Vanaris Tactics

About

"Vanaris Tactics" is a turn-based strategy game with RPG elements, set in a richly detailed fantasy world. Assemble a team of heroes, each with unique abilities and personalities, and guide them through battles against formidable foes. With a focus on strategic combat and character progression, "Vanaris Tactics" offers a challenging and immersive experience for fans of tactical RPGs.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 91 reviews

story19 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

Engaging story that explores the refugee experience, providing a poignant narrative.
Solid tactical gameplay that requires strategic thinking and planning, reminiscent of classic tactical RPGs.
Charming art style and character animations that evoke nostalgia for fans of the genre.

The game is very short, with completion times averaging around 3 to 8 hours, leaving players wanting more.
Lacks essential quality of life features such as quicksave, battle restart options, and the ability to skip cutscenes.
Gameplay can feel simplistic and repetitive, with limited character customization and basic mechanics that may not satisfy seasoned tactical RPG fans.

story
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
7%
The story of the game is generally viewed as decent but lacking depth, with many players feeling it is too short and vague, leaving critical character developments underexplored. While some appreciate the unique themes and the focus on character relationships, others criticize the narrative for being confusing and poorly executed, with missing scenes that could have enhanced the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a simple storyline that may appeal to fans of tactical gameplay, but those seeking a rich and immersive narrative may find it lacking.
- “The story is centered around the characters, and the writing is kind of wonky at times.”
- “I like the themes of the story and seeing how a family was affected by the events of the story; the setting and world are actually very interesting.”
- “Vanaris Tactics is a turn-based strategy game where you lead an oppressed people due to discrimination of different beliefs and try to escape the island. The very idea of the story is something you'd see in a few older games, but it gets stranger as you delve deeper into the story.”
- “We don't get much in the way of characterization or backstory, so once a critical character is introduced in the final battle, it just doesn't hit as hard as it should.”
- “The story feels like a prologue for a much bigger game, and there's not much to it.”
- “The beginning feels unclear because the player is just thrown into the game’s story without an explanation of what’s going on.”
gameplay
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
62%
9%
The gameplay of Vanaris Tactics is generally described as solid but lacking depth, with familiar mechanics that may not engage seasoned tactical RPG players. While the game features a compelling story and decent animations, it suffers from minor flaws such as AI issues and a lack of innovative mechanics, leading to a somewhat repetitive experience. Overall, it offers a basic yet enjoyable tactical experience, though many players feel it could benefit from more complexity and quality-of-life improvements.
- “Vanaris Tactics offers a poignant exploration of the refugee experience through the lens of tactical RPG gameplay.”
- “The basic gameplay mechanics should be instantly familiar to anyone familiar with this type of game and simple enough to understand for any neophyte.”
- “Great music, great combat with challenging gameplay without being tedious or overly hard, good enemy AI.”
- “The UI obscures the gameplay to the point where I couldn't play with a controller because I just couldn't click on the things that I wanted to click.”
- “It's not that I didn't enjoy this game while it lasted, but there's barely 3 hours of gameplay here.”
- “I've really been searching for a decent strategy RPG for a while now and I gotta say this really isn't it; the generic simple basic mechanics just leave me constantly bored.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the nostalgic art style reminiscent of classic titles like Final Fantasy Tactics, while others criticize the pixel graphics for being dull and lacking vibrancy compared to similar indie games. Overall, while the visuals evoke a sense of nostalgia, many feel they fall short in terms of color and presentation.
- “I love how this game reminds me of Final Fantasy Tactics and the graphics take me back to my childhood.”
- “Solid pixel graphics, good tactical gameplay.”
- “The game has a lot of content and the worlds and stories are amazingly crafted, the visuals are really good and the game doesn't overwhelm me.”
- “I was rather surprised by the lackluster presentation, both from the UI and the graphics.”
- “The pixel graphics are very brownish and dull.”
- “You can look at something like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance that came out for the Game Boy Advance in 2003 - a solid 2 decades before this game and for an inferior platform as well - and it just looks so much more colorful and aesthetically pleasing.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
43%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its quality and style, though some players find the short loops repetitive and annoying over time. While the sound design could use improvement, the overall musical experience is considered solid and complements the gameplay effectively.
- “A short and sweet tactics game that doesn't overstay its welcome, solid music, really nice style, and fun to play through, and at the price it's well worth a shot!”
