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 176 reviews

story22 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

The game features a charming story and characters, with humorous dialogue that keeps players engaged.
The combat system is well-designed, incorporating a unique card mechanic that allows for deep customization and strategic gameplay.
The art style is vibrant and appealing, reminiscent of classic RPGs, and the music complements the whimsical atmosphere of the game.

The story and character development can feel shallow at times, leading to a less impactful narrative experience.
Some players may find the combat repetitive, as the lack of enemy variety can lead to similar encounters throughout the game.
The decision to split zones into separate instances can hinder difficulty scaling and create balance issues in gameplay.

story
75 mentions
29 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as lighthearted and humorous, with many reviewers noting its simplicity and lack of depth, yet it effectively serves as a backdrop for character development and gameplay. While some find the narrative generic or shallow, others appreciate its charm and comedic elements, particularly in the latter parts where it becomes more engaging. Overall, the story is seen as a fun, if not groundbreaking, aspect that complements the gameplay rather than driving it.
- “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 would say they cut out the fat, gave you a good story, and spent their time making the dialogue and banter as wonderful as possible.”
- “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 is just enough to push you to the next fights.”
gameplay
73 mentions
36 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its solid tactical RPG mechanics, combining exploration, combat, and a unique card system that adds depth and strategy to encounters. Players appreciate the engaging mechanics, customization options, and the balance between straightforward early-game fights and more complex later challenges. While some mechanics, like the redraw system, can feel overly simplistic, the overall experience is described as fun, nostalgic, and rewarding for fans of tactical games.
- “Gameplay involves exploration and combat, with fairly expansive areas and a good amount of secrets and optional fights to encounter.”
- “The combination of Fire Emblem-style strategy and deckbuilder progression is smooth and immediate, making it satisfying for fans of this sort of gameplay.”
- “The tactical gameplay relies heavily on highly satisfying equipment and card combos, making combat dynamic and fast-paced despite being turn-based.”
- “Luna's carrot mechanic and [spoiler]willow's[/spoiler] summoning then requiring another card to take control of the summon felt unfun to use.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it's a pretty standard explore-every-corner RPG.”
- “The range of the abilities does not compensate for that poor mechanic.”
graphics
37 mentions
19 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
8 % 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 vibrant colors and detailed animations. While some players initially hesitated due to the cutesy art style, many found it to be a perfect fit for the game's tone, enhancing the overall experience with its polished presentation. Overall, the visuals are praised for their engaging aesthetic and ability to complement the gameplay, making it a standout feature for fans of retro-inspired titles.
- “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.”
- “Graphics probably won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I like them and they're presented in a very polished way.”
humor
34 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 gameplay and story, creating a charming and enjoyable experience. The game effectively subverts genre tropes, offering a refreshing comedic take that complements its relaxed vibe without feeling forced or cringy.
- “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
29 mentions
41 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its fitting and dream-like 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 befitting each individual world you explore, and only the first world felt repetitive to me, though nostalgic when you revisit it.”
- “The bgm is beautiful and fits each area well, and the exploration bgm flows into the battle music really well.”
- “The music is amazing, the atmosphere is great, and the banter with your teammates is always fun and goofy.”
- “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
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
90 % negative mentions
Overall, players appreciate the minimal grinding in the game, highlighting its quality of life features that enhance the experience compared to similar titles. While some express a desire for more challenging elements and streamlined inventory management, the absence of unnecessary grinding allows for a more enjoyable and flexible gameplay experience. The tactical combat is praised for its simplicity, though some find battles can become tedious due to enemy spawn mechanics.
- “The fights are not tediously long, and the lack of micro-management makes the RNG with the cards fit perfectly.”
- “Grinding feels rewarding because each battle brings a sense of progression and achievement.”
- “The balance between challenge and reward in grinding keeps me engaged and motivated to keep playing.”
- “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 things would be nice, like manual sorting, quick scroll for inventory, 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
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is praised for its unique and cutesy designs, which add a lighthearted charm to the overall experience. Players appreciate the innovative direction some characters take within their classes, enhancing the tactical gameplay. The attention to detail in character and environment design contributes to a nostalgic yet engaging atmosphere.
- “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 turn-based strategy combined with 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.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on a meaningful level.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “Despite the charming visuals, the characters themselves are one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the story.”
replayability
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game offers a moderate level of replayability, with some users noting that while it can be played multiple times, it may not be highly engaging for repeated sessions. However, the deep strategic elements and extensive deckbuilding options provide significant customization, enhancing the overall replay value for those who enjoy exploring different strategies.
- “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
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its nostalgic resemblance to classic titles, featuring a relaxing and fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the engaging and lighthearted banter among teammates, contributing to a fun and immersive environment.
- “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.”
- “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 brown game from back in the day, similar in style and atmosphere to Magical Starsign.”
emotional
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be a rich emotional experience, combining humor and fun with deeper themes, vibrant visuals, and a wholesome atmosphere that resonates with them.
- “The game made me feel a deep emotional connection.”
- “It's funny, it's fun, it's deep, it's colorful, and it's wholesome.”
- “The emotional journey in this game left a lasting impact on me.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits a few minor glitches, but none are significant enough to disrupt gameplay or cause major issues.
- “The game has several glitches that can be quite distracting.”
- “I experienced frequent crashes that interrupted my gameplay.”
- “There are numerous bugs that affect the overall stability of the game.”