Dream Tactics

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In Dream Tactics, a tactical RPG, you must save the Dream World as its magic, Reverie, is failing. Assemble a team, build deck strategies with over 100 cards, and execute combos to defeat enemies, while dealing with the unpredictability of new card draws each turn. Time is running out to overcome the challenges and save the Dream World from collapse.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 352 reviews

story44 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

The game features a charming art style and engaging character designs that enhance the overall experience.
The combat system is innovative, combining tactical RPG elements with a card-based mechanic that allows for deep customization and strategic gameplay.
The writing is humorous and lighthearted, providing an enjoyable narrative that complements the gameplay.

The story and characters can feel shallow, particularly in the latter half of the game, leading to a disappointing conclusion.
The combat can become repetitive and lacks depth, with some players feeling that the decision to split zones into separate instances hinders difficulty scaling.
The card system, while fun, can be too restrictive, limiting players' ability to create interesting builds.

story
150 mentions
29 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as lighthearted and humorous, often described as cute and silly, with a mix of charm and parody that resonates well with players. While some find the narrative shallow or generic, others appreciate its comedic writing and character development, particularly in the latter parts. Overall, the story serves as a fun backdrop to the gameplay rather than a deep, lore-heavy experience, making it enjoyable for those seeking a casual and entertaining adventure.
- “It has an incredibly charming story with writing that did make me genuinely laugh out loud a couple of times, or at least shake my head and groan in comedic pain.”
- “The story fits this dynamic very well, and I could truly believe that the three main characters were friends once their backstory finished being revealed.”
- “I highly recommend anyone looking for a lighthearted, self-contained story to pick this up, or who wants a tactics game combined with a deck builder.”
- “The story and characters were so shallow I had to force myself through the latter half of the game.”
- “The cutscenes are mostly jokes and the story barely exists.”
- “The story of this game is the only thing that I can imagine puts people off a little bit, since it is no deep character-driven, lore-heavy story, but just more of an incentive to why the characters do what they do.”
gameplay
146 mentions
36 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its solid tactical RPG mechanics, combining exploration and combat with a unique card-drawing system that adds depth and strategy to encounters. Players appreciate the engaging mechanics, customization options, and the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic titles like Fire Emblem, though some find certain mechanics, like the redraw system, overly simplistic. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience with a cute aesthetic and a focus on gameplay over narrative, making it a recommended choice for fans of tactical RPGs.
- “Gameplay involves exploration and combat; exploration has fairly expansive areas, with a good amount of secrets and optional fights to encounter.”
- “I also thought the gameplay mechanics were pretty well balanced, and surprisingly deep and interesting.”
- “The combination of Fire Emblem-style strategy and deckbuilder progression is smooth and immediate, and for fans of this sort of gameplay, it's satisfying.”
- “Luna's carrot mechanic and willow's summoning then requiring another card to take control of the summon felt unfun to use.”
- “Many card mechanics within a character's list are awkward.”
- “The range of the abilities does not compensate for that poor mechanic.”
graphics
74 mentions
19 % positive mentions
77 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by charming pixel art that evokes nostalgia for the GBA era, blending simple yet emotionally resonant sprites with a cute aesthetic. While some players initially hesitated due to the cutesy art style, many found it fitting and well-executed, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. The visuals are praised for their vibrant colors and detailed animations, creating a polished and engaging atmosphere that appeals to fans of retro-inspired games.
- “The pixel art style is a standout feature, with vibrant colors and detailed sprites bringing the game world to life.”
- “Dream Tactics is a refreshing take on tactical RPGs, blending strategic depth with charming pixel art visuals.”
- “The art style is a mix between higher detail anime characters and lower pixel overworld sprites, neither style falling into the trap many modern dev teams are going for with forcing unreal into every project.”
- “Graphically, it's reminiscent of the GBA era.”
- “The lo-fi visuals are a balm for hardcore tactics players who don't want 3D graphics and loading screens crowding out the gameplay, but it would be hard to describe the visuals and UI as anything but stock.”
- “The graphics are what they are: you can either live with pixel art or not.”
humor
68 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing and light-hearted tone, often eliciting genuine laughter from players. Many reviews highlight the endearing characters and amusing dialogue, which seamlessly blend with the game's exploration and tactical elements. Overall, the humor is described as charming and refreshing, enhancing the relaxed vibe of the gameplay while avoiding forced or cringy moments.
