Tales & Tactics

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 712 reviews
  • gameplay
  • replayability
  • graphics
Tales & Tactics Game Cover
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"Tales & Tactics" is a single-player roguelike strategy game with squad-based autobattler elements, offering a relaxed pace for players to learn the mechanics and strategize. The game features a complex unlock system that allows for depth and challenge at one's own pace, and follows the story of a hero on their journey to victory in the Grand Tournament.

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Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 712 reviews
gameplay54 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • Engaging gameplay that combines elements of autobattlers and roguelikes, providing a unique experience.
  • High replayability with a variety of units, traits, and strategies to explore.
  • The game allows for a relaxed pace, enabling players to take their time with decisions without the pressure of PvP.
  • Some balance issues exist, with certain traits and units feeling overpowered or underwhelming.
  • The UI can be clunky and overwhelming, making it difficult to navigate at times.
  • The game may feel repetitive after a few runs due to limited enemy variety and predictable outcomes.
  • gameplay146 mentions

    The gameplay of "Tales & Tactics" is characterized by its engaging and addictive auto-battler mechanics, which blend strategic depth with roguelike elements, allowing for a variety of unit combinations and playstyles. While the core gameplay loop is intuitive and accessible, some players note that it can become repetitive after unlocking all features, and the reliance on RNG may detract from the overall experience. Despite minor complaints regarding UI and balance, the game offers a solid foundation for both casual and dedicated players, promising hours of replayability and enjoyment.

    • “The myriad combinations and strategies available ensure that every single run feels like a unique adventure, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
    • “With its engaging gameplay, rich content, and replayability, it stands out as a top choice for fans of both single-player and multiplayer auto-battlers.”
    • “The gameplay is sweet, the combos are incredibly fun, and the world and GM dialogue is quite charming.”
    • “On the downside, after unlocking all the gameplay features, the events can start to feel a bit repetitive.”
    • “What this results in is a lack of engagement with what is ostensibly the primary gameplay of an autobattler.”
    • “After you unlock the mechanics and challenges, ironically the game gets easier.”
  • replayability41 mentions

    Overall, "Tales & Tactics" is praised for its exceptional replayability, driven by a rich selection of characters, diverse gameplay mechanics, and both single-player and asynchronous multiplayer modes. Players appreciate the depth of strategies and customization options, which contribute to a highly engaging experience that can provide hundreds of hours of entertainment. However, some users note that replayability may diminish after a certain point due to limited unit selection and a desire for more variability in encounters.

    • “Overall, Tales & Tactics offers tons of content, customization options, and replayability.”
    • “With its engaging gameplay, rich content, and replayability, it stands out as a top choice for fans of both single-player and multiplayer auto-battlers.”
    • “The fact that the game has tons of replayability makes it a gem!”
    • “There's a ton there to experiment with and learn to master right now, but it loses replayability after about 12 or so hours due to limited unit selection.”
    • “I will say the gameplay loop isn't much longer than 5-15 hours, so beware if you care about replayability.”
    • “It does lack long-term replayability right now.”
  • graphics40 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them functional but lacking polish, while others appreciate the cute and charming art style. Critiques often mention the use of common assets, minor graphical issues, and a confusing UI that detracts from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, many agree that the visuals serve their purpose and do not overshadow the enjoyable gameplay and content.

    • “The gameplay and the visuals are quite pleasing, and the devs seem to really care about the game (which is always a plus).”
    • “The art style is charming, the characters are cute and endearing, and the gameplay is very fun!”
    • “The aesthetics and looks of this game are pretty on point for a cool fantasy game.”
    • “The graphic design part of the game in general isn’t great, with a lot of tiny icons and menus that are always popping up and need to be closed and a lot of dense information that requires mousing over to see what it does.”
    • “Confusing chaos can be fun but a few bad design decisions would have made the game almost unplayable with how muddy the visuals are.”
    • “The art style takes some getting used to and likely will not appeal to as broad an audience as the other major PvP auto-battlers.”
  • story27 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the depth and character backstories that enhance the gameplay experience, while others find it lacking and overly simplistic. Many enjoy the roguelike elements and the ability to make choices that affect outcomes, but some criticize the overall narrative as thin and not engaging enough to sustain interest. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a charming addition that complements the gameplay, though opinions vary on its effectiveness and depth.

