Ironclad Tactics

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

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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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 176 reviews

story26 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of real-time and turn-based mechanics, making it engaging and fast-paced.
The artwork and storytelling through comic strips are well-executed, adding charm to the overall experience.
There is a good amount of content available, including expansions and challenges, providing plenty of replayability.

The game can feel overly reliant on RNG, leading to frustrating moments where victory seems dependent on luck rather than strategy.
The real-time aspect can be stressful, as players have limited time to make decisions, which may detract from the strategic depth.
The initial campaign is relatively short, and some players may find the multiplayer community lacking, making it hard to engage with that aspect of the game.

story
102 mentions
25 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The game's story is presented through visually appealing comic strips, which many players find charming and well-crafted, although some criticize it for being mediocre and lacking depth. While the narrative adds a unique flavor to the gameplay, it often feels overshadowed by the game's mechanics and the randomness of card draws, leading to frustration during missions. Overall, the story serves its purpose but could benefit from more development and coherence, especially in character arcs and mission briefings.
- “The story is charming and well thought out.”
- “The story is fantastic, and neat as it's told in a comic book style.”
- “The campaign is beautifully illustrated and offers all sorts of diverse missions, and even includes boss fights.”
- “While this is an alright game, it's pretty standard and the storyline could use some work.”
- “The plot and characters are nothing but annoyances and the mechanics aren't balanced.”
- “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
51 mentions
43 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Ironclad Tactics is a blend of turn-based strategy and collectible card mechanics, offering a unique and visually appealing experience. While many players appreciate the tactical depth and deck-building elements, some criticize the timer that limits strategic thinking and the randomness of card draws, which can lead to frustration. Overall, the game is praised for its solid mechanics and engaging challenges, though opinions vary on the balance and execution of its gameplay systems.
- “This game was simply put a very solid game - solid mechanics, solid story, solid graphics.”
- “The card game is part of its mechanic and it is done surprisingly - exceptionally well.”
- “For fans of strategic collectible card games, Ironclad Tactics will provide hours of entertainment and offers the ability to go deep into its deck-building mechanics.”
- “Having slot machine mechanics and calling it tactics is just not my idea of fun.”
- “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 feels very random with who wins each fight based on what cards they get at the start.”
graphics
24 mentions
79 % positive mentions
8 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and appealing comic book style, effectively creating a coherent steampunk atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the well-drawn visuals and solid artwork, which enhance the storytelling and overall experience, despite some noting that the graphics are not groundbreaking. Overall, the art style contributes positively to the game's charm and engagement.
- “The story is told via well-drawn comic strips, and the steampunk graphics look great.”
- “Pretty fun game, and the art style is great.”
- “Fun comic-style graphics illustrate a neat little story.”
- “Poor graphics, easy to learn but tactic options are extremely limited; ideal for kids.”
- “First impressions: graphical style is solid, albeit not amazing, but good.”
- “The visuals of the game are quite striking, the campaign keeps you interested with the game, and the mechanics are also praiseworthy.”
music
9 mentions
67 % positive mentions
11 % neutral mentions
22 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising the vibrant and fitting orchestral soundtrack by Evan le ny, which enhances the overall experience. While some feel the music does not stand out significantly, it is described as solid and enjoyable, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, with some players expressing a desire to purchase it.
- “Evan le ny returns to do the soundtrack, which once again fits the style well.”
- “An interesting mix of cards and tactics with fantastic music to boot.”
- “Also the music is top notch to the point where I want to buy the soundtrack to this game.”
- “- The music is fitting enough, but does not really stand out.”
- “Evan Le Ny returns to do the soundtrack, which once again fits the style well.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, often feeling more like a visual novel than an interactive experience. The slow-paced tutorials and repetitive challenges detract from the enjoyment, leading to a sense of boredom rather than skill development. While the gameplay has potential, it ultimately devolves into a frustrating waiting game reliant on luck.
- “It's more 'visual novel' than gameplay; what little gameplay there is feels quite boring and tedious.”
- “I got bored during the very slow, tedious tutorial...”
- “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.”
replayability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is highlighted by the opportunity to build unique decks and explore various synergies, though some players feel constrained by the game's pacing. While it offers engaging challenges and is polished, opinions vary on its overall replay value, with some finding it lacking and others enjoying its depth.
- “Extremely polished with excellent replay value!”
- “Very engaging and fun; lots of challenges so plenty of 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.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game features a captivating steampunk atmosphere enhanced by impressive graphics and engaging comic-book style cut scenes. While the story and quirky automaton customization add to the charm, some players find the gameplay mechanics to be slow and clunky at times. Overall, the atmosphere is described as fun and immersive, with a unique blend of humor and creativity.
- “The very nice graphics create a coherent steampunk atmosphere.”
- “The between scenario comic-book style cut scenes add to the fun atmosphere.”
- “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
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of monetization, featuring no microtransactions and allowing players to unlock cards solely through gameplay, which enhances the overall experience.
- “It's a solid CCG, and with not even a hint of monetization, that's fantastic as well.”
- “No microtransactions!!!”
- “There are no microtransactions, and cards are only unlocked by playing the game.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game features a unique blend of humor through its comic strip cutscenes and whimsical gameplay elements, such as comically proportioned coal-powered automatons equipped with quirky items. Players often find themselves in hilarious situations due to miscommunication during cooperative play, adding to the overall lighthearted experience. The combination of strategic gameplay and humorous mishaps creates an entertaining atmosphere that enhances the game's charm.
- “This game is very unique, starting off with nice comic strip funny cutscenes, and has gameplay that's a mix of TCG and real-time four-row card play!”
- “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.”
- “Additionally, the story can be played in online co-op as the players fight together and have to coordinate their strategy. Good communication seems pretty much required to succeed without making stupid mistakes - well, these mistakes still happen on voice communication and can be hilarious, such as when one player decides to give a speed boost to a unit from the second player who decided that it should strategically hold position.”
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game features a deep and heartwarming story that resonates emotionally with players, creating a reflective and touching experience.
- “The story is fairly deep and quite heartwarming.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me.”
- “I felt a strong connection to the narrative, which left me reflecting on my own experiences.”