OpenCritic
Arco is a production on the borderline of tactical games and RPG. The production is the fruit of cooperation between independent Polish artist Frank Nowotniak, Australian developer Maks Cahill, a Spanish composer and sound designer using the pseudonym Bibiki, and a Mexican artist known as Fayer.
Gameplay
In Arco, events are viewed from a bird's eye view.
Game world and story
The production takes us to a fantastic world reminiscent of the Wild West, among other things. Each of the characters we play is devoted to a separate campaign telling the story of their revenge on the gang known as the Red Company, which shakes the region. Our choices shape the fate of the protagonists and influence how their adventures end.
And these adventures lead us through a variety of locations, such as r?vines stretching to the horizon, sandy deserts or lush forests. While traversing them, we push the story forward, recruit allies ready to join us and confront enemies.
Combat and character development
Both hostile humans and aggressive monsters inhabiting the area stand in our way. The game implements a turn-based combat system. What distinguishes it from other solutions of this type is the fact that the participants of a given battle plan their moves at the same time and execute them simultaneously.
As individual characters are differentiated in terms of their abilities and strengths, their skillful use is one of the keys to success. As you progress, you develop your subordinates and accumulate resources, so your combat potential gradually increases.
Graphics
The two-dimensional graphics of the Arco game were made using the pixel art technique.
Videos and Screens
[1:11] Arco - Launch Trailer
Saving Content: 4 / 5 by Harry Harrison
I’m not going to stop trying to progress in Arco, I am invested. But maybe I need to be less stingy and hire the mercenary I met several towns back for some assistance. Maybe I shouldn’t have spent all of my XP levelling up my attacks so that I could curve arrows and should’ve focused more on increasing my health. Maybe I shouldn’t have fought the possessed skeletal remains I found in a burnt out shack for a dark knife, resulting in having to devour the last of my healing items. Your past actions all lead into the strategy before the next fight even begins. Arco is not a game to be rushed, but absorbed and considered.
SteamDeckHQ: 4.5 / 5 by Michael Baker
2024 has seen many fantastic indie titles, and Arco is among them. If you like tactical games with deep world-building, or if you want a challenge, it will sate those taste buds. I like both, and although Arco pushed me to hell and back on the difficulty front, it deserves its Overwhelmingly Positive score on Steam with every juicy mouthful of berries, and it is a great Steam Deck performer.
Softpedia: 8.5 / 10 by Cosmin Vasile
Arco has a unique look and world and a set of mechanics that are easy to understand but grow in complexity as characters unlock more options. I never got used to the ghosts that randomly join the fight but was eager to replay engagements to avoid losing even one pip of health.
Arco Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
Switch
Developer: Franek Nowotniak
Publisher: Panic Inc.
Age restrictions: 12+
Arco System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i3, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GTX 650 / Radeon HD 7450, 1 GB HDD, Windows 7 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 1050 / Radeon HD 6450, 1 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
„Just skip Balatro, go to the Arco page and buy that game twice instead.” Steam sensation creator earns respect for a selfless act
The creator of Balatro prefers that players buy the Arco game twice instead of his own title. For these words, LocalThunk received a lot of praise from fans.
video games
Martin Bukowski
March 18, 2025