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Into the Breach

Outside of the Zenith squad and the teasing of supplementary weapons when default loadouts can and should suffice, I have very little negative to say about Into the Breach. It is almost predictably outstanding. Those looking to scratch the itch games such as Final Fantasy Tactics or Ogre Battle have left in their wake need to look no further. The balm is called Into the Breach.
Into the Breach Game Cover
94%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story
Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, monetization
94% User Score Based on 22,040 reviews

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Into the Breach Game Cover

About Into the Breach

Into the Breach is a single player tactical role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Subset Games and was released on February 27, 2018. It received very positive reviews from players.

The remnants of human civilization are threatened by gigantic creatures breeding beneath the earth. You must control powerful mechs from the future to hold off this alien threat. Each attempt to save the world presents a new randomly generated challenge in this turn-based strategy game from the makers of FTL.

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Reviews

94%Audience ScoreBased on 22,040 reviews
gameplay1.4k positive mentions
grinding146 negative mentions

  • gameplay

    3,873 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    35% positive mentions, 62% neutral mentions, 3% negative mentions

    The gameplay of *Into the Breach* is widely praised for its excellent turn-based strategy mechanics, which combine simplicity with depth, allowing players to engage in complex tactical decision-making. The game features a unique mechanic where players can anticipate enemy moves, creating a puzzle-like experience that emphasizes strategic positioning and resource management. While the core gameplay loop is addictive and offers high replayability through various mech squads and achievements, some players note that it can become repetitive over time, and the overall content may feel limited compared to its predecessor, *FTL*.

    • “Excellent turn-based strategy roguelike that explains map tiles and player mechanics simply but includes enough mech variety to keep things fresh.”
    • “With its charming pixel art style, intuitive interface, and meaningful choices that impact gameplay, Into the Breach is a must-play for fans of tactical strategy games looking for a rewarding experience.”
    • “The gameplay is easy to learn, but you have to think a lot to survive.”
    • “It's ridiculously boring, looks horrible, and has no compelling narrative to make you want to slog through this terrible gameplay.”
    • “Six years and 2.5 hours played later... I am just one person, and I know I'm in the minority here, but I just can't properly express how lacking in soul, gameplay, tactics, strategy, and completely lacking in fun this game actually is.”
    • “The gameplay loop is real... repetitive.”

  • story

    2,301 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    14% positive mentions, 81% neutral mentions, 5% negative mentions

    The story in "Into the Breach" is minimal and primarily serves as a backdrop for the gameplay, which focuses on tactical missions involving time-traveling mech pilots defending against alien threats. While some players appreciate the intriguing premise and the way the narrative ties into the mechanics, many find the lack of depth and character development disappointing, leading to a repetitive experience across the limited number of islands and missions. Overall, the game is more about strategic puzzle-solving than delivering a compelling narrative, making it less appealing for those seeking a rich story.

    • “With what little dialogue and plot there is, they still manage to breathe quite a bit of intrigue and character into the experience.”
    • “The story seems simple enough, until you start to peel back the layers and reveal something larger!”
    • “The story is fitting and subtly hilarious (sometimes I think the humor is the game's strongest point, not to detract from all the other things it does so well).”
    • “Absolutely no progression or story to speak of.”
    • “The story, characters, dialogues and even upgrades become just a nuisance you will quickly close when you load the same map over and over again, trying to make sense of it all and expecting some actual strategy.. while you are bombarding empty tiles with your 'artillery'.”
    • “The game's lack of a captivating story or immersive elements further contributed to the low replay value.”

  • replayability

    2,140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    49% positive mentions, 47% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    The game "Into the Breach" is widely praised for its high replayability, driven by diverse mech squads, customizable strategies, and procedurally generated levels. Players appreciate the variety of gameplay styles each squad offers, as well as the challenge of unlocking achievements that enhance replay value. While some reviewers note that it may not reach the same level of replayability as its predecessor, "FTL," many still find it engaging and addictive, with the potential for countless hours of play.

