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Guards

An accessible game to those unfamiliar with tactical RPGs, Guards has enough to satisfy newcomers, but its reliance on grinding as well as its limited gameplay system might persuade veterans to look for something deeper.
Guards Game Cover
76%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
grinding, story
78% User Score Based on 202 reviews
Critic Score 65%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|SPCMac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
Guards Game Cover

About

Guards is a single player turn-based strategy game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Battlecruiser Games and was released on August 19, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Guards" is a single-player fantasy turn-based strategy game with good graphics and grinding elements. Command a team of 4 heroes with unique abilities and battle techniques, using an original turn-based system. With a variety of skills, magical items, and game tactics, players must plan their moves to defeat enemies and bosses across multiple levels. Additional difficulty levels provide a challenge for experienced strategists.

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78%
Audience ScoreBased on 202 reviews
gameplay21 positive mentions
grinding33 negative mentions

  • Guards offers a unique and engaging turn-based combat system that requires strategic thinking and planning.
  • The game features a variety of heroes with distinct abilities, allowing for diverse team compositions and tactics.
  • Its minimalist art style and straightforward mechanics make it accessible for new players while still providing a challenge.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive and grindy, as players must replay levels to upgrade heroes and progress.
  • There is a lack of narrative depth and variety in environments, which may lead to a sense of monotony over time.
  • The absence of a save feature during runs can be frustrating, as players must complete levels in one sitting.
  • gameplay
    80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Guards" is characterized by its simple yet strategic mechanics, focusing on a turn-based system where players swap heroes to navigate challenges. While the game is accessible and offers a satisfying tactical rhythm, it suffers from a lack of depth and variety, leading to repetitive gameplay over time. Overall, it provides a fun entry point for newcomers to the genre, but may not hold the long-term interest of seasoned players seeking more complexity.

    • “When it all clicks, the gameplay feels like a carefully orchestrated routine, where each swap is part of a rhythm that keeps your formation alive against increasingly complex enemy patterns.”
    • “Its quick pacing and easy-to-understand mechanics make it an appealing entry point for players new to the genre, while veterans can appreciate the precision of its tactical rhythm.”
    • “The mechanic of having to swap two heroes to move was a novel idea and made for some tough choices at times.”
    • “While unlocking new heroes brings brief bursts of excitement, the underlying gameplay loop remains largely unchanged from start to finish.”
    • “So overall it's pretty interesting and fresh, but quickly gets repetitive because of lack of choices and overall dull gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is boring and repetitive.”
  • graphics
    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting their simplicity and modesty, often describing them as bland or uninspiring. However, some appreciate the cute and colorful art style, which is deemed suitable for a casual indie title, and find the visuals appealing despite their low resolution. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they are considered adequate for the game's purpose, with some players enjoying the aesthetic charm and design.

    • “The graphics may well be simple, but I find it cute and original.”
    • “Great overall design, great lightweight graphics make the game pleasant looking and give the feel of a quality product.”
    • “The art style in Guards is colorful and reminiscent of cel shading, and I enjoyed the ragdoll-like appearance of characters and units within the game.”
    • “The only negative thing I can currently say about the game is that the graphics are rather bland.”
    • “Overall I didn't find the game very fun; I was not happy with the obvious mobile elements, the artwork is stylized but of very low resolution and quality.”
    • “There's no options or graphics settings beyond 3 buttons.”
  • music
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally described as pleasant and relaxing, with some users appreciating its ability to enhance the gaming experience. However, many reviewers noted that the soundtrack is repetitive, often consisting of only one or two tracks per level, leading to a desire for more variety. While the music is enjoyable initially, players frequently recommend listening to their own music after a few sessions to avoid monotony.

    • “The music in the game is very enjoyable (if a bit repetitive), but it definitely made me excited to play.”
    • “This game is awesome, nice tactical gameplay with relaxed music and good concept.”
    • “The soundtrack is also a plus, it always puts me in a fighting mood.”
    • “The same environments, the same monsters, the same music, over and over again.”
    • “As much as I love the music, it's just one or two tracks repeated each level.”
    • “Sound in the game was made great (excluding assassin hit sound for me), but music begins to pall after 7-8 runs.”
  • grinding
    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding, which can be repetitive and tedious for many players, particularly in the early stages. While some players appreciate the meta progression and find enjoyment in the grind, others criticize it for being excessive and detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the grinding aspect is a divisive feature, with opinions varying based on individual tolerance for repetitive gameplay.

    • “Repetition and grinding.”
    • “Very repetitive and grindy game.”
    • “Unfortunately, it has a cash shop and premium currency implemented, with no way to pay, so it gets extremely grindy very soon.”
  • story
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many reviewers noting that it lacks a coherent plot or meaningful narrative, reducing the experience to a focus on gameplay mechanics and strategy. While some mention the presence of quests and upgrades, they feel these elements do not compensate for the lack of a compelling story, leaving players without motivation or context for their actions. Overall, the consensus is that the game prioritizes tactical gameplay over storytelling, resulting in a static experience devoid of narrative depth.