    • “The story is really engrossing, there are no typos, and each character has their own major backstory, and each interaction has a full set of dialogue, along with rivals and friends that you make during each run.”
    • “The depth of gameplay is great, it's accessible for newer players, and the learning curve is shorter than most other autobattlers, because the storytelling aspect frames everything so well.”
    • “Wonderful unit combinations, plus fun storytelling, this is a good time.”
    • “The art is terrible and so is the story.”
    • “I did enjoy the little vignettes provided for NPCs, though calling that a 'story' is a bit of a stretch.”
    • “The characters feel like quirky D&D characters that don't translate well to the general player base; the tactics are always the same, and the story is a bit of a nothing burger without much boss or enemy variation between games.”
  • optimization17 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, including frame rate drops and stuttering, even on high-end systems. While some early access problems have been addressed, users still report clunky UI and inconsistent functionality, suggesting that further improvements are needed for a smoother experience. Despite these challenges, players appreciate the game's concept and variety, indicating potential for future enhancements.

    • “Would love to see more visual clarity and performance improvements.”
    • “At the beginning of early access, the game had some performance problems (with some GPU), but these have long since been fixed.”
    • “One or two performance issues but nothing that makes the game unplayable, and definitely tolerable for an early access title.”
    • “The idea is amazing, but the UI is pretty clunky and the optimization is quite bad.”
    • “Regarding performance, I have had trouble running the game mirrored between two screens set to 2560x1440 with a mix of low (AA/shadow) and high settings, on a rig running Windows 10 Home with a Ryzen 5650/GPU 3070, which should be able to handle a stable 60 FPS but has seen dips as low as single-digit frames in busy Act 3 fights.”
    • “I can't recommend Tales & Tactics because it's an unbalanced mess. It's a restart game over and over again simulator if you get even slightly bad RNG on starting items and/or early Act 1 choices; otherwise, you won't be winning any games at the higher difficulties. There are also too many performance problems when playing (my PC has a SN850X SSD, 13700KF, and 3070 Ti just for some basic information about it), which is far above what the system specs require, but I constantly get stuttering, mini freezes, and huge 144 to 20 FPS drops during/after battles, and the devs have shown they don't care about the game anymore.”
  • music11 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it grating and distracting, leading them to mute it or play their own background music. Conversely, others appreciate the soundtrack for its immersive quality and the care put into it, though many agree that it suffers from repetitive looping and could benefit from an overhaul. Overall, while some enjoy the music, a significant portion of the player base finds it mediocre or annoying.

    • “The music is fantastic, adding an immersive layer to the experience that enhances every battle and exploration.”
    • “It’s clear that a lot of care went into the soundtrack, making it a standout feature of the game.”
    • “The music is serviceable, but it loops way too quickly.”
    • “The main music theme (when building your army) is just so bad that I had to mute the game.”
    • “The music needs an overhaul.”
    • “The music is serviceable, but it loops way too quickly.”
  • stability9 mentions

    Overall, the stability of the game is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with minimal bugs, others encounter significant performance issues, including stuttering and frame rate drops. The game's early access status has led to some forgiveness for its bugs, but concerns about balance and ongoing support from the developers persist.

