We Are The Caretakers

We Are The Caretakers is a turn-based RPG with some strategy elements, developed by the independent studio Heart Shaped Games. The developers admit to being inspired by such games as Darkest Dungeon, Ogre Battle and XCOM. In the game, we play as the leader of the Caretakers organization and our task is to protect the Rauns - rhino-like creatures that produce energy. To do this, we have to develop new technologies, negotiate diplomacy and fight against poachers. The game carries a pro-environmental message and was created based on the experience of real wildlife guardians. In addition, 10% of the game's revenue is donated to saving rhinos.

Plot

The game takes us to the futuristic land of Shadrans, modelled on Africa. It was separated from the rest of the planet by a barrier, which is intended to protect the Rauns. These are rhino-like animals that produce the energy that powers the entire country. An organisation called Caretakers has been set up to protect them, and we are at the head of it.

The game begins at the moment when our character starts the investigation of bold and mysterious attacks on Rauns. Their further fate depends on us.

Mechanics

We Are The Caretakers is a turn-based RPG with strategy elements, in which apart from fighting we also have to take care of our organisation's technological development and relations with other political groups.

The game allows us to manage the Caretakers organization. We often have to deal with political or purely image decisions. Not only our resources but also the way we are perceived by the surroundings depends on them.

An integral part of the game is also a technology tree, in which we can unlock improvements for the entire organization and our subordinates.

We can't save the world alone, so during the game we recruit other guards, who differ from each other in class and skills. We can form them into teams of up to nine six people, and then summon them during missions.

Missions are chosen from the level of organization management. They are divided into 2 types - story and side tasks. The developers have implemented procedurally generated maps, which is supposed to provide freshness to the gameplay when re-playing. The tasks set before us, in addition to the mandatory objectives to complete, offer additional challenges that will give us more resources.

Missions can be paragraph-based (a conversation with various choices) or rely on exploration. Thanks to the first type of tasks we get to know the world better, the plot, and the resources we gain depend on our dialogue decisions. During the mission with map exploration we find ourselves in the area of action divided into small sectors. Our task is to investigate the situation, talk to the locals and complete the mission objectives. And in case of encountering the enemy - fight.

Skirmishes in We Are The Caretakers are turn-based and remind those from classic jRPGs. This means that the members of our team are immobile, but they have an available pool of different combat powers. We use them alternately with our enemies.