Fae Tactics

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,207 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Fae Tactics Game Cover
Endlessfluff Games' Fae Tactics invites players to a mysterious world of magic, monsters and turn-based combat. Is the magic real or just fairy dust? Our review.
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Fae Tactics is a tactical RPG that follows a young magic user named Peony. You'll explore a vibrant world, battling enemies and making allies along the way. The game features strategic turn-based combat, resource management, and elements of storytelling for a rich, immersive gameplay experience.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,207 reviews
story258 positive mentions
grinding76 negative mentions
  • Charming pixel art and engaging character designs that evoke nostalgia.
  • Innovative combat mechanics that streamline gameplay while maintaining depth and strategy.
  • A fun and varied tactical RPG experience with a good balance of challenge and accessibility.
  • Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially with certain boss fights that feel unbalanced.
  • Lack of character customization and depth compared to traditional tactics games with job systems.
  • Unskippable cutscenes and lengthy enemy turns can slow down the pacing of battles.
  • story1,007 mentions

    The story of "Fae Tactics" is a blend of light-hearted and darker themes, following the journey of Peony, a young witch searching for her mother, while navigating a richly crafted world filled with unique characters and episodic plotlines. While some players find the narrative engaging and well-paced, others criticize it for being somewhat generic or lacking depth, with a non-linear structure that can lead to confusion about mission relevance. Overall, the story is seen as serviceable, with moments of charm and emotional weight, but it may not stand out significantly in the tactical RPG genre.

    • “The story follows Peony, a 15-year-old girl who leaves her mountain village in search of her mother (who left without saying goodbye).”
    • “The art and aesthetic are great, the story and characters are excellent and well designed, the world is interesting and compelling, and the combat is the right balance of fun and challenging.”
    • “The story is touching, characters are lovable, and the gameplay is on point.”
    • “The story is patchwork and generic.”
    • “The story was not that great.”
    • “The story is kinda forgettable.”
  • gameplay551 mentions

    The gameplay of "Fae Tactics" is praised for its depth and variety, offering a blend of simple mechanics that evolve into complex strategies, making it accessible yet challenging for players. While the game introduces numerous mechanics that can initially overwhelm, it gradually eases players into its systems, allowing for engaging tactical gameplay with unique character abilities and environmental interactions. However, some players note issues with clarity in mechanics and pacing, suggesting that the game could benefit from better explanations and quality-of-life improvements. Overall, it stands out as a solid tactical RPG with charming aesthetics and a rewarding gameplay loop.

    • “Genuinely one of the best strategy games I've played, it has depth and so many different gameplay styles and synergies.”
    • “Simple yet fun gameplay, beautiful art style, this is a must for those like me who enjoy a good isometric pixelated tactics game.”
    • “The mechanics are tight.”
    • “A really beautiful game that is heavily weighed down by poor gameplay design decisions.”
    • “However, the lack of finesse in handling the gameplay just kills a lot of enjoyment one would have had with it otherwise.”
    • “There's also little to no tutorial and a lot of the mechanics are just thrown at you, and it can be hard to know what's going on.”
  • music226 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchiness and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many tracks being described as nostalgic and fitting for the game's themes. While some players noted that certain pieces felt repetitive or average, standout tracks like "Pichon's Theme" and "Mirrar of the Marsh Battle" were highlighted as favorites. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength of the game, contributing positively to the experience despite some minor criticisms regarding variety.

    • “All this is wrapped up by a beautiful soundtrack, with catchy and very diverse tunes.”
    • “The art style is amazing, the story is creative and unique (which is a rarity for RPGs these days), the soundtrack slaps and the combat system is simple to understand but hard to master.”
    • “The music is evocative and the world obviously has a lot of love and care put into it.”
    • “The music is beyond annoying.”
    • “The game has almost no plot, the characters are generic, the combat is mediocre, the music is average and the graphics are okay at best.”
    • “While its art style and music are charming, they are very limited.”
  • graphics203 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming pixel art style, vibrant colors, and meticulous animations, evoking nostalgia for classic tactical RPGs. Many reviewers highlighted the art and aesthetic as standout features, contributing to an engaging atmosphere that complements the gameplay and story. However, some critiques noted that while the graphics are appealing, they may not fully align with the game's darker narrative elements, leading to a mixed reception in that regard.

    • “The graphical presentation is colorful and expressive and fluid, and it really draws you into the game's setting.”
    • “Fae Tactics' artwork is no slouch either, presenting us with meticulous pixel art for the environments and units.”
    • “The art style is amazing, the story is creative and unique (which is a rarity for RPGs these days), the soundtrack slaps, and the combat system is simple to understand but hard to master.”
    • “The game has almost no plot, the characters are generic, the combat is mediocre, the music is average and the graphics are ok at best.”
    • “Frankly, I did not expect much when I saw the graphics of the game.”
    • “Graphics... these are honestly not very good.”
  • grinding76 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the game's grinding mechanics are a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the lack of traditional level grinding and find the combat engaging, others feel that the game becomes excessively grindy, particularly when faced with difficulty spikes or repetitive battles. Many players express frustration with the slow pace of combat and the tedious nature of certain grinding tasks, although some note that strategic flexibility can minimize the need for grinding. Overall, the experience varies significantly, with some players enjoying the challenge and others finding it a chore.

