Wartales

About

Wartales is a tactical RPG set in a low-fantasy world, where you lead a group of mercenaries in a criminal-riddled land. Manage your team's needs, engage in tactical combat, and navigate a dynamic world that changes based on your decisions. Your choices will determine your fate as you try to survive and thrive in this unforgiving world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 11,749 reviews

story414 positive mentions

grinding488 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of tactical combat, resource management, and engaging storytelling that keeps players hooked.
Wartales features a beautifully crafted world with immersive dark medieval visuals and atmospheric music that enhances the sense of survival.
Character development is praised for its depth and variety, providing a satisfying sense of growth through customization and progression.

The story is often described as minimal and fragmented, lacking a cohesive overarching plot and depth in storytelling.
Many players find the gameplay repetitive and tedious, particularly due to grinding and unclear mechanics that detract from the overall experience.
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, with frequent stuttering, crashes, and performance problems that hinder enjoyment.

story
2,391 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
76%
7%
The story in "Wartales" is often described as minimal and fragmented, with each region featuring its own self-contained narrative that lacks a cohesive overarching plot. Players can engage in various quests that allow for some decision-making, but many feel that these choices have little impact on the world or the characters, leading to a sense of repetitiveness and a lack of depth in storytelling. While the game offers a rich environment and engaging gameplay mechanics, the narrative elements are seen as underdeveloped, leaving players wanting a more substantial and interconnected story experience.
- “The game offers a unique blend of tactical combat, resource management, and engaging storytelling that kept me hooked from beginning to end.”
- “The voice-over and story-lines for each region feel well thought out and engaging, and the open world format fosters a spirit of exploration and discovery.”
- “The story is there, but not crazy in depth.”
- “This game is a slow burn; you don't want to rush to end a story, you explore, do quests, invest in your characters, and evolve.”
- “The story is very fleshed out, and draws you in, and the game-play is comparable to the likes of XCOM, without the team killing.”
- “The quests are always super repetitive but at the same time they are simple enough to be able to eventually figure it out or use the Steam community.”
gameplay
1,764 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
60%
6%
The gameplay of "Wartales" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its deep mechanics, engaging turn-based combat, and immersive world-building. However, some have noted issues with repetitive gameplay, unclear mechanics, and a lack of tutorials, which can make the initial learning curve steep. While the game offers a rich variety of systems and customization options, players have expressed frustration with certain mechanics, such as the food and morale systems, which can feel punishing and detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as a solid tactical RPG with potential for improvement as it continues to evolve.
- “The gameplay is rich and layered.”
- “The game mechanics adapt to your play style and squad size based on preferences, and no battle is the same.”
- “It's a realistic-fantasy game, rooted in history, sprinkled with role-playing mechanics/progression, party management, and tabletop combat and perspective.”
- “Sad too, I'd like to support Shiro and purchase DLCs and whatnot, but with the overly frustrating gameplay bugs, I can't... nor can I recommend people purchase this game at full price until they get the bugs fixed.”
- “Gameplay lacks depth.”
- “The gameplay loop rapidly became tedious to me.”
graphics
607 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The graphics of the game have received a mixed reception, with many praising the beautiful art style, detailed environments, and atmospheric visuals that enhance immersion. However, some users noted issues such as graphical glitches, clunky animations, and a lack of variety in character designs. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered appealing and well-executed, there are concerns about optimization and consistency across different aspects of the game.
- “The game's visuals are nothing short of stunning, with vibrant colors and beautifully rendered environments that enhance the overall experience.”
- “From the moment you embark on your journey in 'Wartales,' the game impresses with its detailed and atmospheric visuals.”
- “The art style is unique and visually striking, creating a world that feels alive and enchanting.”
- “The graphics are far from groundbreaking and lackluster.”
- “I expected Battle Brothers with better graphics, but it doesn't even hold a candle to its 2D cousin.”
- “The graphics are not demanding but very well done.”
grinding
496 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
1%
98%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially in the mid to late game. Combat encounters can become lengthy and monotonous, particularly as party sizes increase, leading to a sense of frustration and a lack of meaningful progression. While some players appreciate the depth of resource management and crafting, others feel that the overall experience is marred by excessive grinding and a lack of engaging content, making it a challenging recommendation for those who dislike grind-heavy gameplay.
- “There is feeding your troops and crafting and having to rest, but they did all that in a way that isn't tedious and still maintains the feel of the game's setting.”
- “Deep but not tedious.”
