War for the West

About

In "War for the West," become a medieval province ruler, responsible for justice, diplomacy, and military defense. Manage resources, form alliances, and maintain a strong military to suppress rebellions and protect your fief. A grimdark 485,000-word interactive novel by Lucas Zaper. Alas, diplomacy or military force, the choice is yours.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 122 reviews

story22 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game offers a rich narrative with multiple choices and high replayability, allowing players to explore different paths and endings.
Well-written characters and engaging world-building create an immersive experience that feels grounded and enjoyable.
The game combines elements of strategy and role-playing, providing a unique experience that keeps players invested in managing their realm.

The game can be frustrating due to its reliance on trial and error, with some choices leading to dead ends that require reloading or restarting.
The save system is criticized for being poorly implemented, often leaving players unable to save at crucial moments.
Some players found the character interactions and relationships lacking depth, making it difficult to connect with the story and its characters.

story
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The game's story is rich with character development, plot twists, and extensive worldbuilding, offering a grounded experience that intertwines management mechanics with narrative choices. While the writing is praised for its depth and humor, some players feel that the story's pacing is uneven, with significant plot developments occurring late in the game, leading to a sense of abruptness in the conclusion. Overall, the game provides a variety of endings and encourages replayability through its choice-driven narrative, though some players express frustration with the necessity of trial and error to fully grasp the story.
- “The writing is brilliant in terms of how it develops story and characters, and it is funny and epic.”
- “Overall, the game was fantastic, with lots of interesting plot twists that I didn't expect, and finding some early endings was always interesting.”
- “Good lore and story, and it has lots of endings.”
- “The storyline isn't worth speaking of either.”
- “Things that you can do in your castle quickly became repetitive, and since real turning points of the plot come really late in the game, playing the game for 2nd, 3rd etc. times is for the most part clicking the same buttons without bothering to read the text.”
- “What I really did not like was when I was just getting into this (96 min in game), I was suddenly and inexplicably killed and the story ended before anything had really happened... what...??”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its high replayability, attributed to its non-linear structure and numerous choices that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the engaging story and express interest in potential sequels, further indicating the game's lasting appeal.
- “Pro: less linear, a lot of choices and high replayability.”
- “Tons of replayability, good story and the possibility of a sequel sounds good to me.”
- “Good game with high replayability.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its clever writing that enhances both the story and character development, often blending epic moments with absurd situations. Players find comedic value in the unexpected and sometimes ridiculous outcomes of battles, such as being defeated in a seemingly illogical manner, which adds a layer of enjoyment to the gameplay experience.
- “The writing is brilliant in terms of how it develops story and characters, and it is funny and epic.”
- “In my third playthrough, I killed the monster with a special sword, but was hilariously wounded in the chest by an assassin with a knife despite fighting him openly with a sword. As someone who practices both sword and knife fighting, I find this situation amusingly absurd. I was saved only by my spymistress, and then I got into the battle and was killed by the first opponent.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players appreciate the gameplay for its unexpected twists and the ability to achieve surprising outcomes, such as forming significant relationships with characters that seemed unattainable. This element of surprise enhances the overall engagement and enjoyment of the game.
- “The gameplay is full of unexpected twists, and I was thrilled to 'marry' the character I wanted, something I never thought would be possible from a gameplay perspective.”
- “The gameplay offers surprising elements that keep you engaged, allowing for unique character interactions that exceed your expectations.”
- “I was pleasantly surprised by the gameplay mechanics that led to a rewarding experience, including the ability to form relationships I didn't think were possible.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game manageable, especially with the availability of helpful options and a cheat menu that alleviates the effort required to level up after dying. However, some users note that the initial lore can be overwhelming before they become accustomed to the game mechanics.
- “The grinding in this game feels excessive and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the grinding to be a major chore, taking away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- “The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and detracts from the overall experience.”