Broken Lines. Games you have probably missed in 2020
Table of Contents
- Genre: tactical RPG
- Developer: PortaPlay
- Platforms: PC (console versions are also planned)
Broken Lines begins somewhat similar to Help will Come Tomorrow (more on that later), but it definitely is more a game focused on combat rather than survival. So at the beginning there is a spectacular disaster – this time a plane crash – after which we become part of the team of survivors. In Broken Lines the survivors are soldiers cut off behind enemy lines somewhere in eastern Europe in the final years of World War II. The conflict itself serves only to build the gameplay atmosphere and establish the background. The game does not attempt to convey any historical facts to us; on the contrary, it presents a slightly alternate version of WWII.
However, the decisions one makes during missions are often as difficult as in real war. Should you kill civilians, or let them go and risk a possible tip-off? There is a lot of turn-based combat in Broken Lines, but the game is not just a simple strategy. It's trying to deal with difficult topics. It alludes to the atrocities of war, to how they affect soldiers' morale or the fate of individual people. It's a game that puts the psychological effects of war before guns.
You're going to like Broken Lines if:
- you are fond of World War II vibe;
- you want to test your ethics as well as your leadership ability;
- you're a fan of games such as Jagged Alliance.
Space Haven
- Genre: space strategy with RPG and survivalist elements
- Developer: Bugbyte Ltd.
- Platforms: PC Windows
Space Haven is in part a mix of Faster than Light, Oxygen Not Included, and RimWorld. Players upgrade their spaceships while ensuring the survival of the crew, access to oxygen, and trade with the factions they encounter along the way. The game presents continuous challenges. One has to deal with everything - from finding a place to put beds and place toilets for the crew, to distributing oxygen and power on the ship. Alien civilizations, crewmen's moods, and space battles in procedurally generated galaxies will be pestering you.
This is another game in this lineup with pixel art isometric visuals and available in Early Access. However, it has to be acknowledged that Space Haven is very atmospheric and already provides a lot of fun. Fans of strategy, survival, and base building games will find something for themselves. During the Kickstarter campaign, the creators received as much as $260,000 out of expected $40,000, which unlocked all additional goals and allowed the developers to go further with their plans.
You're going to like Space Haven if:
- you liked FTL and RimWorld;
- you're not allergic to pixe-lart visuals yet;
- you have a shortage of atmospheric strategy games set in space.
