Hero’s of Might and Magic noob and quite pedantic (every hero must visit every shrine for every upgrade) the game played quite well, even after I read that you should rush the stages quickly to keep the next levels army size down (it’s refreshing to be punished for taking a stupid amount of time). The battles were fun, large affairs that took time and patience to win, but every battle felt rewarding, and there was a sense of achievement. I breezed through the first few races, then I come to the Sylvan (elf) quest line and I swear the game is broken. I swear there is no way to finish some of these missions. Units that should be able to be removed from a garrison can’t be after a certain level patch, which makes re-enforcing your home town impossible. The only way around is to have a running battle with weak sacrificial units and hope you do enough damage each turn to whittle them down before they hit your main town. Other than that 1 glaringly painful part of the game, it was quite fun to play. Each race plays differently (they are all unique), and while you could make most hero’s semi similar with loadouts, they work well enough with their faction’s units that I didn’t feel a need.
– Real player with 76.3 hrs in game
Jagged Alliance 3
Grand Chien, a nation of rich natural resources and deep political divides, is thrown into chaos when the elected president goes missing and a paramilitary force known as “The Legion” seizes control of the countryside. Now, the President’s family has pulled together all their resources, including an arrangement with the powerful Adonis corporation, to hire a group of skilled mercenaries tasked with finding the President and bringing order back to the country.
In Jagged Alliance 3, select from a huge cast of mercenaries all with their own unique personalities, quirks, and backstories. Then go out and explore Grand Chien as you meet new people, earn money, grow your team, and ultimately make your own decisions that will decide the country’s fate.
FEATURES
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Engage in rich, tactical turn-based combat
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Recruit from a large cast of unique mercenaries, including many familiar fan favorites
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Loot, salvage, and customize an arsenal of weaponry and equipment
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Choose from a wide array of special perks to customize your mercs as they level up
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Decide the fate of Grand Chien in an open RPG structure
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Control territory, train the locals, command multiple parties, and defend against enemy forces in an alive, active world
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Experience the campaign with friends in online co-op mode
Kaiju Wars
Kaiju are approaching the city! Scramble the jets and deploy the tanks in this 2D turn-based strategy game.
Command the army!
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We need more time! - Play as the mayor of Floatio city, tasked with holding off the overwhelming strength of a kaiju attack. Park tanks and jets in the monster’s path to slow it down (don’t worry, we have a good insurance policy).
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Construct buildings! - Build sacrificial army bases and airfields to distract the kaiju and line the city streets with fodder.
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Deploy experimental weapons! - Conventional weapons aren’t enough; deploy experimental weapons such as freeze rays and transforming mechas to keep the kaiju at bay.
EVACUATE!
Our chief scientist is working on an anti-monster serum, but it’s not ready yet! Be prepared to evacuate the laboratory using transport trucks, boats or planes when the kaiju get too close.
Fight the KAIJU!
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Five unique kaiju - Each specializing in different types of destruction.
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They mutate! - Tremble in fear as each kaiju grows stronger and gains devastating abilities through mid-level mutations.
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Unstoppable! - Kaiju can’t be killed, but can only be slowed down and forced to fall back… for now. Pepper them with ammunition, if you can.
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Predictable! - They move towards the nearest building, and them scientists have mathed the exact odds they step on each tile!
Campaign Mode!
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Uncover the mystery - Strange things are happening: frequent volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and earthquakes. Find out why over the course of an 8+ hour story-based campaign.
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Embark on a Campaign! - Play missions from all over the world as you progress through the globe-trotting fight against kaiju. Test your wits in tactical puzzles, command dozens of units in large-scale scenarios, and fend off repeated attacks while developing your city economically in city defense missions.
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Upgrade your ACES - Veteran ACE units accompany you throughout your campaign. Spend medals to upgrade and customize your top fighters.
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Customize your Project Deck - Unlock powerful Project cards, customize your deck, and bring your best strategy to compete on the online leaderboard!
Play AS the Kaiju!
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Local Versus Mode - Two players duke it out at the same computer (or online via Steam RemotePlay), with one playing as the KAIJU, the other as the HUMANS
Create your own battles!
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Create your own city or scenario - Simple and easy to use, scenarios can be crafted in minutes using the drag and drop map editor
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Share your creations online - Share your cities or maps online using Steam Workshop integration
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Compete with other players! - Gain the top spot on the Weekly Challenge leaderboards
You thought being mayor of the world’s greatest city was all about zoning bylaws. Then the kaiju came. Good luck.
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The Hand of Merlin
Very good game, I would describe it as a fusion of game play elements from darkest dungeon with slay the spire, with some extra rpg elements added in. The artistic style is very unique and charming and so is the setting.
That’s my overall assessment of the game. I will go into more detail about areas I feel the game could be improved in the spoiler below.
! The enemy variety is pretty good, the best thing about it is that there is an enemy that can counter almost any character build forcing you to diversify your characters. The only game-breaking ability combo that I am aware of currently is rallying bash + dire haste + Watchful parry, which allows you to parry every turn with a warrior and be permanently immune to damage. However, because the abilities you get are randomized, this combination cannot be taken reliably every run.
– Real player with 65.7 hrs in game
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Review by Gaming Masterpieces - The greatest games of all time on Steam.
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The saga of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table exists in countless variations. Camelot, the Holy Grail, Excalibur, or the forbidden love for Guinevere are mostly fixed starters in the tale. A cosmic horror from another dimension that wants to devour the whole world with hideous creatures that could have originated in the twisted convolutions of H.P. Lovecraft’s brain, however, rather not. But that’s exactly what this is about. A roguelike with tactical, turn-based combat at its core, and a story that’s a mix of King Arthur and sci-fi horror. If you want a more classic story, look at Neocore’s King Arthur: Knight’s Tale, a quite good but still rather unfinished reinterpretation of the Legend of Arthur.
– Real player with 18.1 hrs in game