    • “Great little turn-based tactical puzzle roguelike, with a ton of replayability, unlockable squads that completely change up the game, per-squad achievements, etc.”
    • “The different squads all have their own unique play styles, creating endless replayability.”
    • “Replayability comes from multiple different difficulties, a wide variety of different squads to use (all of which are radically different in playstyle) and customizable options for skills, weapons, enemies and the like.”
    • “Mech customization barely exists (and your best options are basically additional HP and movement), replay value is low unless you have a real drive to try out another team, pilots are unbalanced and also lack much in the way of making the player feel connected to them, there's absolutely no story, and given the scaling there's basically no incentive to push through the final two islands because you're basically an underdog from the start getting through by the skin of your teeth -- why would you ever give the enemies even more tools to screw you over?”
    • “Limited replay value: due to the lack of significant improvements and the absence of variety in playing different squads, subsequent runs with the same squad felt repetitive and lacked freshness.”
    • “I can say it simply loses its luster once you're past the honeymoon phase as it has fairly minimal replayability.”

  • music

    1,344 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    66% positive mentions, 32% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions

    The music in "Into the Breach" has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its engaging and atmospheric soundtrack composed by Ben Prunty, which many players find enhances the game's strategic depth and immersive experience. While some reviews note that the music can become repetitive over time, the overall consensus is that it effectively complements the gameplay and adds to the game's charm. Comparisons to the soundtrack of "FTL" are common, with many players appreciating the similar style, though some feel it doesn't quite reach the same iconic status.

    • “It isn't just some graphics, but a whole story, together with an energetic and cool soundtrack.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely godlike, especially the desert island tracks.”
    • “The music is perfectly tuned to the gameplay and increases immersion.”
    • “Music: largely forgettable.”
    • “The sound is generic as is the music.”
    • “The music is practically the same throughout your playthrough and it's nothing to write home about.”

  • graphics

    1,266 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    45% positive mentions, 52% neutral mentions, 3% negative mentions

    The graphics of "Into the Breach" are characterized by a charming pixel art style that resonates well with fans of retro aesthetics, reminiscent of classic games. While some players appreciate the simplicity and clarity of the visuals, others feel that the graphics are basic and could benefit from more detail. Overall, the art style effectively complements the gameplay, creating an engaging atmosphere that enhances the strategic experience without being overly distracting.

    • “The pixel graphics are beautiful, the music fits the mood, and the characters' personalities make me smile.”
    • “Excellent soundtrack, beautiful visuals and extremely fun and challenging game design.”
    • “The graphics are simple but really polished, the soundtrack is atmospheric, and the whole package reminds me of the best DOS games from the early 90s like Syndicate.”
    • “I'm going to assume Windows 11 isn't supported yet; menus are glitched and slow to respond, half of the graphics do not appear and I'm left with whiteouts and some colored shapes.”
    • “The graphics are minimalistic, helping you focus on the game itself; the soundtrack is kick-ass and fits the mood of the game perfectly, the attacks feel satisfying in their simplicity and effect, which rarely happens in most turn-based combats where you can send up to 10 seconds watching an attack play out.”
    • “I have almost nothing negative to say about this game; in fact, the magnificent soundtrack has to be applauded, but I was turned back by the pixelated graphics for a long time before purchase.”

  • grinding

    157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    4% positive mentions, 3% neutral mentions, 93% negative mentions

    The reviews indicate a mixed sentiment regarding grinding in the game. Many players find the process of unlocking new squads and achievements to be tedious and time-consuming, which can detract from the overall enjoyment, especially for casual gamers. However, some players appreciate the lack of traditional grinding mechanics, noting that the game encourages skill development over repetitive tasks, leading to a more engaging experience despite occasional feelings of monotony.

    • “It has many challenges to complete which are interesting and not too grindy.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “This game actively encourages gaining achievements, but there's no grinding involved.”
    • “The only gripe I have is the amount of grinding and niche achievements you need to complete for more points to unlock mech squads.”
    • “Getting the achievements can be pretty tedious and time-consuming, killing the pace.”
    • “Unfortunately for me, this game is just too tedious and every action has to be thought out before you do anything.”

