Tactical Nexus

About

"Tactical Nexus" is a strategy game that offers a simple and easy-to-learn system, allowing for endless fun for some players. The game has strict policies against modifications and derivative works, but encourages the creation and sale of imitations based on its core "NexusSystem." Despite its high price, the game plans to offer an 80% discount starting in 2027. Please try the free demo version before purchasing to ensure compatibility.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 95 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Tactical Nexus offers deep, engaging puzzle gameplay with a unique resource management system that encourages strategic thinking and replayability.
The game features a supportive community and a helpful Discord server where players can share tips and strategies, enhancing the overall experience.
Despite its dated graphics and complex mechanics, the game provides a rewarding experience for those who enjoy optimization puzzles, with hundreds of hours of content available.

The pricing model is controversial, with concerns about the escalating costs of the game and its DLCs, which may deter potential players.
The graphics and audio quality are often described as amateurish, which can be off-putting for some players.
The game can be extremely challenging, with a steep learning curve that may frustrate newcomers who are not familiar with the genre.

gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
77%
10%
The gameplay is praised for its depth and engaging mechanics, offering a simple learning curve that evolves into a challenging experience, making it both satisfying and addictive. Players appreciate the variety of unique mechanics across different towers, which enhance replayability and strategic depth, while the absence of randomness allows for focused problem-solving. Overall, the game is considered a standout in puzzle-solving and resource management, despite its basic graphics and translation issues.
- “It has depth, simple to learn but hard to master gameplay, and really satisfying and addicting sound design.”
- “The gameplay itself is some of the finest puzzle-solving on Steam, and I can't get enough of it.”
- “With high depth, replayability, and very engaging gameplay, it's more than worth it as long as you can get past the basic graphics and poor translations.”
- “The experience of playing Tactical Nexus is like a cross between an RPG and Sudoku; the structure of the game has you defeating enemies and gaining levels, but the basic mechanics are simple and predictable, leaving the player to focus on larger-scale questions such as whether defeating a powerful enemy is worth the HP loss or which keys to prioritize saving.”
- “As you work through the towers, the game layers more and more mechanics to deal with, sometimes leaving one out, but generally making things a little more complicated.”
- “Chapter 5 mostly adds new iterations on the above and a certain viciousness to dungeon design earlier towers lacked - it's still worth getting and fun, but just sharper iterations on existing mechanics, at least if you're playing the current version of the game.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players finding them off-putting and reminiscent of low-quality 2003 freeware titles. However, some appreciate the unique 16-bit style and sprite work, noting that while the visuals may be challenging at first, they ultimately serve the gameplay well. Overall, the graphics are seen as a barrier for some, but not enough to overshadow the game's engaging mechanics and depth.
- “Absolutely fantastic game despite the graphics; every tower has a very unique style, usually involving multiple intertwined mechanics.”
- “I know the graphics can be a bit off-putting, especially in screenshots, but once you figure them out, they are clear and useful.”
- “Graphically speaking, it's a bit hard on the eyes in some areas, but the sprite work is pretty dang good.”
- “It really pains me to leave a negative review on this game, because truth be told while it is niche, it is a great game, if you can get past the bad graphics.”
- “The graphics turn off some people, and take time to learn to read clearly.”
- “The visual aesthetic is '90s freeware trash'.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The game offers substantial replayability due to evolving gameplay mechanics introduced in later chapters, such as magic and legacies, which enhance earlier levels. Players appreciate the absence of RNG, the intricate level designs, and the strategic depth provided by the nexus meta-game system, which encourages revisiting levels for optimization and rewards. Overall, the combination of varied approaches, engaging gameplay, and potential for future content ensures a high replay value.
- “As an additional note, the gameplay experience significantly evolves starting with chapter 6, with the introduction of new systems like magic, legacies, and mystic gates, which add substantial replayability to earlier chapters with new tools and powers.”
- “This isn't just 'replayable', it's 'replay required'.”
- “As a result, the replayability is quite high and would likely increase even more as more chapters are added, as the additional rewards you can get in those will push you to revisit earlier levels to optimize them further.”
- “The replayability introduced with the nexus system and the focus on hitting general score thresholds instead of a high score or final hurdle are what really make tactical nexus shine.”