    • “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
    • “The game is interesting – it has both the story and the tactical components that you need to change because of the increasing levels of difficulty.”
    • “A bit of background and/or story would have helped explain the motivation, even if it was minimal.”
    • “There is no story whatsoever.”
    • “The story is very 'plot: what plot?'”
    • “It does not really have a story element though.”
  • atmosphere
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is described as enchanting and immersive, effectively blending fantasy elements with strategic gameplay. Players appreciate the warm, inviting environment that enhances their experience, making it accessible and enjoyable for both casual gamers and those seeking a tactical challenge. Overall, the atmosphere serves as a strong bridge between the player and the game's engaging world.

    • “Imagine a game that brings the atmospheric fantasy fairy tales and strategy adventure to the modern gaming platform.”
    • “An interesting and atmospheric fantasy strategy game with turn-based combat.”
    • “The game is very atmospheric, like the image style.”
    • “It helps you dive into the game by being an ideal bridge between the player and this masterful atmosphere.”
    • “[Accessible gameplay system for newcomers, relaxing atmosphere to plan moves].”
  • replayability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as moderate, with some players appreciating the inclusion of new difficulties and the option to play with different heroes. While it offers some replay value, particularly for those who enjoy its mechanics, others feel it lacks sufficient diversity to warrant extensive replaying.

    • “The price point is reasonable for a game of this depth and length, and you may even get some replay value out of it if you enjoy the mechanics.”
    • “Replayability (4/5) - 2 new difficulties (after the 1st playthrough), new playthrough with different heroes.”
    • “Single player game with high replayability value.”
    • “I'm not sure it really has a massive amount of replayability in it, but I do think it is well-made.”
    • “Moderate replay value, not quite diverse enough for high replayability.”
  • stability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game is mixed, with some users experiencing significant issues such as freezing when the window is inactive, graphical glitches, and crashes, particularly on Linux. However, others report a smooth experience with no freezes or crashes following recent updates. Overall, the game's stability appears to vary widely among players.

    • “It runs smoothly, with no freezes or crashes.”
    • “The game maintains a consistent frame rate, providing a seamless experience.”
    • “I've experienced zero bugs or glitches, making for a stable gameplay environment.”
    • “You cannot do something in the background, because when the window is not active, the game freezes (developers, what are you afraid of?)”
    • “Edit: apparently their programmer isn't working on the game anymore, so it looks like Linux users will have to force Proton, which is still buggy, or not buy.”
    • “Edit3: okay sometimes it loads, but I get weird graphical glitches and flickering; sometimes it crashes my desktop too.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features low system requirements, allowing it to run smoothly without freezes or crashes. However, some users report performance issues despite its polished state, with no significant bugs, lags, or stuttering.

    • “It runs smoothly, no freezes or crashes.”
    • “Low system requirements, yet it still has performance issues.”
    • “Very well polished, no bugs, no lags, and no stuttering.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its humorous design and simplicity, offering an engaging experience that combines addictive gameplay with a lighthearted tone. Players appreciate the initial ease of play, which gradually increases in difficulty, adding to the fun while likening it to a simplified version of chess with unique characters. Overall, it serves as an enjoyable and amusing time-killer.

    • “Funny design.”
    • “This is a funny indie game; at first, you think it's so easy to play, and you want the levels to be harder. However, you quickly realize that without upgrading your troops, you will never complete the higher levels. It's like chess, but you only have four chessmen with unique abilities.”
    • “The game is funny and simple but still addictive, making it a nice time-killer for a couple of evenings.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game is criticized for being misleading, with heavy advertising promoting it as a fun experience, while in reality, it lacks quality and fails to offer any in-app purchases, making it feel like a cash grab without any value.

    • “Imagine a mobile game where they have all those fancy ads and say it's an amazing and fun strategy game with some celebrity endorsing it, but then you actually get it and it's awful and just designed to sell in-app purchases.”
    • “Imagine that, but there aren't even any in-app purchases; it's just a terrible game.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users express a strong negative emotional response, feeling that the game's value does not justify its price, leading to a sense of being scammed.

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3h Median play time
3h Average play time
2-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Guards is a turn-based strategy game with fantasy theme.

Guards is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Mac OS and others.

On average players spend around 3 hours playing Guards.

Guards was released on August 19, 2016.

Guards was developed by Battlecruiser Games.

Guards has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Guards is a single player game.

Similar games include Braveland, Crowntakers, Warstone TD, Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten, HERO DEFENSE and others.