Vanaris Tactics

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 74 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Vanaris Tactics Game Cover
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"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.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 74 reviews
story15 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • The art style and music are well-received, adding to the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • The gameplay mechanics are solid, providing a fun and engaging tactical experience.
  • The game serves as a good introduction to the turn-based tactics genre, making it accessible for newcomers.
  • The game is very short, with completion times averaging around 3 to 10 hours, leading to a lack of replay value.
  • There are significant quality of life issues, such as a lack of a quicksave feature, inability to skip cutscenes, and a cumbersome UI.
  • Character customization is minimal, with no job system or deep progression mechanics, making the gameplay feel simplistic and repetitive.
  • story53 mentions

    The story of the game is generally seen as underdeveloped, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth in characterization and backstory, leading to a rushed and vague narrative. While some elements are praised for their uniqueness and thematic relevance, the overall execution feels incomplete, with missing scenes and a short runtime that leaves players wanting more. Despite these criticisms, there are moments of intrigue and enjoyment, particularly at the beginning and end, suggesting potential for a more expansive narrative in future installments.

    • “Nice, neat storyline about oppression with pretty believable characters where things aren't just black and white.”
    • “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.”
    • “I felt like the story was pretty good and there was a decent twist in it as well.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay27 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players noting minor flaws such as AI issues and a lack of tactical depth, leading to a reliance on luck during battles. While the mechanics are generally simple and familiar to fans of the genre, many feel the game lacks innovation and quality-of-life features, resulting in a somewhat repetitive experience. However, some players appreciate the solid animations and nostalgic elements reminiscent of classic tactical RPGs, suggesting that it can still be enjoyable despite its shortcomings.

    • “Gameplay is simple, but fun.”
    • “Solid pixel graphics, good tactical gameplay.”
    • “Great music, great combat with challenging gameplay without being tedious or overly hard, good enemy AI.”
    • “It doesn't introduce any new mechanics in this genre; even though it's quite ugly for a pixel art game, it's challenging at first, but the fights become easier and easier as you progress.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics12 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the nostalgic art style and the solid pixel graphics, while others criticize the dull and lackluster presentation, particularly in comparison to older titles like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. While the visuals evoke a sense of nostalgia for some, many feel that the color palette is overly brownish and lacks vibrancy, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a missed opportunity to enhance the game's appeal.

    • “I love how this game reminds me of the old-school RPG tactics and the graphics that bring 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.”
  • music7 mentions

    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 contributes positively to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.

    • “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 significant improvement; the background music loop becomes annoying after just a few repetitions.”
    • “The music in the game is repetitive and lacks variety, making it difficult to enjoy the overall experience.”
    • “I found the background music to be quite grating after a short while, and I often preferred to play with the sound turned off.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be well-structured 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 worthwhile investment 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.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    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 to other short games that offer randomized encounters and unlockables to enhance replay value, this title fails to provide similar incentives for multiple playthroughs.

    • “This game has great replay value with randomized encounters and unlockable characters and abilities throughout multiple playthroughs.”
    • “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
    • “With different strategies to explore and multiple endings, I find myself replaying this game just to experience everything it has to offer.”
    • “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 development2 mentions

    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, allowing players to truly connect with their heroes as they evolve throughout the game.”
    • “I love how the characters grow and change based on the choices I make, making each playthrough feel unique.”
    • “The depth of character development adds layers to the story, making me invested in their journeys and transformations.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized, with users pointing out that it heavily relies on video advertisements, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “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; it ruins the flow of gameplay.”
    • “It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, which is frustrating for free players.”
  • stability1 mentions

    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 target them, leading to inconsistencies in gameplay.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    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.

  • optimization1 mentions

    Reviewers note that the gamepad optimization is well-executed, providing a smooth and responsive experience for players. The controls are intuitive, enhancing gameplay without any significant issues reported. Overall, the optimization for gamepad use is a strong point of the game.

    • “The gamepad optimization is fantastic, making controls feel incredibly responsive and intuitive.”
    • “I love how the game has been optimized for gamepad use; it enhances the overall gameplay experience.”
    • “The optimization for gamepad support really elevates the game, allowing for smoother and more precise movements.”
    • “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 delayed.”
    • “The lack of proper gamepad optimization really detracts from the overall gameplay experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

6hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
3-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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