Category: Turn-Based

Who likes real time anyway?

NORSE: Oath of Blood – Demo Impressions

NORSE: Oath of Blood I have followed for a while, so this demo didn’t take me by surprise like Of Ash and Steel. However, the demo by itself is a surprise in how entertaining it felt, especially going by the atmosphere, writing, and the satisfying turn-based combat. A prerequisite is that you must like Vikings, as the setting is supposed to be as authentic as possible to them, according to the developers. No monsters, dragons, or zombies this time around, yet murderous slavers, and lunatic forest hermits can be unsettling enough!

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Menace – Demo Impressions

Finally, the Menace demo has arrived for us to download and play like the tactics starved maniacs that we are! So, how is it? I would say it’s okay, showing potential for the future. However, the high boardgame feel of it really surprised me. It’s a game that is a lot more abstracted in combat simulation, LOS (line of sight), and damage than I was expecting—especially compared to their last title; Battle Brothers.

For example, “overwatch” has been dumped in favor of faster gameplay, forcing you to move forward instead of turtling behind defenses to ambush the enemy. Fair, I guess, but it also means that the defensive safe playstyle that I like is out the window. And it feels a tad ridiculous that my special forces unit when having action-points left after a move, say up to a building, can’t defend themselves. 

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Mars Tactics – New trailer and Release Date!

Ah, Mars Tactics, one of those high-potential games I played at random during one of Steam’s Next Fest demo parties. Yeah, let’s see—yes, all the way back in 2023. Well, I’m happy to announce progress has been made since. Lots of work has gone into the strategic map, and the turn-based combat itself, as you can see in the trailer provided down below. 

What’s most interesting here, beyond the new tidbits of gameplay shown (that robot!), is that a release date has been set. This comes with both good and bad news. The good: release is in May 2026. So, a while out, but not overwhelmingly so. The bad: it’s an Early Access title. And with that, I can only suspect that the complete package won’t arrive until 2027 or something like that. But hey, at least we are getting a taste, because the turn-based combat was fun in the demo, and the setting is very cool—which reminds me of the faction wars in Total Recall. Kuato lives! Check the trailer after the jump, as usual.

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Bloodgrounds – Demo Impressions

What is better than to test your mettle in the warm arena sand, beneath the scorching Mediterranean sun! Well, to do it in a fantasy setting of both Roman and Greek mythology. So, it’s not only men and women equipped with gladiuses you have to fear. It’s Minotaurs and magic-users as well, among many other creatures of legend. A bloody good time will be had—in both senses. Welcome to Bloodgrounds!

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Space Scum – Playtest Impression

I got invited to the playtest of Space Scum over Steam and after about two hours of destroying lizard mutants in the desert, I’m ready to give my initial thoughts. But first, it must be said that this version of the game is in a really early alpha stage, filled with bugs a-plenty, and a somewhat stunted AI (according to the devs themselves). However, even for feeling a tad spartan, especially in flair and lore, it shows potential for a nice Battle Brothers romp. 

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