- “The characters are lovable, and the dialogue is very clever; several points really made me laugh.”
- “The game's also got a charming sense of humor; it doesn't take itself too seriously without being very in-your-face about it, which complements the relaxed vibe that the game is going for.”
- “I love the aesthetic of sleep in this game with the pillows being the main enemy; it makes for some funny situations, and the game really does know how to bounce off of this with its comedy.”
music
58 mentions
41 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its fitting and dreamy quality, enhancing the atmosphere of each world explored. While some reviewers noted moments of repetitiveness, many found the soundtrack to be catchy and engaging, with several expressing a desire to listen to it outside of gameplay. Overall, the music is considered one of the game's standout features, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.
- “The music is universally good, often great, and occasionally phenomenal.”
- “The bgm is beautiful and fits each area well, and the exploration bgm flows into the battle music really well.”
- “I got into a cycle where listening to the music on YouTube made me want to play the game again, which reminded me of how good the music was and made me want to listen again afterward.”
- “The weakest part of the game is the music; it's barely passable, and completely forgettable.”
- “The story and music were not great, though.”
- “The music is simple and clean.”
grinding
20 mentions
10 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
90 % negative mentions
Overall, players appreciate the lack of unnecessary grinding in the game, highlighting its quality of life features that enhance the RPG experience. The absence of random encounters allows for a more streamlined gameplay, although some players express a desire for additional areas dedicated to battle experimentation and currency grinding. While combat can become tedious due to enemy spawns, the game encourages experimentation without the burden of excessive grinding.
- “The fights are not tediously long with a lot of micro-management, and their simplicity allows the RNG with the cards to fit perfectly.”
- “Battles get tedious because of the 4 on 20 scenario and too often enemies spawn on the map just drawing things out.”
- “If I had to find something to nit-pick, it would be that the movement speed is a little slow, making backtracking through areas to look for the destructible objects a little tedious.”
- “A few quality of life features would be nice, like manual sorting, quick scroll for inventory, and being able to 'hide' certain equipped items to make it less tedious to go through items and such - you're always picking stuff up and looking at them.”
character development
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is characterized by its whimsical and lighthearted approach, featuring unique and cutesy designs that stand out in the genre. Players appreciate the thoughtful crafting of characters and environments, which enhances the nostalgic and engaging experience, while some characters offer innovative class directions that add depth to the gameplay. Overall, the combination of charming aesthetics and strategic elements contributes to a memorable character-driven experience.
- “This game, I believe, is a hidden gem. It features fun turn-based tactical combat and cool, interesting character designs that take some characters' classes in directions I haven't seen before.”
- “Drean Tactics came recommended on my Steam page one day, and I instantly fell in love with it. The pixel art style, the character designs, and the combination of turn-based strategy and deckbuilding are probably my two favorite genres.”
- “From the character designs to the environments, every aspect is crafted with care, immersing players in a nostalgic yet engaging experience.”
replayability
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game offers a moderate level of replayability, with deep strategic elements and extensive deckbuilding options that allow for significant customization. However, some players feel that it may not be highly replayable overall.
- “The game is really only somewhat replayable.”
- “I picked this up immediately after reading the developer's forum post regarding replayability.”
- “The strategy at play runs incredibly deep, the deckbuilding gives endless customization and replayability, and the challenge level is dead-on.”
atmosphere
6 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its nostalgic resemblance to classic titles, particularly in its relaxing and fitting original soundtrack. Players appreciate the engaging and lighthearted banter among teammates, which enhances the overall enjoyable ambiance.
- “The OSTs feel pretty relaxing but also fit the atmosphere of the place perfectly.”
- “The music is amazing, the atmosphere is great, and the banter with your teammates is always fun and goofy.”
- “The best compliment I can give this game is that it is very reminiscent of a Brownie Brown game from back in the day, similar in style and atmosphere to Magical Starsign.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotions, describing it as a blend of humor, fun, depth, and vibrant visuals, all contributing to a wholesome experience.
- “The game made me feel emotional.”
- “It's funny, it's fun, it's deep, it's colorful, and it's wholesome.”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only a few minor glitches reported, none of which significantly impact gameplay.
- “The game does have a couple of glitches, none of which are game-breaking.”