optimization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The game is highly regarded for its optimization mechanics, presenting a blend of puzzle-solving and RPG elements that challenge players to navigate complex routes and resource management for high scores. Players appreciate the balance between intricate optimization and the ability to progress without being overly punitive, allowing for both strategic planning and a more relaxed approach to gameplay. Overall, it offers a deeply satisfying experience for those who enjoy tackling optimization puzzles within a richly designed environment.
- “This game is a set of optimization puzzles in the guise of an RPG.”
- “It's an optimization puzzle, ultimately, but still rewards you for going through a couple of times to see it all, which I find fantastic.”
- “A deeply satisfying optimization puzzle RPG with insane scope.”
- “The baseline play is a simple optimization problem - route through the power-ups and modifiers to gain as high of a score as you can - and survive the level at all, for that matter - but new content adds novel complexity as well as merely increased complexity.”
- “It's very similar to Desktop Dungeon, but instead of single, randomly generated screens, each of the game's towers are elaborate multistory deathtraps that demand careful planning and lots of small optimizations to survive.”
- “Instead of agonizing over each minor optimization, your general strategy is the big determining factor in earning a new medal, and being able to be a little sloppy and still get the job done takes the strain out of reattempting a tower over and over.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The music in the game is generally considered amateurish and repetitive, often compared to low-quality tracks from early 2000s freeware games. While some players find it serviceable enough to play without noticing, others describe it as grating and reminiscent of MIDI format, making it more suitable for multitasking when turned off. Overall, the audio experience is seen as a weak point in an otherwise complex puzzle RPG.
- “It's a game where I can play for hours without even noticing the music is off.”
- “The game looks juvenile and the music is amateurish, but underneath all the crudeness is a wonderfully complex puzzle RPG.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes to this music long enough to realize that I was going to be okay.”
- “The music and graphics are serviceable in most cases, but they are every bit as grating as something from a 2003 freeware flash game.”
- “It looks like a DOS-era shareware nightmare and the music started grating after less than ten seconds.”
- “Audio-wise, I swear the music is mostly MIDI format and not many of the tracks have long loops, but judge that how you will.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that grinding in the game can lead to thousands of hours of playtime, often through repetitive tasks like multiplayer matches or loot collection. While the grinding aspect is integral to the experience, it is generally not perceived as tedious, especially for fans of similar tactical games. Overall, the grinding is seen as a familiar and acceptable part of the genre.
- “Expect to get thousands of hours worth of playtime doing different things, and I can't stress this enough, since you can get thousands of hours in any game just repeating the same multiplayer match or grinding some loot.”
- “If you enjoy games like Tower of the Sorcerer or DROD RPG, you'll feel right at home with Tactical Nexus, and with the most by-the-book formula of this genre of games, it feels considerably less of a cop-out when you come grinding to a halt.”
- “Though the complexity ramps up, nothing makes the game outright tedious.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game features minimal storytelling, with users noting a lack of narrative depth. Instead, it focuses on gameplay mechanics reminiscent of desktop dungeon, emphasizing strategic planning and optimization within its challenging tower environments. The overarching theme suggests resilience in the face of adversity, though this is not central to the gameplay experience.
- “It has very little in the way of story.”
- “There's no story here to speak of.”
- “Moral of the story, you never know what life holds in store for you, and if I would have given up when all the odds were stacked against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization model in Tactical Nexus is criticized for being highly aggressive, with prices increasing by $3 every two months, which users find off-putting. Additionally, the poor quality of machine-translated text adds to the negative experience, making the game's marketing feel almost comical.
- “Tactical Nexus has one of the most aggressive monetization models I've ever seen (the price rises by $3 every two months) and the machine-translated text is terrible, almost to the point of parody (ranging from things like 'stat increases' to the threat 'strongers are waiting!').”
- “I bet you have seen a lot of those fake mobile game ads where a guy with a number on his head fights a bunch of other head-numbered guys to gain their number and fight more guys.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, indicating a willingness to sacrifice real-world experiences for in-game rewards, highlighting the depth of their engagement and commitment.
- “The emotional depth of the story left me in tears; I felt every character's pain and joy.”
- “This game made me reflect on my own life experiences, connecting deeply with the characters' struggles.”
- “I was completely immersed in the narrative; it tugged at my heartstrings and made me feel a range of emotions.”