Wartales is a medieval open-world RPG where players lead a group of mercenaries in a world with turn-based combat, developed by Shiro Games, the French studio behind the Viking RTS Northgard.
The game combines various elements and influences, with its turn-based combat system being easy to grasp for anyone familiar with turn-based tactics games. The game's story-driven quests present players with morally ambiguous decisions, adding depth to the experience.
Wartales' isometric overworld, rich landscapes, slow pace, and wide horizons create a sense of vastness that makes it feel like an expansive, immersive world. Players manage resources, make decisions, engage in combat, and evolve strategies as they progress in the game.
The game has two separate difficulty settings for its turn-based combat and survival simulation, and players can decide how often they want to save their progress. Additionally, each character can choose a secondary profession that benefits the camp, further developing their personalities and roles within the party.
While some players have reported that certain aspects of the game, such as resting and resource management, can become a grind in the later stages, Wartales' personal stories and experiences created through its mechanics make it a rewarding and memorable journey for those who invest the time and effort.
Wartales, a medieval open-world role-playing game, has graduated from Early Access and is now available on Steam.
Developed by Shiro Games, the French studio behind the Viking RTS Northgard, the game allows players to lead a group of mercenaries in a world with turn-based combat.
Combining Multiple Elements for an Immersive Experience
The game combines various elements and influences, with some players drawing comparisons to Mount and Blade or Battle Brothers.
Wartales’ turn-based combat system is easy to grasp for anyone familiar with turn-based tactics games.
The game’s story-driven quests present players with morally ambiguous decisions, adding depth to the experience.
Exploring an Isometric Overworld
One of the most notable features of Wartales is its isometric overworld, where players wander through forests, mountain passes, and rural laneways.
The game’s rich landscapes, slow pace, and wide horizons create a sense of vastness that makes it feel like an expansive, immersive world.
Managing Resources and Making Decisions
Wartales has two separate difficulty settings for its turn-based combat and survival simulation, and players can decide how often they want to save their progress.
The game operates on two layers, with an overworld reminiscent of Mount & Blade and a stamina meter that determines when players need to rest.
Companions expect to be fed and paid, adding to the challenge of managing resources.
As players progress in Wartales, new opportunities arise, such as taming wild animals with unique skill trees, capturing and exchanging enemies for a fee, and exploring tombs filled with hidden treasures.
Engaging in Combat and Evolving Strategies
Combat in Wartales is turn-based and highly flexible. Players can choose their troop positions, attack order, and combine movement points, basic attacks, and special abilities.
Units can have their fighting style influenced by their base class, skills, and equipment, and the way units regain Valour points for special abilities can be customized.
As units gain experience and new strategic options emerge, players can adapt their combat approach.
Additionally, each character can choose a secondary profession that benefits the camp, such as angler, cook, blacksmith, or thief, further developing their personalities and roles within the party.
Expanding Opportunities and Personal Stories
As players progress in Wartales, new opportunities arise, such as taming wild animals with unique skill trees, capturing and exchanging enemies for a fee, and exploring tombs filled with hidden treasures.
Each region features an optional story that can impact the lives of its inhabitants, and the game’s granular mechanics create a sense of personal attachment to the player’s party.
Potential Drawbacks and Areas for Improvement
Some players have reported that certain aspects of Wartales, such as resting and resource management, can become a grind in the later stages.
Additionally, the game’s structure can result in repetitive backtracking, and the world may not be as characterful as other RPGs.
However, the personal stories and experiences created through Wartales’ mechanics make it a rewarding and memorable journey for those who invest the time and effort.
