Battle Chasers: Nightwar

Battlechasers is an RPG to kick back and enjoy. It may not have the customization or character development some players enjoy, but with a big main story and plenty of subquests, minigames, and journals to fill out, there’s always something to do.

81%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

grinding, stability

91% User Score Based on 4,696 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 45 reviews

Platforms

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About

Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a turn-based RPG inspired by classic console games, featuring deep dungeon exploration, strategic combat, and a rich story. Prepare in the desolate town of Harm's Way, choosing three heroes, equipping them, and diving into action-packed, randomly generated dungeons filled with loot and foes. Classic JRPG-style combat with a unique mana system and random buffs/debuffs adds an extra layer of strategy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+25

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,741 reviews

story743 positive mentions

grinding713 negative mentions

The art style is fantastic and visually stunning, reminiscent of comic book aesthetics.
The turn-based combat system is engaging and allows for strategic planning with unique character abilities.
The game offers a good amount of content, including side quests, crafting, and replayable dungeons.

The story is weak and lacks depth, making it less engaging for players seeking a rich narrative.
Combat can become tedious due to slow animations and repetitive battles, especially against lower-level enemies.
The game suffers from balance issues, with difficulty spikes that can make certain encounters frustrating.

story
2,043 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
59%
5%
The story of "Battle Chasers: Nightwar" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it to be basic and lacking depth. While some appreciate the comic-inspired narrative and character interactions, others criticize it for being generic, linear, and slow-paced, often feeling like a mere backdrop to the gameplay. Overall, the story serves its purpose but does not stand out as a compelling or memorable aspect of the game, leaving players wanting more in terms of character development and plot intricacies.
- “With a compelling story, atmospheric soundtrack, and a perfect blend of nostalgia and innovation, Battle Chasers: Nightwar stands as a must-play for RPG enthusiasts seeking a rich and immersive gaming experience.”
- “The captivating storyline of Battle Chasers: Nightwar will keep you engaged from start to finish.”
- “Developed by Airship Syndicate and inspired by the popular comic book series 'Battle Chasers' created by Joe Madureira, this game delivers an exceptional blend of classic turn-based combat, exploration, and a captivating storyline that will keep you hooked for hours on end.”
- “Firstly, the story is almost non-existent.”
- “Overall it feels like they just did not know how to incorporate the story into this game, and it ends up feeling very tacked on.”
- “The story is flat and so forgettable.. the characters are kinda there but it feels like they stopped working on these stuff in early design concept phase.”
graphics
1,423 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
36%
1%
The graphics of "Battle Chasers: Nightwar" are widely praised for their stunning comic-book-inspired art style, which many reviewers find captivating and reminiscent of classic RPG aesthetics. The visuals are described as vibrant and beautifully detailed, with smooth animations that enhance the overall experience, although some players noted issues with graphical glitches and performance. Overall, the game's art direction, led by Joe Madureira, is considered one of its standout features, contributing significantly to its appeal despite some criticisms regarding gameplay pacing and repetitiveness.
- “Its stunning art style, reminiscent of the beloved Battle Chasers comic series, creates a visually captivating world filled with secrets and exploration.”
- “The art style is cohesive and beautifully done, and the voice acting is fine.”
- “Truly amazing visuals and enemy design.”
- “Still has numerous graphical glitches that can cause you to lose a lot of progress here and there.”
- “The current combat system looks quite cheap if you take away the graphics.”
- “The visuals could certainly stand to be upgraded and I find it could use some more/better narrative and character backstory.”
gameplay
1,250 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
5%
The gameplay of "Battle Chasers: Nightwar" is characterized by its classic turn-based mechanics, enhanced by unique features like the overcharge system, which allows players to build up additional mana through basic attacks. While many players appreciate the nostalgic feel and engaging character progression, some criticize the gameplay for becoming repetitive and grindy, particularly in the mid to late game. Overall, the game offers a visually appealing experience with solid mechanics, though it may not satisfy those seeking deeper or more innovative gameplay.
- “The game is full of creative ideas and interesting mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is fun and leveling up your characters and equipment is very satisfying.”
- “Great turn-based RPG action with a lot of interesting mechanics to play with.”
- “The gameplay can become a bit repetitive.”
- “The gameplay gets old fast and the dungeons are very long and tedious without much variety.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive and not fun.”
grinding
735 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
2%
97%
The reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, often leading to a tedious experience for players. Many express frustration with the slow combat animations and the necessity to repeatedly engage in battles to level up characters, especially since sidelined characters do not gain experience. While some players appreciate the grind as a staple of the genre, others find it excessive and detracting from the overall enjoyment, particularly in the mid to late game where it can feel like a chore rather than a rewarding challenge.