  • atmosphere

    138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    73% positive mentions, 25% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, combining excellent music, polished graphics, and strong world-building that evokes a sense of tension and depth. Many reviewers highlight the retro aesthetic and sound design, which effectively complement the gameplay, creating a captivating experience reminiscent of classic titles like FTL. However, some players feel that while the atmosphere is strong, it may not reach the same heights as FTL, with a few noting that it can sometimes fade into the background during intense gameplay moments.

    • “The atmosphere is great, the art style has a lot of substance, the music is amazing, and the gameplay is terrific.”
    • “This game oozes atmosphere, is expertly-crafted with terrific writing and the mechanics are tight.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing and the atmosphere is just fantastic.”
    • “But after a while, much of the atmosphere became background noise as I focused on solving puzzles and challenges.”
    • “First off, I'll start by reaffirming a few of my initial concerns: I still think the game lacks the atmosphere to the same level as FTL.”
    • “Also, the game really fails on story, atmosphere, and motivation for me.”

  • emotional

    78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    97% positive mentions, -1% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Into the Breach" is a mixed bag; while players appreciate the emotional reactions of unseen citizens and the satisfaction of tactical victories, many feel the game lacks a compelling narrative and character depth that would foster deeper emotional investment. The gameplay elicits feelings of both genius and frustration, but the absence of substantial backstories for pilots and a more engaging plot limits emotional attachment. Overall, the game is praised for its challenging mechanics and strategic depth, yet it leaves some players wanting more in terms of emotional engagement.

    • “Something I found very effective is the unseen citizens you're saving actually having emotional reactions to humanize them, very smart.”
    • “Seeing a building get taken out and the number of casualties made me feel more emotion than most games do with 30+ hour storylines.”
    • “Not only do each of the pilots and island leaders have their own personalities imparted through snippets of combat dialogue, but the world has deep lore, the implications of which are rather disturbing to contemplate, and no matter how many times I finish the game I am never prepared for the emotional impact of my team's sendoff.”
    • “The story was incredibly boring and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
    • “I found the narrative to be dull and lacking in emotional depth.”
    • “The plot was so uninteresting that it left me feeling completely detached.”

  • optimization

    58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    28% positive mentions, 67% neutral mentions, 5% negative mentions

    The game's optimization is highly praised, with users noting that it runs smoothly on a variety of systems, including lower-end PCs. Players appreciate the strategic depth that comes from careful planning and optimization of moves, which is central to the gameplay experience. The clean UI and quick load times further enhance the overall performance, making it accessible and enjoyable for a wide audience.

    • “Soo much optimization with different weapons and mech combinations to try out...”
    • “Each turn becomes a challenge of optimization to eliminate threats by killing enemies or denying incoming damage.”
    • “Anything that can be optimized by doing a search across all possible moves is not very compelling, and that's the main gameplay loop you'll find yourself doing.”
    • “If I really buckle down and plan everything out perfectly, I can usually pull off a win, but doing so pretty much always requires relying on the same few optimized routines instead of branching out and really exploring; if you go in wanting to use the coolest abilities and set up the coolest combos, you're gonna get punished hard.”
    • “It's much more of a puzzle/optimization game than anything else; each turn offers a number of problems that you have to figure out how to solve as efficiently as possible.”

  • humor

    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying its subtle and dark comedic elements, as well as amusing character dialogues and unexpected situations that arise during gameplay. Many reviewers appreciate the blend of tactical mechanics with humorous outcomes, such as characters making funny remarks or the absurdity of certain scenarios, which keeps the experience engaging and entertaining. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm that enhances the game's appeal, making it a memorable experience for players.

