Children of Zodiarcs

About

"Children of Zodiarcs" is a story-driven, tactical RPG set in the fantasy realm of Lumus, where players control a group of outcasts using a deck and dice-based combat system. The group, composed of professional thieves, is in pursuit of an ancient relic, facing challenges from city guards, rival gangs, and cannibalistic families in the underworld. As they brave the dangerous world, they must confront their own reality and the harsh social systems that have abandoned them.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 406 reviews

story81 positive mentions

grinding55 negative mentions

Unique blend of card and dice mechanics adds depth to combat, making it engaging and strategic.
Visually appealing with charming art style and a well-composed soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere.
Challenging gameplay that requires tactical thinking and careful planning, especially on higher difficulty settings.

Story and character development are shallow, with one-dimensional characters and a predictable plot.
Limited customization options for characters, as players cannot change party composition or equip items.
Combat can feel repetitive and drawn out due to lengthy animations and the reliance on RNG for card and dice outcomes.

story
503 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
75%
9%
The story in this game is generally perceived as linear and lacking depth, with many players noting its straightforward narrative and underdeveloped characters. While some appreciate the darker themes and emotional moments, others find the plot clichéd and the dialogue unengaging, leading to a lack of investment in the characters and their arcs. Overall, the story serves primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay, with many reviewers suggesting that it may not appeal to those seeking a rich narrative experience.
- “The story is a bit of a downer, but it's a very fun game.”
- “The story is interesting and serviceable to advance the plot and even has some really good moments, but the game is a little too short.”
- “The story begins by feeling somewhat like a generic adventure tale but takes a pretty dark turn with its themes, and going through the side quests and the dialogue moments emphasizes this.”
- “Without spoiling too much, this is a pretty tragic and dark story that is mostly on rails and straightforward.”
- “The story is absolutely awful; I would skip it.”
gameplay
277 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
62%
6%
The gameplay of "Children of Zodiarcs" is characterized by its innovative blend of tactical RPG elements with card and dice mechanics, offering a unique experience that encourages strategic thinking. While many players appreciate the fresh concepts and depth these mechanics provide, there are concerns about balance, pacing, and the reliance on randomness, which can lead to frustrating moments. Overall, the gameplay is seen as enjoyable and engaging, though it may lack the depth and polish expected from more established titles in the genre.
- “The gameplay is smooth, the strategies interesting, and the visuals distinct and well-textured.”
- “The gameplay was downright fantastic, an original blend of board with cards and dice, when damage values, buffs, debuffs, and special effects are determined not by how well you've raised your character's stats, but by how well you've crafted and chosen your dice.”
- “Children of Zodiarcs is a solid strategy RPG with unique gameplay elements and an interesting story.”
- “It feels like it needs a little more fleshing out; it already has a lot going on mechanically, but it also is just a stage select sort of gameplay loop out of combat.”
- “The gameplay becomes quite repetitive; there are not many playable characters, some cards are quite unbalanced, and the story, which seems quite interesting at first, has some development issues.”
- “The dice and card mechanics add some interaction to what would otherwise just be a simple move and attack system, but they take too many steps to process via mouse.”
graphics
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
50%
4%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the distinct art style and decent quality of 2D artwork, while others criticize the 3D models as blocky and the overall visuals as lacking in variety and polish. Many players appreciate the charming and colorful aesthetic, though some find it underwhelming for a game released in 2018. Overall, while the graphics are competent and contribute positively to the gameplay experience, they do not stand out as exceptional.
- “The graphical style was coherent and of decent quality.”
- “The graphics are quite nice and colorful (not too spectacular but still very appealing) and the animations and animated art style I like very much as well.”
- “Great graphics, awesome score, and really unique battle mechanics utilizing the cards and dice (it sounds cheesy, but the game does it really well)!”
- “Models and artwork are ugly and generally unreadable; basic mechanics like mimicking throwing dice with your mouse/controller or manually changing the values/faces of each of your character's dice seem novel at first and quickly descend into near-offensive levels of tedium.”
- “Graphic: as a game published in 2018, it is below the level.”
- “Bad graphic design.”
music
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
39%
5%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its orchestral quality and atmospheric fit, while others find it serviceable but forgettable. Some standout tracks are noted, particularly during key moments, but overall, the soundtrack is described as pleasant yet lacking in memorability. Despite its average rating, the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance and complements the visuals effectively.
- “Combine that with phenomenal orchestral music, that just reminds you of good old Ivalice and you have yourself a solid game to play whenever you're bored and don't have much time.”
- “The music is orchestral and suited to the atmosphere, bouncing between quieter, more melancholic tunes and lively, adventurous scores.”
- “The music of the game is beautiful and feels like it fits.”
- “I don't find myself overly engrossed in the story nor enchanted by the music.”
- “The music is... meh.”
- “Sadly, the music of this game will not make that cut.”
grinding
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, particularly in the late stages, where it becomes necessary to progress through challenging story missions. Many players find the grinding tedious and repetitive, often feeling that it detracts from the overall experience, especially on harder difficulties. While some appreciate the opportunity to customize and improve their characters through grinding, the lack of engaging content and balance issues lead to frustration, making it less appealing for those who prefer a more streamlined gameplay experience.
- “Both in the good ways (no grinding, no backtracking or other map exploring, saving possible almost anytime, fast-forward is bound to left mouse button in battles) and unfortunately in the one not so good way (15 hours of playtime to finish).”
