Wartales

Wartales is a combination of a strategy game and an RPG. It was developed by the independent Shiro Games - the developers of the warmly received Northgard.

Plot

Wartales is set in a fictional world inspired by medieval Europe. A hundred years ago the great Edoran Empire, once dominating all the other nations, fell to a plague. Since then, the country fell into chaos, law and honor have become meaningless and its people will stop at nothing to survive. To make matters worse, the horrible plague is still reaping lives, causing the infected to grow ravenous for meat. Those who fail to hold back their hunger start gradually losing their senses, becoming zombie-like.

The game's main protagonist, just like all the others, tries to survive in this dangerous world, leading a group of adventurers undertaking various jobs across the land.

Mechanics

Wartales makes use of the top-down perspective. The game features a vast open world. We'll come across gloomy wastelands, abandoned mines and near-idyllic villages, where people live in relative peace. Travelling through the realm we'll undertake various quests. Though there is no shortage of noble tasks involving protecting the helpless common folk, the pursuit of money can also lead us to carry out orders of unscrupulous criminals.

Throughout the game we recruit companions, each of them having different skills and preferred kind of weaponry. Progressing through the game lets us develop the protagonist and our squad; their combat capabilities can also be increased by providing them with better equipment (created or modified using an extensive crafting system). To live a comfortable life, or at least what is considered such in the game's setting, we must also handle our squad's morale. Therefore it is important to constantly expand and upgrade our camp, which serves as a command center of sorts.

Combat is an important part of the game. It's turn-based, with proper use of abilities and positioning our teammates being equally as important. We'll face hostile humans and wildlife, such as wolves and bears. Occasionally we'll also battle champions - bosses, who can attack several times per turn.

Game modes

Wartales supports singleplayer and co-op for up to four players.

For seasoned and experienced players there's a special mode available, which saves the game automatically in only two cases - before a battle and entering a village.

Technical aspects

Wartales makes use of a realistic artstyle.