    • “Runs great on the Steam Deck!”
    • “Tales & Tactics runs great, no bugs, and the gameplay is a fantastic scaffolding to be built upon.”
    • “Great job by the devs so far for a bug-free early access game as well.”
    • “Game interface does get a bit clunky and buggy, but considering the recent release of the game, I can forgive it.”
    • “I can't recommend Tales & Tactics because it's an unbalanced mess. It's a restart game over and over again simulator if you get even slightly bad RNG on starting items and/or early Act 1 choices; otherwise, you won't be winning any games at the higher difficulties. There are also too many performance problems when playing (my PC has a SN850X SSD, 13700KF, and 3070Ti just for some basic information about it), which is far above what the system specs require, but I constantly get stuttering, mini freezes, and huge 144 to 20 FPS drops during/after battles, and the devs have shown they don't care about the game anymore.”
    • “It still has a few bugs (freezes a few times), and still more content needs to be added, but overall for an early release, it's a good game.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect in "Tales & Tactics." While some appreciate the variety of items and strategies that encourage ongoing engagement, others find the grinding tedious, particularly with the fast maxing of levels and the repetitive nature of shuffling units in higher runs. Overall, the game is criticized for excessive grinding that can detract from the enjoyment, especially in a roguelike context where players feel their time is wasted.

    • “After 6 hours, all the in-game level-ups and roguelite elements are maxed. I get that some people don't like grinding, but wow, that was fast!”
    • “The grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding; it feels satisfying to see your progress and know that every effort counts.”
    • “I appreciate how the grind is balanced; it never feels tedious, and the rewards keep me motivated to keep playing.”
    • “After 6 hours, all the in-game level-ups/roguelike elements are maxed. I get that some people don't like grindy mechanics, but holy crap, that fast and it's maxed?”
    • “I just don't care to play a roguelike that wastes my time that way with 90% of the game being boring grinding.”
    • “Absolute garbage where progress is gated behind dozens of hours of grinding metaprogression.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The game is praised for its clever and charming humor, featuring witty writing and amusing naming conventions that consistently elicit laughter. Players appreciate the depth of humor intertwined with gameplay elements, enhancing the overall experience and replayability.

    • “There's depth of play, replayability, humor, charm, and apparently multiplayer that I haven't even touched 50 hours in.”
    • “A great roguelike auto-battler with that Yogs sense of humor.”
    • “I found the writing to be very funny.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a charming and cozy ambiance that evokes classic fantasy elements, enhanced by engaging melodies and rhythms. Players appreciate the satisfying blend of art and gameplay, which creates an enjoyable experience reminiscent of classic party-building and auto-battler mechanics, all while allowing for customizable difficulty. Overall, the atmosphere is immersive and inviting, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The melodies and rhythms perfectly match the game's atmosphere, creating an engaging and enjoyable audio experience that keeps you hooked.”
    • “Team 9 created something special here, with elements of classic D&D encounters, TFT without a solved meta, constantly evolving gameplay that can be customized to your difficulty preferences, and a charming and cozy atmosphere that feels like sitting down for a classic fantasy party builder, with the enjoyable auto chess style that is adapted perfectly for solo play.”
    • “The art, atmosphere, and little rogue-lite auto battler adventures are satisfying and engaging without being overwhelming.”
    • “The art, atmosphere, and little rogue-lite auto battler adventures are satisfying and engaging without being overwhelming.”
    • “Team 9 created something special here, with elements of classic D&D encounters, TFT without a solved meta, constantly evolving gameplay that can be customized to your difficulty preferences, and a charming and cozy atmosphere that feels like sitting down for a classic fantasy party builder.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Users highlight the emotional depth of the game, noting its ability to evoke strong feelings, particularly through its wholesome community, which contrasts with moments of heartbreak within the narrative.

    • “That's the heartbreaking part.”
    • “And the most wholesome Discord community!”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for its lack of polish and depth, with users noting poor voice acting and repetitive narration. However, some players appreciate the fun character designs, suggesting a mixed reception overall.

    • “The UI is lacking some major polish, the sound is lackluster, the narrator is just some guy and has no variation in his lines, and the character design is just horrible.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization model of "Tales & Tactics" is viewed positively, as it allows players to enjoy the auto-battler genre in a single-player format without the typical pay-to-win pitfalls associated with many multiplayer games. This approach has garnered appreciation from users who typically dislike monetization practices in similar games.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

18hMedian play time
35hAverage play time
8-60hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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