Ironclad Tactics

A clever reworking of the card-based strategy game formula, which could stand to be just a little more rewarding.

69%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

replayability, grinding

70% User Score Based on 415 reviews

Critic Score 65%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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Ironclad Tactics is a single player and multiplayer tactical turn-based strategy game with fantasy, warfare and historical themes. It was developed by Zachtronics and was released on September 18, 2013. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Ironclad Tactics is a card-based tactics game set during the American Civil War. Players command ironclad warships and soldiers, using cards to deploy units, execute special abilities, and give orders. The game features a single-player campaign and multiplayer modes, with a focus on strategic decision-making and fast-paced combat.

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70%

Audience ScoreBased on 415 reviews

story59 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Fun and engaging deck-building mechanics that encourage strategic thinking.
Unique steampunk setting with charming comic-style storytelling.
Fast-paced gameplay that keeps players on their toes, blending real-time and turn-based elements.

Luck plays a significant role, making outcomes feel random and frustrating at times.
Limited deck size and card options can restrict strategic diversity.
The AI can feel unbalanced, often having advantages that make certain missions feel unfair.

story
244 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
71%
5%
The game's story is presented through a comic book style, which many players find charming and visually appealing, though opinions on its depth and coherence vary. While some appreciate the campy and fun elements of the narrative, others criticize it for being disjointed and lacking character development. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop to the gameplay, with mixed reviews on its engagement and effectiveness in enhancing the overall experience.
- “The story is charming and well thought out.”
- “The story is told via well-drawn comic strips, and the steampunk graphics look great.”
- “The story is fantastic, and neat as it's told in a comic book style.”
- “One area that really harms this game's presentation is how the plot is conveyed.”
- “The plot feels like two different games that have been combined, resulting in a disjointed story.”
- “The story serves its purpose, I suppose, so it is hardly disappointing, but it is somewhat baffling that early in the story you can clearly see a sibling rivalry, only for one of the brothers to disappear, and only come back at the end of the game to do absolutely nothing.”
gameplay
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
3%
The gameplay of Ironclad Tactics is a unique blend of turn-based strategy and real-time mechanics, featuring card-based unit deployment and tactical decision-making. While many players appreciate the innovative mechanics and strategic depth, some criticize the pacing and randomness introduced by the card-drawing system, which can lead to frustrating stalemates and a lack of control. Overall, the game offers a compelling experience for fans of tactical card games, though its execution may not satisfy everyone.
- “The gameplay is addictive and the art style is appealing.”
- “The core gameplay is centered on constricting your deck of 20 cards consisting of various human and machine warriors along with weapons and perks you can apply in combat.”
- “Brilliant mix of turn-based gameplay and CCG/deckbuilding.”
- “Boring gameplay and can't skip long cutscenes.”
- “The gameplay feels very random with who wins each fight based on what cards they get at the start.”
- “The game mechanics have a lot of promise, but actually playing it is pretty tedious.”
graphics
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
28%
6%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant and unique art style, particularly the comic strip visuals and steampunk aesthetics. While some users find the graphics beautiful and well-executed, others criticize them as lackluster or poorly scalable, indicating a divide in overall visual quality. Overall, the artwork is generally appreciated for its charm and creativity, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and storytelling.
- “The story is told via well-drawn comic strips, and the steampunk graphics look great.”
- “The art style looks beautiful and fresh for an indie game.”
- “The aesthetics are great - the detail put into the cartoon-style graphics is very nice.”
- “The graphics are poor and can’t be scaled to 4K in the options menu.”
- “Good art style, great gameplay concept, but poor execution.”
- “Poor graphics, easy to learn but tactic options are extremely limited; ideal for kids.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
23%
12%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its fitting military themes and orchestral quality that enhances the atmosphere. While some players find it serviceable but not standout, others highlight it as a fantastic aspect, with a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic games. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, with some even expressing a desire to purchase it.
- “Considering the prominent theme of it is a war, the music was fitting, as the songs either leaned into the cadence of a military march or had a dour tone to it.”
- “The whole experience is then tied together with great music that had me feeling nostalgic for classic turn-based games like Final Fantasy Tactics.”
- “Also, the music is top notch to the point where I want to buy the soundtrack to this game.”
- “The music fits and is serviceable, but for me it’s one of the weakest points of the game.”
- “Music is fitting enough, but does not really stand out.”
- “Considering the prominent theme of it is a war, the music was fitting, as the songs either leaned into the cadence of a military march, or had a dour tone to it.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
