As there have been enough threads about the huge amount of indie platformers and sidescrollers (sometimes giving the expression that's all the indie scene has to offer), here is a topic dedicated to another genre: "tactical combat" games. Definition: a
turn based game where you control a
team of characters at once in a
battlefield environment with
topdown view. Examples include final fantasy tactics, tactics ogre, fire emblem and disgaea. Games like final fantasy III, fallout and pokemon don't belong in this genre.
The genre was especially popular in Japan, but lately has been picked up by some indie developers.
Note that I'd prefer dedicating this thread to multiplayer games from this genre. While avernum, geneforce and fantasy wars are nice games, they don't really belong here as they don't have multiplayer support (as far as I know, correct me if I'm wrong).
Here's an overview (information and screenshots mostly taken from wikipedia and homepages + facts are mostly my input/conclusion after reading reviews/testing the games myself).
With team creation = TRPGsIn these game you have to make a team out of compeltely different characters (aka strategy aka build) before the combat starts. The combat itself only consists of battling with that team and no possibility to expand or modify your team anymore. The characters themselves are like those in RPG games: they represent one strong person. Like final fantasy tactics.
Dofus Arena http://www.dofus-arena.com/en/accueilDofus Arena is a free turn-based strategic online game and is the second game of Ankama Games. It is a PvP (Player versus player) game based on the story of Dofus. Dofus Arena incarnates the essence of DOFUS's gameplay, featuring increasingly difficult tactical fights. As a coach, each player creates and manages his own unique team of characters, enabling him to face opponents of all kinds, in different elements.
Most important facts:
- 100% free. However, if the gold version turns out to be succesful enough, they may allow people to buy coach clothing with real money or add avertisements. It's noteworthy though that the lead developper said that the core functions (litteraly: "all what you can do now") will stay free and that people who pay/have money will never have an advantage in combat (or in team creation) above people that don't pay.
- For windows, linux and mac.
- 12 class with each 10 spells and tons of equipment. (note: characters are defined by their spells, the class only decides which spell can be equiped)
- Unlike it's sister game Dofus, it's
not a MMORPG.
- No grinding at all.
- Biggest criticism is the learning curve.
- My favorite.
edit: the official site has problems every once and a while (the actual server for the game works fine though).
Here is an alternate download page.
Additionally, I should mention Dofus separatedly here. It doesn't involve controlling a team, but the combat itself does resemble the gameplay of the other games listed here. It's a MMORPG (open environment) and involves team work.
Zatikon http://www.zatikon.com/Zatikon is a free turn based multiplayer tactics game featuring over 30 unique units with over 80 additional units available in add-on packs. Build your army and defeat your opponent. Zatikon includes online player ranking and several extra game types including co-op, single player and random army mode.
Most important facts:
- While the base game is free, the expansion packs aren't. As those expansion packs unlock more units/tactics they give a paying player an advantage in game.
- For windows, linux and mac.
- 30 units with free part, 80 unlockable (20$ to unlock all)
- You have to unlock your units with gold you win in matches. Ie. there's grinding (playing more gives you a bonus) necessary. However, note that 1000 gold is the max limit for a team.
- PvE possible.
- Biggest criticism is balancing: not all units are possible and teams decide a match alone
Poxnora http://poxnora.com/index.doPoxNora: Battlefield of the Immortals is a multiplayer online game that combines a collectible card game with a turn-based strategy game in a fantasy setting. PoxNora was originally launched via Java Web Start through a browser and can be played on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. The game is free to play with "Sample Battlegroups" and players can purchase additional game pieces, called "runes", and build their own strategies.
Most important facts:
- Like Zatikon, the base game is free but you have to pay to have all options for team creation. Not paying results in a disadvantage.
- There are 500 runes atm, you can use up to 30 runes in a team. Getting all runes costs 125$.
- For windows, linux and mac.
- Biggest criticism is costprice.
Laser Squad Nemesis http://www.lasersquadnemesis.com/Laser Squad Nemesis is a game of turn-based isometric combat, where players issue orders to a squad of soldiers or aliens.
Each turn, the player gives orders to their troops, previews probable effects of those orders, and submits them to the LSN server via the web interface, or through email. Orders are resolved simultaneously after both players have submitted their orders, and the consequences of the round are sent back to both players. The result of the previous turn is viewed in a real time ten-second video, with pause, slow motion and rewind (multiple turns) options.
Most important facts:
- Costprice: 17$ for 1 month online play, 50$ for 1 year online play.
- Only for Windows.
- 4 races with each several units.