- “No grinding.”
- “The game becomes grindy out of the blue, making it feel like a cheap way to artificially extend gameplay.”
- “Repetitive, boring, and hard difficulty is just grinding non-stop; I had really good hopes for the game before playing it, but it was a disappointment.”
- “The process of grinding skirmishes and checking the story mission to see if I am now strong enough is tedious and the opposite of fun.”
character development
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
58%
16%
Character development in the game is largely criticized for being minimal and linear, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth and background for the characters. While some appreciate the character designs and visual aesthetics, they feel that the characters themselves do not evolve throughout the story, leaving them feeling flat and unengaging. Overall, the consensus is that the game fails to deliver meaningful character arcs, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “From the simple yet eye-catching levels and assets to the gorgeous and charming character design, you can feel the love just oozing from every little detail.”
- “The character portraits are beautiful and read well during the dialogue segments, the character designs are also quite solid, and overall the game evokes a bit of a low-fi JRPG feeling in the character models, environments, visual effects, and graphic design.”
- “There is not really any character development or background to the characters, and the only likable character has a short storyline.”
- “It feels as if the main cast goes through no character development until the very end, and even then, kind of, but not really.”
- “The protagonists and antagonists deserve much deeper character development throughout the campaign.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, primarily due to its linear story, lack of end-game content, and minimal customization options. While there are achievements to pursue and additional modes like skirmishes and arenas, many players feel that the experience does not warrant multiple playthroughs. The initial enjoyment is noted, but the absence of depth and variety diminishes long-term engagement.
- “The twenty levels of story mode offer a decently long engagement (10 hours, plus minus), and then for replay value there's skirmishes and arenas.”
- “Using something like booster packs or allowing players to customize the card upgrade process would give many more options, as well as offering replay value since your characters would be different each time.”
- “Not that much replay value unfortunately, but what is there is fun enough to be worth the asking price for a low budget indie game.”
- “Game is short, the balancing is wobbly at times, the late game scaling feels off, there is no proper end game and the replayability is poor.”
- “The seriously dark story contrasts heavily with the light-hearted art style making the game a wonderful surprise on the first run... sadly it lacks replay value due to its linear story and lack of end game content.”
- “There is not a ton of content and not much if any replay value.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it to be a failed attempt, others appreciate the funny jokes and humorous character interactions. The ragdoll animations of defeated enemies add a comedic touch, and the charming exchanges between party members often provide genuine laughs, despite some cliched story elements. Overall, the humor may not resonate with everyone, but there are moments that shine.
- “There are also lots of funny jokes.”
- “The concept is great, the dice-crafting system was a nice idea, the art is pleasant, and Xero and his friend (to avoid spoilers) was adorable and humorous!”
- “There are also quiet moments after you've cleared a battle node where you can view an oftentimes humorous discussion between your party members.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players appreciating the heartfelt moments and touching ending, while others find the story simplistic and unengaging, leading to a lack of emotional investment. Despite a few impactful scenes, many reviewers feel that the narrative fails to resonate deeply, often overshadowed by unlikable characters and a linear plot. Overall, while there are emotional highs, they are not enough to elevate the experience for all players.
- “A nice game with a heartfelt story of revenge.”
- “The ending is very touching, and the campaign is short (around 12 hours of play to beat in the first run), but it's still a very solid tactical RPG.”
- “The role and the silent moments within characters talking get you into the story in a most touching way.”
- “Boring story you don't care about because you're too busy hating the characters in your party.”
- “Boring story.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The atmosphere of "Children of Zodiarcs" is highly praised for its immersive qualities, combining beautiful art and orchestral music that evoke a sense of fantasy reminiscent of classic titles like Final Fantasy Tactics. Players feel deeply engaged in the world, as the game effectively conveys its setting without overwhelming them with unnecessary details, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Children of Zodiarcs' atmosphere is something you not only see, but also feel and imagine; you put yourself inside it as well.”
- “At my first run of the game, I recall feeling dragged inside its atmosphere.”
- “Children of Zodiarcs' atmosphere is something you not only see, but also feel and imagine, putting yourself inside it as well.”
- “The music is orchestral and suited to the atmosphere, bouncing between quieter, more melancholic tunes and lively, adventurous scores.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized, delivering a smooth performance with a good framerate and decent graphics, and users report no glitches or issues thus far.
- “The game runs smoothly, with a good framerate and decent graphics.”
- “It runs smoothly with no issues so far, and I haven't encountered any glitches.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy employed by Square Enix is perceived as a blatant cash grab, leading to disappointment among users.
- “Square Enix threw it away for a simple cash grab.”
- “The monetization system feels exploitative and prioritizes profit over player experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game demonstrates excellent stability, running smoothly without any reported issues or glitches.
- “Runs smoothly with no issues as of yet, no glitches.”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate, providing a seamless experience.”
- “I've encountered no crashes or bugs, making for a very stable gameplay experience.”

76%Critics’ scoreBased on 13 critic reviews

Buy Children of Zodiarcs

15h Median play time

13h Average play time

10-15h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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