- “Decent length - not ridiculously long, as is common in similar games -, not grindy, and a very solid battle system that shines in how it allows the player to combine the party member's strengths in a multitude of ways.”
- “Beautiful graphics, wonderful audio, engaging (but not grinding) storyline and interesting (but not too complex) character development system.”
- “Very little to no grinding is actually required though you certainly can grind to reduce difficulty.”
- “I loved the exploration of it, the overworld and the fight style, the visuals, the music and especially the gameplay, but after reaching mid-late game the game turned into a boring slog and extremely tedious and grindy.”
- “The need for excessive grinding and lack of balance makes the game feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable adventure.”
- “It just becomes such a tedious task and creates a false sense of length in the game while also boring you to death.”
music
567 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
34%
2%
The music in "Battle Chasers: Nightwar" has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the gaming experience. While some found the soundtrack to be memorable and fitting for the game's environments, others noted that certain tracks could become repetitive or lack distinctiveness. Overall, the music is often highlighted as a strong aspect of the game, complementing its beautiful visuals and engaging gameplay.
- “With a compelling story, atmospheric soundtrack, and a perfect blend of nostalgia and innovation, Battle Chasers: Nightwar stands as a must-play for RPG enthusiasts seeking a rich and immersive gaming experience.”
- “The music has a way of making everything seem serene and intense at the same time.”
- “The soundtrack is utterly phenomenal.”
- “The music is very generic; I didn’t find any recognizable strong themes and overall it was 'just background' music.”
- “Finally, the worst: the game's music is Jesper Kyd's worst work ever. It's dull as dishwater, it's forgettable, it's plain mediocre, which is plain unforgivable coming from the author of Assassin's Creed's music scores.”
- “To really hammer in how boring the title is, the music is very poor and mediocre, and that's when the music plays.”
replayability
135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
70%
2%
Replayability in the game is generally viewed as high, primarily due to the inclusion of randomly generated dungeons, multiple difficulty settings, and a New Game+ mode that encourages further exploration and character customization. However, some players feel that the grindy nature of the gameplay and the limited character roster can detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed opinions on long-term engagement. Overall, while many appreciate the replayable elements, some express concerns about potential tedium and lack of variety in subsequent playthroughs.
- “Every dungeon comes with three difficulty settings, giving these locations a genuine replayability.”
- “High replay value as there are multiple combos of characters and ways to both win and lose.”
- “Semi-randomized dungeons and abundant side content help add replay value and length to the game, along with the inclusion of a new game+ mode.”
- “I don't see myself ever coming back to this, so there is little replay value.”
- “Moderate replayability: there's a new game plus and it adds a new dungeon difficulty level along with legendary items but your level is capped already, no new perks, just doesn't worth another 80 hours in my opinion.”
- “It's not perfect: it feels grindy at times, especially if you embrace the replayability of the dungeons, the characters don't really change much in the course of the story, and the difficulty could veer at times.”
character development
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
47%
11%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting it as a weak point. While the character designs and animations are praised for their quality and appeal, the overall narrative and emotional investment in the characters are often described as lacking depth and engagement. Several reviewers expressed a desire for more nuanced character arcs and interactions, indicating that the game feels more focused on aesthetics than on meaningful character growth.
- “The characters are all nuanced and intriguing, whether through mid-dungeon delving dialogue or a heartfelt conversation in an inn, this game manages to deliver decent character development and backstory.”
- “A lot of detail has been given to the story and the character development, and the musical score is excellent.”
- “The character development system in this game is unique and offers some pretty cool options for 'stacking' your various characters' abilities to make them tremendously powerful.”
- “The story and character development are bland as well, and I felt no emotional investment in the heroes or their journey.”
- “There's zero character development, there are no plot twists worth mentioning, and there is little world-building.”
- “The game seemed to lack a lot in terms of plot explanation and character development, and just felt overall dry outside of combat.”
atmosphere
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
13%
5%
The atmosphere of "Battle Chasers: Nightwar" is widely praised for its enchanting and immersive qualities, characterized by beautiful artwork, a compelling soundtrack, and meticulous world-building that brings each area to life. Reviewers highlight the game's nostalgic yet innovative design, vibrant graphics, and engaging combat, all of which contribute to a rich and interactive experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, making it a must-play for RPG enthusiasts.