- Quite old game (compared to others): released in 2002, last patch in 2006.
- Biggest criticism is blunt graphics/audio (
review).
Tactics Arena Online http://www.tacticsarena.com/Tactics Arena Online is a turn-based strategy game with many different animated fighter and spell-caster units to build your own team from. The game does not require an installation and can be played from any computer with an internet connection and a web browser that supports Flash.
Most important facts:
- Costprice is 5$ each month for gold version. If you don't pay, you can only use a small amount of units and can't rely on sveral features.
- Browser based.
- 19 units separated in 3 races.
- You have to win units by playing (grinding).
- It isn't updated anymore in 3 years.
- Biggest criticism is the lobby interface and lack of social features (
review).
Modern Tactics Online 3http://www.throwtheproject.com/projects/mt3/The third in the series of Modern Tactics games, all involving unlockable cosmetic and gameplay upgrades, huge campaigns, level editors, two-player hotseat multiplayer and great strategy. Flash based.
Most important facts:
- Free and playable in a browser. No need to inculde a screenshot as it starts right away.
- No grinding as far as I can see.
- My biggest critism is that I have no idea how to start.
- Lack of information, I have trouble finding sites that describe this game.
Without team creation = tactical wargamesThis means that in the game you can recruit units constantly in your base and that there is some economy in it. Also, those games are usually more realistic (even when in a fantasy setting) and the characters themselves represent a big group of units, an army. Like civilization 4.
Battle for Wesnoth http://www.wesnoth.org/The Battle for Wesnoth is a turn-based strategy game played on a hex map, with single-player campaigns as well as multi-player matches. A central philosophy in the design of the game is the KISS principle; for a new idea to be accepted, it should not complicate gameplay.
Each unit has its own strengths and weaknesses. A unit's defense is based on the type of terrain it stands on, making terrain and placement of units very important. Different types of attacks (melee and ranged), weapon types (pierce, blade, impact, arcane, cold, and fire), and a day-night cycle that alternately favors lawful and chaotic units, add to the strategy.
Most important facts:
- 100% FREE. The cheapest game of the 4 as it's open source.
- For windows, linux and mac.
- Mainly a PvE game with added multiplayer support.
- Good hotseat support.
- No grinding at all.
- 6 factions with around 7 level 1 units each, who can levelup later.
- Tactical wargame so no team creation function at all. (unlike most other games here)
- Various settings supported.
- "Perfectly" balanced.
- Biggest criticism is that luck is an important factor.
- Due to it being open source, cheating is possible (RNG hacking).
Steel Panthers Online http://www.steelpanthersonline.com/main.aspThe players receive historical military units at the beginning of a scenario and have the option to buy reinforcements with points earned in different ways. The units are then moved on a hexagon grid map similar to a large number of board and computerized wargames. In addition to ready-made battles and campaigns, players can customize single scenarios or create their own campaigns.
Most important facts:
- It looks like it's 100% free, with the option to buy real life merchandise from the dev company. edit: one review claims that you'll need a cd from any other game from the series to play this.
- The oldest game here, the actual base game is 12 years old (but kept alive with mods and remakes).
- Tactical wargame, so no team creation possible.
- Only for windows.
- Biggest criticism is learning curve (according to a
review).
Combat Mission series http://www.battlefront.com/All three games share the same concept; turns are divided into a planning and an executing phase. While the planning phase can, in single player mode, last as long as the player needs to give orders to all his units, the executing phase always lasts 60 seconds of real-time. Both sides, either computer or another human enter their orders before the execution phase takes place. This is known as the Wego system. During the execution phase, units carry out their orders, but the player cannot influence the result and is limited to watch, replay and move the camera. All games offer to play individual battles (ranging from 15 to 60 turns, or 120 turns in CMBB and CMAK) or campaigns, linking a series of battles. See Scenarios below for more information.
Most important facts:
- Obligatory purchase, 25$.
- Tactical wargame, so no team creation.
- For Windows and Mac.
- Biggest criticism is learning curve (
review)
ComparingI'm biased here. After all, I'm a moderator in the Dofus Arena forms and quite active there and I played wesnoth PvE for a while before. As a result, my conclusion here is simply "I have no idea why people would play any of the other tactical games over Dofus Arena at all and I know nothing about the tactical wargames" but that obviously wouldn't be fair.
Luckily, we got this thing called "post reply button" that should allow a less one-sided comparison.
Goal of the topic: discuss the genre, make a list of indie games that belong here and review them. Simply saying what you think/what your experiences are with one particular game is enough. Also, certainly reply if I somehow messed up with my factslist.
Player