- “No grinding, just pure pleasure.”
- “The game necessitates far too much grinding without offering up enough smart, interesting content to bother with.”
- “The world is beautiful but the gameplay turns into a grindy slog of high-stakes battles for little to no gain.”
- “The combat is fun, although it does get a bit tedious when you have larger groups fighting.”
music
202 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
56%
4%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric quality and thematic fit within the medieval setting. However, a common critique is the repetitiveness of the soundtrack, which can detract from the overall experience, especially during extended gameplay. While some players find the music enhances immersion and complements the game's visuals, others express a desire for more variety and additional tracks to keep the experience fresh.
- “The game's art style and music create a strong sense of immersion, capturing the hardship and ruggedness of life as a mercenary in a war-torn land.”
- “The meticulously designed landscapes, atmospheric music, and well-crafted lore create an enchanting atmosphere that draws you into its world.”
- “Great atmosphere, beautiful music, it feels quite casual but it's a very deep game and the freedom of choices throughout the progression make great replayability.”
- “The music is very repetitive and not interesting enough to keep you from noticing it.”
- “The music could be improved by, you know, adding more music, than having the same song play repeatedly throughout your campaign.”
- “The only thing that bugged me: the music is very repetitive and not interesting enough to keep you from noticing it.”
replayability
175 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
62%
6%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the variety in character builds and decision-making that allows for different playthroughs. However, some express concerns about the limited variety in maps and missions, which can lead to a repetitive experience after multiple runs. Overall, while there is significant potential for replayability through different strategies and choices, the lack of procedural generation and unique encounters may hinder long-term engagement for some players.
- “The choices you make throughout the game can have a significant impact on the story, adding replayability and depth to the overall experience.”
- “This game offers some nice replay value as you experiment with different combinations and play styles, areas to explore, and how different decisions will change the outcome of more than just a few storylines.”
- “The replayability factor is high, thanks to the multiple character classes and branching storylines that allow for different playstyles and outcomes.”
- “The content of the game is fine but not a lot of replayability since it's the same maps and pretty much the same missions.”
- “There is not much replayability after you've seen it all.”
- “The game is also lacking in replayability as the stories in each region will be the same each playthrough.”
optimization
174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
48%
43%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting frequent stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, particularly on mid-range and lower-end systems. While some improvements have been noted after patches, many users still experience significant performance issues that detract from the overall enjoyment, especially during exploration and combat. Overall, the game is seen as needing substantial optimization work to become fully playable and enjoyable.
- “Progression across different areas is fun, and it runs smoothly even on low-end hardware.”
- “In short, while Wartales has room for improvement, especially in optimization, it’s a brilliantly designed game with plenty of heart.”
- “After playing an additional 80 hours, I can confidently say that Wartales, while still suffering from some performance issues, is a game crafted with immense care and passion.”
- “The game is severely unoptimized.”
- “The stuttering and sudden, for-no-reason screen freezes are unacceptable, far too frequent, and make a genuinely enjoyable game completely unplayable.”
- “It would be a very good game if it were not completely ruined by poor performance optimization, which later on becomes unbearable.”
stability
152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with frequent reports of freezes, crashes, and various bugs that hinder gameplay. Many players experience game-breaking issues, particularly in multiplayer modes, and even minor glitches can disrupt the experience. While some users report a stable experience, the overall consensus is that the game remains a "buggy mess," requiring substantial fixes to improve its stability.
- “Runs great on the deck!”
- “The initial launch wasn't buggy, just unrefined, and now it seems like they've turned this game into something special.”
- “Outstanding game of its type, excellent game mechanics, bug free, and addictive.”
- “The game was going fine until the new DLC came out for Skelmar Invasion; now the game freezes every minute and is literally unplayable.”
- “The stuttering and sudden, for-no-reason screen freezes are unacceptable, far too frequent, and make a genuinely enjoyable game completely unplayable.”
- “Unfortunately, it's also the buggy version.”
atmosphere
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
38%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and beautifully crafted world, characterized by dark medieval visuals and a gritty, realistic aesthetic that enhances the sense of survival in a plague-ridden landscape. Players appreciate the detailed graphics, atmospheric music, and the depth of the lore, which collectively create a compelling and engaging environment. However, some reviews suggest that improvements in ambient sounds and voice acting could further enrich the experience.