- “With a compelling story, atmospheric soundtrack, and a perfect blend of nostalgia and innovation, Battle Chasers: Nightwar stands as a must-play for RPG enthusiasts seeking a rich and immersive gaming experience.”
- “Lastly, Battle Chasers had great atmosphere as there was a lot of care and attention to world-building, making each dungeon and area feel distinct and alive.”
- “The world is atmospherically rich and aesthetically gorgeous, and is supported by a great soundtrack and voice acting.”
- “Despite me loving the atmosphere, art, and story of it all, there is one big problem.”
- “The exploration part is a little unwieldy, but there at the extremes there is enough atmosphere.”
- “The presentation ties everything together with a strong sense of adventure and atmosphere without any hint of cynicism or pretension.”
stability
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
3%
91%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting frequent crashes and freezes, particularly during combat and dungeon exploration. While a few users experienced no significant issues, many noted various graphical glitches and minor bugs that can disrupt gameplay. Overall, the game appears to be well-optimized for low-end computers, but persistent stability problems may detract from the experience for some players.
- “It's a high quality game, no glitches, no issues, or cut corners - which is rare nowadays.”
- “Pretty bug-free; I encountered one bug during dialogue, but it was very easy to get around and wasn't game-breaking.”
- “Runs great on low-end computers.”
- “Fun game, but constantly crashes/freezes going into fights and dungeons.”
- “I really want to recommend it, but it crashes constantly (typically the video freezes, while the game keeps running) and hasn't seen a patch in a couple of months.”
- “However, I have had multiple freezes, and it only seems to happen when I kill multiple enemies with a single attack.”
optimization
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
40%
44%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance even on minimum hardware specifications, frequent stuttering, and low frame rates across various platforms, particularly on PC. While some users noted better performance on the Steam version and the Nintendo Switch, others experienced severe issues such as black screen crashes and audio stuttering, indicating a lack of polish and optimization for specific GPU models. Overall, the game's performance issues detract from the otherwise appealing graphics and gameplay experience.
- “The game is made in Unity engine and is well-optimized as I experience no fatal bugs or glitches in 80 hours.”
- “The sound is awesome, the characters are great, and the graphics are optimized and beautiful.”
- “Your characters must be customized appropriately, which makes it an interesting optimization problem.”
- “Performance is not good on minimum listed hardware even on the lowest possible configuration (although settings not saving might have something to do with this)?”
- “The game is just, plainly, simply horrendously optimized.”
- “Yet I cannot overlook the consistent performance problems I have been getting regardless of graphics options, resolution, and windowed/fullscreen modes.”
humor
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the quirky characters, funny dialogue, and dark humor, while others find the repetitive slapstick and long cutscenes tedious. Despite some criticisms of the plot and pacing, the game's animations and voice acting contribute to its comedic charm, making it a fun experience for those who enjoy lighthearted RPGs. Overall, while the humor may not resonate with everyone, it adds a refreshing layer to the gameplay for many players.
- “They've got great designs, great voice acting, and the dialogue kept me laughing from time to time.”
- “In a single sentence, it's a great-looking, humorously quirky adventure that is surprisingly deep in regards to its turn-based combat.”
- “The game is packed with side missions that are interesting with an added humor to them that I found refreshing!”
monetization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
50%
20%
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and predatory monetization practices, which enhances the overall enjoyment and gameplay experience. Reviewers appreciate the unique in-game currency earned through play rather than through purchases, highlighting a refreshing approach in a market often dominated by oppressive monetization strategies. This positive reception underscores a desire for more games to adopt similar models that prioritize player experience over profit.
- “I wish more games would use this as an example to have no microtransactions yet still have unique currency that is gathered through gameplay.”
- “It's great to have alternate costumes you can buy that are not microtransactions.”
- “This game shows how fun mobile games could be if they weren't so disgustingly riddled with microtransactions and other predatory elements.”
- “My review wouldn't have been so harsh if the advertising and other reviews were more objective.”
- “The game does nearly everything right and not having some BS day one DLC or microtransactions only makes me appreciate it more in the current market.”
emotional
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
11%
11%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a mix of heartwarming moments and bland storytelling, with some players appreciating the character interactions while feeling little emotional investment in the overall plot. Despite a few touching scenes, the linear and familiar narrative leaves many reviewers feeling detached from the characters and their journey. Overall, the emotional depth is perceived as lacking, overshadowed by a predictable storyline.
- “It's wholesome, especially considering the lack of good games right now.”
- “They didn't feel trope-y to me at all, and I even noticed some emotional complexity in the way they interact with each other.”
- “There were one or two heartwarming moments (one of them being an easter egg concerning a certain mouse).”
- “Very linear, boring story.”