Overall, the game offers significant replayability through deck-building, unique strategies, and challenges, especially with the inclusion of a new game plus mode and bundled expansions. While some players find it can be easily beaten, many appreciate the opportunities for experimentation and the engaging content that encourages multiple playthroughs. The game's design caters well to fans of collectible card and tactical games, enhancing its replay value.
- “Considering there is a new game plus mode and the expansions are now bundled with the base game, there's plenty of content and replayability here.”
- “If you enjoy collectible card games or tactical games, this is a great game to pick up and play; it has mini set deck puzzle challenges and a lot of replayability.”
- “Extremely polished with excellent replay value!”
- “I want to build cool decks with interesting synergies and test them out - that's where most of this game's replayability comes from - but the fact that I have to play at the game's pace rather than my own spoils the fun.”
- “However, it can be easily beaten and is a bit lacking in replayability.”
- “Have a fair bit of replay value as you try to get extra cards out from earlier missions.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unfulfilling, often feeling more like a chore than an engaging experience. The repetitive nature of gameplay, coupled with unbalanced levels and a lack of meaningful rewards, leads to frustration and boredom, detracting from the potential enjoyment of the game's mechanics. Overall, the grinding process is seen as a significant drawback that hampers the overall experience.
- “Clicking so many times repeatedly gets tedious, and doesn't feel worthwhile for the return you get.”
- “Single player gameplay and card unlocks are tied to a tedious story and grueling challenges that never left me feeling like I was actually learning anything about how to play.”
- “The gameplay is interesting in theory, but what starts out as a fun tactical game becomes a tedious waiting game of luck.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive steampunk setting, enhanced by impressive graphics, engaging music, and creative comic-book style cut scenes. Players appreciate the quirky elements, such as the comically designed coal-powered automatons, which contribute to the overall fun and cohesive experience. However, some reviewers noted that the gameplay mechanics can occasionally feel slow and clunky, slightly detracting from the atmosphere.
- “The game is well thought out, the graphics are nice, and the atmosphere is there.”
- “Very nice graphics create a coherent steampunk atmosphere.”
- “The music and sounds are also good and add to the atmosphere of the industrial-age setting.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, particularly in cooperative play, where miscommunication can lead to hilarious mistakes. Its charming comic strip-style cutscenes and quirky, steampunk-inspired characters add to the comedic experience, making for a uniquely entertaining gameplay atmosphere. Overall, players find the blend of humor and strategy engaging and enjoyable.
- “Extremely funny game, especially in coop.”
- “The game features lovely artwork offering charming and funny comic strip style cutscenes.”
- “I like the quasi-steampunk atmosphere and the comically proportioned coal-powered automatons that you can equip with a variety of interesting and sometimes hilarious equipment, like rifles, cannons, trumpets, and even a cat.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The game is praised for its lack of monetization, with no microtransactions present, allowing players to unlock cards solely through gameplay. This approach has been well-received, contributing to a positive overall experience.
- “It's a solid CCG, and with not even a hint of monetization, that's fantastic as well.”
- “At least it doesn't have microtransactions.”
- “There are no microtransactions and cards are only unlocked by playing the game.”
- “As a non-US citizen, I don't find this game very amusing... at least it doesn't have microtransactions.”
- “There are no microtransactions, and cards are only unlocked by playing the game.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others report issues such as frame rate drops and long loading times. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary significantly across different hardware configurations.
- “The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the performance, making it accessible for a wider range of players.”
- “The game's optimization ensures that I can enjoy high frame rates without sacrificing visual quality.”
- “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
- “The optimization is so bad that loading times are unacceptably long, even for simple tasks.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a deep and heartwarming story that resonates with players, evoking a sense of warmth and connection.
- “The story is fairly deep and quite heartwarming.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me.”
- “I found myself genuinely moved by the narrative and its themes.”

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65%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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20h Median play time

20h Average play time

20-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Ironclad Tactics is a tactical turn-based strategy game with fantasy, warfare and historical themes.

Ironclad Tactics is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 20 hours playing Ironclad Tactics.

Ironclad Tactics was released on September 18, 2013.

Ironclad Tactics was developed by Zachtronics.

Ironclad Tactics has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Ironclad Tactics is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Infested Planet, Thronefall, Warpips, Armello, Into the Breach and others.

Ironclad Tactics

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