Artifice: War Tactics

About

Artifice: War Tactics is a single player tactical strategy game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Silvine Game Studios and was released on August 16, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Artifice: War Tactics" is a single-player, fantasy strategy game with exceptional mechanics. Command a team of 10 champions, each with unique abilities and upgrades, to outwit enemies in turn-based battles, triggering chain reactions and exploiting ambushes. Loot provinces to bolster your squad and conquer stronghold bosses in this immersive medieval world. Join the Discord for updates.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

61%

Audience ScoreBased on 36 reviews

gameplay16 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Artifice features visually stunning graphics and captivating music, creating an immersive experience.
The strategic overwatch system adds depth to the gameplay, allowing for satisfying combos and encounters.
The game offers a unique take on turn-based strategy, encouraging players to think ahead and plan their moves carefully.

The gameplay can feel passive, with characters relying heavily on overwatch actions rather than active attacks, leading to a lack of engagement.
Balancing issues arise with mission difficulty and RNG elements, making some objectives frustratingly difficult or too easy.
The tutorial lacks depth, and the mechanics are not clearly explained, which can lead to confusion for new players.

gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
37%
10%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the tactical mechanics and challenging AI, while others find it passive and overly complicated compared to similar games like "Into the Breach." The reliance on overwatch actions and the deviation from established mechanics, particularly in boss encounters, detracts from the overall enjoyment for some. Despite its early access status, the game showcases impressive mechanics, but it may not appeal to everyone due to its learning curve and gameplay style.
- “Amidst the immersive gameplay, there were silly moments where I moved the wrong character first, blocking another or got knocked back by an enemy before reaching the finish line. Anyway, these experiences contributed to the learning curve, making the eventual wombo-combos immensely rewarding.”
- “It is kinda like chess with some fun mechanics on top, so it is entertaining.”
- “Though it's an early access game, the quality of mechanics that have been implemented so far are really impressive.”
- “This makes no sense; once again, this deviates from the established game mechanics.”
- “All of these mechanics are similar to Into the Breach, but I would say that the movement system is just more complicated, and in my opinion, unnecessarily so.”
- “It takes a lot of inspiration from Into the Breach (or so I think) and does not really capture the combination of fluid gameplay and tension that Into the Breach evoked.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
68%
19%
The story is structured around progressing through various biomes, completing missions that culminate in boss fights, but players find that the gameplay falters during escort and retrieval missions, which can be frustrating and less engaging. While the initial combat-focused missions are well-received, the difficulty spikes in certain mission types detract from the overall experience, leading to a reliance on brute force rather than strategic gameplay. Overall, the narrative framework supports a straightforward progression, but the execution of mission types can undermine the enjoyment.
- “I played through one of the biomes, worked through a boss, and played a few of the different mission types that were available.”
- “You do a few missions until a region boss is revealed, do the boss, unlock a new hero slot, move to the next biome.”
- “Things start to go out the window when you have to do escort or retrieve missions.”
- “The mission where you have to get something on the other side and come back is worse.”
- “Other than fighting the final boss in the first region, there were no missions which couldn’t be beaten easily without brute force.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as lacking, with many players feeling it offers insufficient content and depth to warrant multiple playthroughs. Suggestions for improvement include adding more units, game modes, and meta progression to enhance the experience. While some may find value in replaying, the consensus leans towards a limited replayability factor.
- “Adding more units will improve replayability, due to how the developers have designed the movement and attack patterns.”
- “Additional game modes or objectives, along with meta progression, would go far in enhancing replayability.”
- “It feels too light on content, lacks any real depth, and offers next to no replayability (especially for a roguelike).”
- “This is the most subjective part, as some may find it high value, but for me it offers no replayability nor does it have enough content to see you play for more than an hour or two.”
- “Additional game modes or objectives, along with meta progression, would go far in aiding replayability.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in Artifice is widely praised for its captivating quality, enhancing the game's immersive experience alongside its stunning visuals. Reviewers consistently highlight the high standard of the music and special effects, although some feel that the overall gameplay may not match the presentation's appeal.
- “Artifice is a visually stunning game with its beautiful art and captivating music, creating an immersive experience.”
- “I could not fault the music or special effects.”
- “The presentation feels good, such as the art and music.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The graphics in the game are praised for their impressive visuals and intricate details, enhancing the overall experience. While the artwork is considered great, opinions on gameplay may vary, with some finding it less appealing.
- “What added to the experience was the visuals and the detail that go along with it in each game.”
- “Great artwork, unique gameplay, but not my cup of tea.”