    • “Currently stuck on day 37, in between two missions that I have no hope of clearing without yet another grinding session that would waste several in-game days.”
    • “There's no story to speak of here and a relative lack of unit variety, so it gets pretty grindy over time, particularly when forcing you to complete multiple maps' worth of fights back to back or replay a map when one of numerous units gets knocked out.”
    • “The story is not compelling enough to keep me going grinding, which feels like the same battle over and over again.”
  • emotional30 mentions

    The game delivers a rich emotional experience, featuring a blend of heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments that resonate deeply with players. Its touching story and lovable characters are complemented by engaging gameplay, creating a fulfilling narrative that balances fun and introspection. While it occasionally grapples with darker themes, the overall tone remains uplifting, making it a memorable and enjoyable journey.

    • “The story is touching, characters are lovable, and the gameplay is on point.”
    • “There are moments of fun, there are jokes, there are gags… but there are also moments of introspection, moments of sorrow, moments of tension and fear, and beautiful heartwarming moments.”
    • “It is a wholesome story, the ending ties everything together nicely, unexpectedly but definitely in a very fulfilling way.”
  • humor24 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky art style and clever references, particularly to 80s movies, which many players found amusing. While the tonal shifts between gag humor and serious moments can be jarring, there are plenty of funny scenarios, such as the unexpected wimpiness of newly recruited NPCs. Overall, the game offers a mix of charm and humor that enhances the gameplay experience, though some players felt it could be inconsistent.

    • “It's actually very funny that some NPCs join your team later on, and as soon as they join you, they suddenly become very wimpy and die in like two hits.”
    • “The devs also put in a lot of references to weird things like 80s movies which were pretty funny to recognize.”
    • “The game has some charm to it, and even some humor sprinkled here and there to keep things entertaining.”
  • replayability16 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability through its innovative mechanics, extensive customization options, and multiple endings, making each playthrough feel fresh. Players can enjoy around 40 hours of gameplay, with the added incentive of keeping progress in new game+ modes. Overall, the combination of varied routes, secret characters, and engaging battles enhances the game's longevity and replay value.

    • “40 hours for a playthrough is absolutely perfect for this kind of game in my opinion, and it has quite a bit of replay value since your route through the story can change and you keep your levels and such in New Game+.”
    • “The team customization makes the battles easily replayable and enjoyable all around.”
    • “Despite its faults, this is a labor of love, jam-packed with content, challenge, unit variety, and even replay value with 3 secret characters and multiple endings.”
    • “While I do like the availability for multiple endings for party members, this seems built to be a new game+ thing more than anything, which could be fine to promote replayability.”
    • “It has quite a bit of replay value since your route through the story can change and you keep your levels and such in new game+.”
  • character development14 mentions

    The game features memorable characters with decent development, enhanced by charming art and character designs that complement its darker narrative. While not heavily story-driven, it offers a gradual exploration of characters and their personalities, with animations that effectively highlight their traits. Players are encouraged to engage with all characters before progressing in the story to fully appreciate their development.

    • “It does some really unique things with the tactical RPG formula, and the art style and character designs are a charming overlay to a dark story.”
    • “Memorable characters that get decent character development.”
    • “This is not the most story-heavy game, but it provides a nice sprinkle to know the characters and the world better, with animations being flashy when needed but subtle most of the time to accentuate the character designs and the colorful art.”
    • “Much like everyone else said, character development takes some time, and I'd personally suggest trying to nab all the characters before going down the story.”
    • “This is not the most story-heavy game, but it is a nice sprinkle to know the characters and the world better, with the animations being flashy when needed but subtle most of the time to accentuate the character designs and the colorful art.”
    • “It does some really unique things with the tactical RPG formula, and the art style and character designs are a really charming overlay to a dark story.”
  • stability8 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game has a number of bugs and glitches, particularly in audio and combat mechanics, which detracts from the experience. While some players find these issues to be infrequent, others describe the game as "super buggy," indicating a mixed perception of stability.

    • “It's fun enough, but still super buggy.”
    • “Too many weird combat glitches.”
    • “I've encountered some glitches with the audio as well.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere in Fae Tactics is highly praised for its unique approach, successfully creating a distinct vibe rather than mimicking other games. The soundtrack is particularly noted for being atmospheric and enjoyable, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “Fae Tactics' soundtrack is atmospheric and absolutely enjoyable.”
    • “This game is very successful in its goals, in part because it does not attempt to evoke the same vibe and atmosphere as many others.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    Reviews indicate that in this game, strategic decision-making during battles takes precedence over character optimization, with each encounter demanding thoughtful tactics rather than merely relying on character levels. Players must adapt their strategies based on enemy types, highlighting the importance of situational optimization.

    • “There are lots of decisions to be made and optimization based on enemies.”
    • “Actual strategy during battle is far more important than character optimization, and each battle is going to require some strategy instead of just serving as a level check.”
    • “There are lots of decisions to be made, and optimization is based on enemies.”
    • “The game emphasizes strategic planning over character optimization, making battles feel less about leveling up and more about tactical choices.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as family-friendly, with advertisements designed to appeal to a broader audience without inappropriate content.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

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Play time

41hMedian play time
33hAverage play time
19-53hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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