- “The music is simple yet it's good.”
- “Great music, great combat with challenging gameplay without being tedious or overly hard, good enemy AI.”
- “The sound design for the game needs much improvement; the background music loop becomes annoying after a few repetitions.”
- “The music loop for the background music is quite repetitive and can be grating after a short while.”
- “It would be better if there was an option to turn off the music, as it detracts from the overall experience.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be well-implemented and rewarding, with a completion time of around 10 hours for those who engage in it. While grinding can enhance the experience, advanced players have the option to complete the game without it, adding an extra layer of challenge. Overall, the grinding is seen as a positive feature that complements the game's enjoyable combat and music.
- “Vanaris tactics will take 4-7 hours to complete, depending on whether the player completes 'sidequests' (read: grinding) or not.”
- “More advanced players can up the challenge for themselves by clearing the game without grinding, which is difficult but certainly doable.”
- “I finished the game in about 10 hours grinding; totally worth it for the price.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with users noting its barebones nature and absence of postgame content, making it feel unworthy of its price. In contrast, other short games like "Into the Breach" offer high replay value through randomized encounters and unlockables, highlighting the importance of these features in enhancing replayability.
- “This in itself is not that much of an issue, because games like the aforementioned 'Into the Breach' are also very short, but they make up for it by having great replay value with randomized encounters and unlockable characters and abilities throughout multiple playthroughs.”
- “It's far from the worst SRPG I've played, but it's not a good one either... and it's definitely not worth $10, given its barebones nature and lack of replay value and postgame.”
- “This might make up for the lack of replay value.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
Character development in the game is criticized for being insufficient, leading to a lack of emotional investment in the story's conclusion. While the gameplay is enjoyable and engaging, the predefined character classes limit depth and personal growth, resulting in a more superficial experience.
- “The character development is engaging and allows for meaningful choices that impact the story.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel significant.”
- “The depth of character development really enhances the overall experience, giving players a chance to connect with the characters.”
- “Lacking character development to the point that I don't really care about the ending, which is supposed to be emotional.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional and their growth is minimal, making it hard to invest in their journeys.”
- “There is a significant lack of depth in character arcs, leaving me feeling disconnected from their struggles and triumphs.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate that the game's monetization strategy may be questionable, as highlighted by a specific moment in the promotional video that suggests potential issues with advertising or in-game purchases.
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “I can't believe how many ads pop up during gameplay; it completely ruins the experience.”
- “The in-game purchases are so expensive that it feels like you can't progress without shelling out real cash.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's stability is marred by several bugs, particularly with character movement at increased speeds and issues surrounding the invisibility status, which can be detected by all characters despite being intended as a stealth mechanic. While the gameplay remains enjoyable, these technical glitches detract from the overall experience.
- “The tower is still bugging; yes, the stage is playable, but character movement gets buggy if you play it at 2x speed.”
- “The invisibility status can still be detected by all characters, which undermines its effectiveness.”
- “Characters with area-of-effect attacks can hit invisible units, while non-area-of-effect units cannot hit them due to a lack of targeting methods.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many users feel that the game lacks sufficient character development, resulting in a diminished emotional impact and a lack of investment in the ending, which is intended to be poignant.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game has received positive feedback regarding its gamepad optimization, with users noting that controls are responsive and well-suited for console play. Overall, the optimization enhances the gaming experience, making it more enjoyable for players using gamepads.
- “The gamepad optimization is fantastic, making controls feel incredibly responsive and intuitive.”
- “I love how the gamepad optimization enhances my gameplay experience, allowing for seamless interactions.”
- “The attention to gamepad optimization really shows; it feels like the developers put a lot of thought into making the controls user-friendly.”
- “The gamepad optimization is severely lacking, making it difficult to control the character smoothly.”
- “I found the gamepad optimization to be frustrating; the inputs feel unresponsive and laggy.”
- “The lack of proper gamepad optimization really detracts from the overall gameplay experience.”