    • “To top it all off, the plot actually makes sense and there is humorous commentary by the heroes.”
    • “Even after 40+ hours of gameplay, I actually had fun going for all those achievements because, just when I thought I had it all figured out, some funny unexpected situation happened that kept reeling me in.”
    • “The story is fitting and subtly hilarious (sometimes I think the humor is the game's strongest point, not to detract from all the other things it does so well).”

  • stability

    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    53% positive mentions, 12% neutral mentions, 35% negative mentions

    The game's stability is generally praised, with many users reporting smooth performance on PC and Steam Deck, often highlighting its bug-free experience. However, some players have encountered significant issues, such as frequent freezes and crashes during gameplay, particularly on enemy turns. Overall, while many enjoy a stable experience, there are notable concerns regarding bugs that affect playability for some users.

    • “Runs great on PC or Steam Deck & it's perfect for quick, on-the-go sessions.”
    • “Bug free, 30 hours of gaming, no bugs whatsoever.”
    • “Its rare that I 100% a game but this one compelled me to do so, runs great on my cobbled together creaky PC too!”
    • “Game freezes on enemy turn often.”
    • “I want to like the game, it's a fun little turn-based game, but it crashes every turn I take and freezes for about 30 seconds, then works again.”
    • “Great game, but too buggy to play quite yet (missing HP bars, random blocks of color blocking UI, panels popping under other panels).”

  • monetization

    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    6% positive mentions, 50% neutral mentions, 44% negative mentions

    The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and in-game purchases, offering a refreshing experience reminiscent of earlier gaming eras focused on fun and gameplay rather than corporate monetization strategies. Players express a desire for potential DLC that adds content without feeling like a cash grab, highlighting the game's commitment to quality over profit. Overall, the absence of monetization elements is seen as a significant positive aspect of the game.

    • “They manage to provide players with a sense of pride and accomplishment without microtransactions.”
    • “It's fun to play and for a moment it will take you back to a time when there were no microtransactions & loot boxes.”
    • “In an age of games as a service & microtransactions, a solid game with proper ambition & complementary design is refreshing.”
    • “That said, I wouldn't mind buying DLC for this game if they do plan to release some in the future since that would actually be additional content instead of 'you have to pay for content that we already developed for on release but we want more money so here's a scummy cash grab excuse.'”
    • “If you even think about adding microtransactions, I will not only delete this game but throw away my phone and get a new one just to cleanse myself from it.”

  • character development

    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    30% positive mentions, 40% neutral mentions, 30% negative mentions

    Character development in this game is largely minimal, with many reviewers noting a lack of story progression and depth. While there are RPG-like elements and varied mech squads that enhance replayability, the focus remains primarily on gameplay mechanics rather than character growth or narrative. Overall, players seeking rich character development may find this aspect disappointing.

    • “With the added bonus of RPG-like character development and a varied set of alternative mech squads, this addictive rogue-lite puzzle game offers a high degree of replayability.”
    • “Definitely worth the money if you are motivated by those types of incentives-- but be forewarned that there is essentially no additional story or character development after your first run.”
    • “Progression and character development may be the weakest part.”
    • “The only real downside is that there isn’t much of a story or any kind of character development.”
    • “Progression/character development may be the weakest part.”
    • “But don’t expect story or character development to take the front; it is the game's mechanics that are in the spotlight here.”
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Play Times

24h Median play time
60h Average play time
6h Main story
49h Completionist
10-61h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 202 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Into the Breach is a tactical role playing game with science fiction theme. Common tags for Into the Breach include turn-based, indie, trading, roguelite, pixel graphics and others.

Into the Breach is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck, iPhone and others.

The main story can be completed in around 6 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 49 hours to finish. On average players spend around 60 hours playing Into the Breach.

Into the Breach was released on February 27, 2018.

Into the Breach was developed by Subset Games.

Into the Breach has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked Into the Breach for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Into the Breach is a single player game.

Similar games include Shogun Showdown, Druidstone: The Secret of the Menhir Forest, The Last Spell, Invisible Inc., FTL: Faster Than Light and others.