- “Immersive world: the game boasts a beautifully crafted world with a distinct atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is rich with gritty realism, immersing you in a dark, plague-ridden landscape where survival isn’t guaranteed and every encounter demands thought.”
- “The meticulously designed landscapes, atmospheric music, and well-crafted lore create an enchanting atmosphere that draws you into its world.”
- “If you like a dark, convoluted atmosphere where you can't find your troops or see your enemies, this game is for you.”
- “Wartales creates a world of permanent conflict and a depressing atmosphere.”
- “I would like to rate this as a neutral, but then the fact that the game is close to being finished whilst sporting a very dry atmosphere and lackluster sound/music, pretty much means it's no longer going to improve, aside from optimization and more content, so I'll lean more on the not recommended side.”
character development
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
61%
5%
Character development in "Wartales" is generally praised for its depth and variety, offering players a satisfying sense of growth through customization and progression. However, some reviews highlight limitations in character options and a lack of meaningful narrative connections, leading to a somewhat clunky experience. Overall, while the game excels in character development and relationship-building, it could benefit from more extensive customization and clearer progression mechanics.
- “Character development: character customization and progression offer a satisfying sense of growth.”
- “Character development shines, with each member of your mercenary group offering an interesting world backstory and unique skills.”
- “Wartales' emphasis on character development and relationship-building also added to the richness of the gameplay.”
- “Not usually a story guy, but the lack of an overarching narrative and character development made it difficult to get that 'okay, so what's next' excitement.”
- “There's no real meaningful character development to make up for the non-existing story.”
- “Character development is minimal: only a few level-ups give choices that go beyond small numerical improvements, weapon choice is restricted by character class, the impact of traits is negligible and they can be randomly acquired, leading to everybody eventually having almost the same traits.”
humor
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is a mix of intentional and unintentional moments, with players finding amusement in absurd scenarios, quirky character interactions, and dark humor woven throughout the narrative. Many reviews highlight the comedic value of unexpected glitches, such as characters behaving in hilariously illogical ways or engaging in absurd actions, which contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere despite the game's serious themes. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm, making the gameplay experience both entertaining and memorable.
- “The setting is great, full of dark humor, and moments of sudden out-there fantastical horrors in the wilds among the more mundane ones.”
- “The dark humor laced in is a nice touch.”
- “It was hilarious when our friend wasn't paying attention and kept shooting us in the back with his bow and unlocked a title called cross-eyed.”
- “So rampant that it's not funny anymore; it would matter if it was a hard game, but it's not.”
- “This is simply not funny at all; I'm not enjoying my time.”
emotional
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
13%
Players experience a mix of emotional engagement in the game, with some forming strong bonds with characters and feeling a sense of journey, while others find the narrative lacking depth and emotional attachment. The gameplay fosters connections through quests and character interactions, yet limited dialogue and shallow storylines leave some feeling detached. Overall, the game elicits a range of emotional responses, from excitement and attachment to disappointment in its storytelling depth.
- “As you lead your group through various quests and challenges, you'll form a bond with your characters, adding emotional depth to the experience.”
- “Players are drawn into the game's narrative, eagerly uncovering the secrets of this fantastical world and forming emotional connections with the characters they encounter.”
- “My most heartbreaking moment was spending so much time keeping my wolf alive only to see him get surrounded by his own kin and killed in an overnight ambush.”
- “The story plots are boring and fail to evoke any real emotions.”
- “I found the emotional depth lacking; it just didn't resonate with me.”
- “The characters felt flat, making it hard to connect on an emotional level.”
monetization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" due to the high cost of DLC and the feeling that the game is incomplete or in early access. Users express frustration over the lack of meaningful content and the perception that the developers prioritize profit over delivering a polished experience. Overall, the sentiment suggests that while the game has potential, its monetization strategy undermines its value and player satisfaction.
- “No in-game purchases!”
- “I initially thought the interface sections were just meaningless clutter for implementing in-game purchases for cosmetics, but I was pleasantly surprised.”
- “It went from being a passion project to a cash grab. The combat is alright, the story is mediocre, and the progression is awful; leveling a character takes dozens of hours just to max them out.”
- “Looks good, plays well, but I can't recommend it because it's an unfinished cash grab.”
- “The game doesn't feel complete; it feels like early access. DLC and expansions are announced before the game is properly finished. It had time to sit 'finished' for a while, but it feels like a cash grab. I wish they had offered us some other option to support them if they needed more cash.”